Brian Kenneth Hobbs
Encyclopedia
Brian Kenneth Hobbs was a medical doctor in Adelaide
, South Australia
, chair of Community Aid Abroad and prominent in Aboriginal
health in Australia.
, at that time a horticultural community on the outskirts of Adelaide
. He attended Campbelltown
Primary School and Prince Alfred College
, where he boarded after the family moved to Victor Harbor.
Having graduated in medicine at the University of Adelaide
, he worked in London
and Edinburgh
, where he studied surgery. Returning to Australia he took up private practice at Colonel Light Gardens, spending 26 years as a family GP
. Subsequently he worked for Data Aid
and the Aboriginal Health Organisation and as a remote area doctor in central Australia.
He retired to Aldgate
and then Hindmarsh Island
in South Australia
.
Brian was a co-founder of Medic Alert in Australia and of the Clovelly Park Community Health Centre in southern Adelaide, and taught at Flinders University
.
Brian worked for most of his adult life with Community Aid Abroad and its successor Oxfam Australia
, serving as South Australian Chair, National Chair, and Chair of CAA Trading. He was instrumental in convincing then Foreign Minister Bill Hayden
to withdraw aid to the Ethiopian government during their 'civil war' with Eritrea, and was a frequent guest on the Australian Broadcasting Corporation's
radio and television current affairs programmes, notably "PM" on Radio National
and "Nationwide" on Channel 2. He was also interviewed many times for national and local Australian newspapers, especially "The Australian
" and "The Advertiser", on foreign aid and development issues.
Brian was a co-founder of International Development Support Services, a consultancy subsidiary of Oxfam Australia, and is named as a "Visionary Leader" by the Community Aid Alliance.
Brian was a founding member and President of the Schuss Ski Club, which became the de facto representative body for snow skiers in South Australia
.
Adelaide
Adelaide is the capital city of South Australia and the fifth-largest city in Australia. Adelaide has an estimated population of more than 1.2 million...
, South Australia
South Australia
South Australia is a state of Australia in the southern central part of the country. It covers some of the most arid parts of the continent; with a total land area of , it is the fourth largest of Australia's six states and two territories.South Australia shares borders with all of the mainland...
, chair of Community Aid Abroad and prominent in Aboriginal
Indigenous Australians
Indigenous Australians are the original inhabitants of the Australian continent and nearby islands. The Aboriginal Indigenous Australians migrated from the Indian continent around 75,000 to 100,000 years ago....
health in Australia.
Life
The son of Norman Theodore Hobbs, a prominent market gardener, and Dorothy Ada (née Weedon), a school teacher, Brian Hobbs was born at ParadiseParadise
Paradise is a place in which existence is positive, harmonious and timeless. It is conceptually a counter-image of the miseries of human civilization, and in paradise there is only peace, prosperity, and happiness. Paradise is a place of contentment, but it is not necessarily a land of luxury and...
, at that time a horticultural community on the outskirts of Adelaide
Adelaide
Adelaide is the capital city of South Australia and the fifth-largest city in Australia. Adelaide has an estimated population of more than 1.2 million...
. He attended Campbelltown
Campbelltown
Campbelltown can refer to:Places in Australia:*Towns/suburbs:**Campbelltown, New South Wales**Campbelltown, South Australia**Campbell Town, Tasmania*Government areas:**Electoral district of Campbelltown, state electoral district in New South Wales...
Primary School and Prince Alfred College
Prince Alfred College
Prince Alfred College is an independent, day and boarding school for boys, located on Dequetteville Terrace, Kent Town, near the centre of Adelaide, South Australia...
, where he boarded after the family moved to Victor Harbor.
Having graduated in medicine at the University of Adelaide
University of Adelaide
The University of Adelaide is a public university located in Adelaide, South Australia. Established in 1874, it is the third oldest university in Australia...
, he worked in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
and Edinburgh
Edinburgh
Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, the second largest city in Scotland, and the eighth most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council governs one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. The council area includes urban Edinburgh and a rural area...
