Ronald Philip Cleary
(1926-2000)
Ronald Cleary might have had a career as a teacher
of students with special needs had he not seen war service in the South
Pacific with the RAAF and studied Medicine at the University of Melbourne
under the Commonwealth Scheme for Returned Servicemen.
He had earned a reputation as a fast bowler as well as coming Dux of
Mildura secondary school, and earned a half blue playing cricket at
University for six years. Notable team-mates during this time included
Denis and John Cordner, Colin McDonald and George Thoms. McDonald and
Thoms opened the batting for Australia in the 1952 Test against the
West Indies, becoming the only pair to open together for club, state
and country in the same season. McDonald played a further 47 tests and
became Executive Director of Tennis Australia. Thoms abandoned Test
cricket in favour of Medicine, becoming known as a gynaecological surgeon
and pioneer of laser surgery.
Cleary, who was widely regarded as one of the country's best fast bowlers,
also abandoned cricket in favour of Medicine. In 1954 he moved with
his wife and two children to the newly-established and isolated Soldier
Settlement town of Robinvale, setting up practice in a caravan. Valmai
Cleary acted as her husband's practice and clinical manager, assisting
him as anaesthetist, technician and midwife. She conducted immunisation
sessions at the health centre and schools.
Cleary was the only medical practitioner in the district for six years.
When Neil Oates joined the practice, the partners delivered 4000 babies
and carried out more than 17,000 operations. The acute shortage of medical
personnel in rural areas meant that Cleary continued in practice in
Robinvale for more than half a century, as well as occasionally acting
as dentist and veterinary surgeon.
