Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

DIBDEN William Andrew AO MB BS DPM FANZCP

1914-1993

William Andrew Dibden was born in Bexley, NSW, on 22nd March 1914. His parents were Frederick Samuel Dibden and Anne, nee Andrews. He was educated at Prince Alfred College where he excelled scholastically and participated in debating, tennis and cadets; he was school captain in 1932. His younger brother Frederick was a medical practitioner who also served in World War 2 and was also educated at Prince Alfred College. Dibden won a government bursary in 1933 to study medicine at the University of Adelaide graduating, MB BS, in 1939. He, unfortunately, was diagnosed with pulmonary tuberculosis, in 1934, which interrupted his studies. Dibden married Shirley Newsome Barton, on 20th July 1940, at St John’s Church, Adelaide. She was the only daughter of Henry Archibald Barton, and Nellie Cordelia, nee Jackson of Erindale, SÁ.

Dibden enlisted at Keswick South Australia on 1st October 1941 and was immediately called up for full-time duty. He was attached to 3 Trg Bn at Woodside. He named as his next of kin his wife Shirley of Jarvis Street, Erindale, SA. Following a twelve-week course on neurology and psychiatry, in Melbourne, he was appointed to 105 AMH, Wayville, on 11th November 1941, as a psychiatrist. From November 1941 and throughout 1942 he had a considerable amount of sick leave much of which was spent at home. It was recommended to LHQ that he be taken off full-time duty and placed on retired list on 22nd March 1943.

After his discharge, Dibden initially entered general practice at Murray Bridge but then continuing his career in psychiatry he took up a position in Parkside Mental Hospital and at the same time establishing an outpatient service at Keswick Barracks. He also relieved the Administrator at the Enfield Receiving House gaining experience in the management of institutions and commenced a private psychiatric practice in 1946. Dibden did further postgraduate study at Melbourne University to obtain his Diploma of Psychiatric Medicine in 1948, followed by further study in England, in 1949, with Sir Aubrey Lewis at the Maudsley Hospital, London. He returned to Adelaide in 1951 and resumed his practice. Dibden was a Founding Member of the Australian Association of Psychiatrists (AAP).  The AAP reformed into the Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists and, from 1965 to 1966, he was its President. He was involved and led many organisations furthering the cause of mental health. He was appointed the Director of Mental Health Services in South Australia in 1967. He was involved in many aspects of the changes in the provision of mental health services throughout his career including the formation of legislation establishing the Guardianship Board and a Medical Review Tribunal. He chaired a ministerial committee to review the existing mental health legislation for South Australia, which led to a new Mental Health Act established on 12th May 1977. He was appointed an Officer in the Order of Australia in 1978, for his services to psychiatry.  Dibden retired in March 1979, and he considered his most significant achievements were in the improved training of Psychiatrists. William Andrew Dibden died on 17th October 1993 at home and survived by his wife, four daughters and a son.

Source

Blood, Sweat and Fears III: Medical Practitioners South Australia, who Served in World War 2. 

Swain, Jelly, Verco, Summers. Open Books Howden, Adelaide 2019. 

Uploaded by Annette Summers AO RFD