Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

DOWNEY Michael Seymour MB BS DPM FRANZCP C Mus A

1936 -

Michael Seymour Downey was born on 23rd January 1936. He was the son of Donnell Raymond Downey, a lawyer and soldier and Evelyn Young Downey, nee Dunn, who was the daughter of the St Peter's Cathedral organist, choirmaster and composer, John Millard Dunn, and Gertrude Dunn. Gertrude was the youngest of the three daughters of the Honourable RWE Henning; a South Australian state politician. His paternal grandfather, Lieutenant Colonel (later Colonel) Michael Henry Downey served as the Commanding Officer of 11 FdAmb during WW1, and was awarded a Distinguished Service Order. Following WW1 he then became Psychiatrist and Medical Superintendent for the Parkside Mental Hospital.  Michael Seymour Downey was educated at St Peters College where he was captain of the under 16B cricket team, senior school assistant librarian and sergeant in the school Army cadets.

Downey was called up for National Service in 1955 on leaving school. He served in the 16th National Service Battalion at Woodside and then spent five years in the Adelaide University Regiment, attaining the rank of staff sergeant, to fulfil his National Service commitment. Transferring to the CMF in December 1959 he was posted to 3 FdAmb, followed by promotion to Captain in February 1960. He gained a Commonwealth Scholarship to study medicine at the University of Adelaide, graduating MB BS in 1960. He spent four years gaining experience in four public teaching hospitals, after graduation. This was followed by a three year contract as Immigration Medical Officer in Rome, Italy, in 1964. He was posted, in 1962, as the RMO of 13th Field Regiment; later that year returned to 3 FdAmb and was promoted to Major in January 1963. Downey married Catherine Spender (now deceased) in 1962; the marriage ended amicably in 1978. They had three daughters and one grand-daughter. He subsequently partnered with Heather Layton, who has two daughters and four grandchildren. His younger sister, Julie, who was a nurse at the Adelaide Children's Hospital married Colonel Thomas Hudson Beare, who also served in Vietnam. Downey went onto the Reserve of Officers list from 1964 while overseas for five years, training as a Psychiatrist, in Scotland and London while working as temporary registrar at the Royal Edinburgh Hospital.

He returned to South Australia in 1968 where he was appointed as Senior Psychiatrist and Team Leader at Hillcrest Hospital, and in the CMF, he was posted to 3AGH as a specialist psychiatrist and Company Commander.  Downey was appointed to the Regular Army (Temporary Full Time) from October 1969 to February 1970, to serve as a specialist psychiatrist with 1stAust Fd Hosp in Vietnam. While on this deployment he did a “locum” for Captain Terry Hillier, the RMO of 6 Bn RAR.  One of his duties as acting RMO was to join a patrol tasked to examine and evaluate a large find of drugs and equipment in a Viet Cong bush hospital. This hospital was comparable in size to 1 Aust Fd Hosp in Vung Tau and had been uncovered during 6 Bn RAR military operations.  The enemy, with some children, were hiding in the adjacent caves. This task led by New Zealander, Major Harry Lynch, took two days to complete. During his deployment in Vietnam, Downey was made aware of the need to have a better understanding of the effect that war has on personnel, especially those with vulnerable personalities. This was particularly brought to his attention when he was required to give evidence in the sad case of a soldier who had murdered his platoon commander with a grenade. He found that his liaison with the American Divisional Psychiatric team, led by Major Douglas R Bey, was worthwhile in enhancing his knowledge of substance abuse and other issues found in military service. This interchange of ideas, supported by his CO, Lieutenant Colonel Michael Naughton, led to a more informed and effective psychiatric service for Australian personnel. His time in Vietnam was not without incident; when he was visiting an American Fire Support Base it was targeted by enemy rocket fire. He served with the CMF on return to Australia until 17th October 1973 when he voluntarily retired due to the increasing workload in his private practice. Downey was issued with Australian Active Service Medal 1947-75 with Clasp Vietnam, Vietnam Medal, Australian Defence Medal, Anniversary of National Service 1951-1972 Medal.

Downey was appointed as a specialist community and outpatient psychiatrist to the Alberta Mental Health Services, Calgary, Canada, from 1974 to 1975. This also involved teaching and allowed an opportunity for research. After his return again to Australia, in 1976, he entered a group private practice in Melbourne Street, North Adelaide. He worked in his private practice as a general psychiatrist, with a special interest in child and family therapy, and community work, as well as individual psychotherapy. Downey continued practice for a further twenty eight years. Concurrently he was a Visiting Specialist at the Adelaide Children's Hospital (later the Women and Children's Hospital) in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and was an honorary lecturer in the Department of Psychiatry, University of Adelaide. Downey also worked with community based “self-help" support groups for those adults who had suffered sexual abuse in childhood, those with habit and obsessional disorders, and those afflicted with psychological symptoms associated with physical disorders and injuries.

Downey also found time outside of his clinical work to be involved in fund-raising for Legacy.  He is a volunteer musician in residential health facilities. Hobbies such as horse-riding, sailing, hot air ballooning, children’s story telling, music making, ballroom dancing and supporting a variety of artistic activities keep him busy. Michael Seymour Downey continues to live in Gilberton with Heather and maintains that his experience while serving as an immigration medical officer in Italy was life changing. The Italian language, culture and exuberant lifestyle he credits with jolting him out of a parochial mindset and taught him the importance of health, happiness and to be grateful for every moment of life.

Sources

Blood, Sweat and Fears II: Medical Practitioners of South Australia on Active Service After World War 2 to Vietnam 1945-1975.

Summers, Swain, Jelly, Verco. Open Book Howden, Adelaide 2016

Uploaded by Annette Summers AO RFD