, where he studied surgery. Returning to Australia he took up private practice at Colonel Light Gardens, spending 26 years as a family GP
General practitioner
A general practitioner is a medical practitioner who treats acute and chronic illnesses and provides preventive care and health education for all ages and both sexes. They have particular skills in treating people with multiple health issues and comorbidities...
. Subsequently he worked for Data Aid
Oxfam Australia
Oxfam Australia is an Australian, independent, not-for-profit, secular, community-based aid and development organisation, and an affiliate of Oxfam International. Oxfam Australia's work includes long-term development projects, responding to emergencies and campaigning to improve the lives of...
and the Aboriginal Health Organisation and as a remote area doctor in central Australia.
He retired to Aldgate
Aldgate
Aldgate was the eastern most gateway through London Wall leading from the City of London to Whitechapel and the east end of London. Aldgate gives its name to a ward of the City...
and then Hindmarsh Island
Hindmarsh Island
Hindmarsh Island is an island in the lower Murray River near the town of Goolwa, South Australia. Located on the Fleurieu Peninsula, it is a popular tourist destination, which has increased in popularity since the Hindmarsh Island bridge was opened in 2001...
in South Australia
South Australia
South Australia is a state of Australia in the southern central part of the country. It covers some of the most arid parts of the continent; with a total land area of , it is the fourth largest of Australia's six states and two territories.South Australia shares borders with all of the mainland...
.
Community and Development Work
In addition to his work as a General PractitionerGeneral practitioner
A general practitioner is a medical practitioner who treats acute and chronic illnesses and provides preventive care and health education for all ages and both sexes. They have particular skills in treating people with multiple health issues and comorbidities...
Brian was a co-founder of Medic Alert in Australia and of the Clovelly Park Community Health Centre in southern Adelaide, and taught at Flinders University
Flinders University
Flinders University, , is a public university in Adelaide, South Australia. Founded in 1966, it was named in honour of navigator Matthew Flinders, who explored and surveyed the South Australian coastline in the early 19th century.The university has established a reputation as a leading research...
.
Brian worked for most of his adult life with Community Aid Abroad and its successor Oxfam Australia
Oxfam Australia
Oxfam Australia is an Australian, independent, not-for-profit, secular, community-based aid and development organisation, and an affiliate of Oxfam International. Oxfam Australia's work includes long-term development projects, responding to emergencies and campaigning to improve the lives of...
, serving as South Australian Chair, National Chair, and Chair of CAA Trading. He was instrumental in convincing then Foreign Minister Bill Hayden
Bill Hayden
William George "Bill" Hayden AC was the 21st Governor-General of Australia. Prior to this, he represented the Australian Labor Party in parliament; he was a minister in the government of Gough Whitlam, and later became Leader of the Opposition, narrowly losing the 1980 federal election to the...
to withdraw aid to the Ethiopian government during their 'civil war' with Eritrea, and was a frequent guest on the Australian Broadcasting Corporation's
Australian Broadcasting Corporation
The Australian Broadcasting Corporation, commonly referred to as "the ABC" , is Australia's national public broadcaster...
radio and television current affairs programmes, notably "PM" on Radio National
Radio National
ABC Radio National is an Australia-wide non-commercial radio network run by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation.Radio National broadcasts national programming in areas that include news and current affairs, the arts, social issues, science, drama and comedy...
and "Nationwide" on Channel 2. He was also interviewed many times for national and local Australian newspapers, especially "The Australian
The Australian
The Australian is a broadsheet newspaper published in Australia from Monday to Saturday each week since 14 July 1964. The editor in chief is Chris Mitchell, the editor is Clive Mathieson and the 'editor-at-large' is Paul Kelly....
" and "The Advertiser", on foreign aid and development issues.
Brian was a co-founder of International Development Support Services, a consultancy subsidiary of Oxfam Australia, and is named as a "Visionary Leader" by the Community Aid Alliance.
Brian was a founding member and President of the Schuss Ski Club, which became the de facto representative body for snow skiers in South Australia
South Australia
South Australia is a state of Australia in the southern central part of the country. It covers some of the most arid parts of the continent; with a total land area of , it is the fourth largest of Australia's six states and two territories.South Australia shares borders with all of the mainland...
.