Short abstract
The principal architect of neurosurgical services in South Australia
A few pioneers, some of them self taught, had established neurosurgery as a specialty in Sydney, Melbourne, and Adelaide before 1940. A new generation of neurosurgeons followed them after the second world war. Trevor Dinning, known as Jim, stood out among them. He became the first director of neurosurgery at the Royal Adelaide Hospital, South Australia, and the principal architect of neurosurgical services in South Australia.
Figure 1.
He decided on a career in neurosurgery after serving in the second world war. At that time it was difficult to obtain neurosurgical training in Australia, so he went to London, where he worked as neurosurgical registrar at Guy's Hospital.
He returned to Australia in 1953 and worked at the Royal Adelaide Hospital for the next 30 years, under various titles. He also worked at what is now the Women's and Children's Hospital. At both hospitals he rapidly established modern neurosurgical units, and the development of an integrated neurosurgical service was largely Jim's achievement. He gave special attention to the needs of South Australians living in remote places, foreshadowing the later creation of a state-wide trauma service.
When Jim had promising trainees, he placed them in overseas units with good research facilities, where they learned skills that have since helped to make Adelaide a leader in head injury research. Most imaginatively, he created in 1964 what is now the Neurosurgical Research Foundation, to raise funds to sustain research work. This independent neurosurgical foundation was the first of its kind in Australia.
After his retirement Jim assisted his daughter in her veterinary practice, proving to be a fine anaesthetist, though a rather unskilled theatre nurse. He leaves a wife, Beatrice, and three of their four children.
Former director of neurosurgery Royal Adelaide Hospital, South Australia (b Adelaide 1919; q Adelaide 1942; CMG, FRCS, FRACS), d 22 September 2003.
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