Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Edwin John Esler
7.8.1920 – 17.4.2003

Return -
Edwin returned home after the war and initially considered transferring to the Commonwealth Department of External Affairs but instead chose to study Medicine at the University of Queensland, starting in March 1946. During his university years, Edwin and his future wife, Joy, enjoyed outings to the cinema, symphony concerts, and "Med" Balls, and they became engaged in 1947 and married in 1948. Edwin graduated in 1951, and the couple had their first child 18 months prior to his graduation, managing to live on a small government allowance with some help from Joy’s parents. After graduating, Edwin worked as a Resident Medical Officer at Royal Women's Hospital, Herston, for two years before joining the general practice group of Ipswich Road Clinic, Annerley, in 1953.

General Practice -
At the time of joining the clinic, the couple had £200 to buy a house, car, and a share in the partnership, and they managed to purchase a house with the help of the bank manager and Joy’s father. Edwin's work in general practice involved making home visits, responding to out-of-hours calls, and sometimes working late into the night, with no appointments made and patients often turning up at the clinic and waiting their turn. The practice also involved wives manning the phones before and after surgery hours, and sharing weekend duties, with one doctor on call and another on standby. Payment for medical services was sometimes unorthodox, with one patient giving the couple a live duck as payment.

Specialisation in Obstetrics and Gynaecology -
After two years in general practice, Edwin decided to specialise in Obstetrics and Gynaecology, and he spent 1957 and 1958 as a Teaching Registrar at the Women's, Brisbane, and Princess Alexandra Hospitals. Edwin had to travel to England in 1959 to complete his postgraduate training and take his exams, as it was not possible to obtain his accreditation in Australia at that time. He spent six months at Queen Charlotte's Hospital, Hammersmith, and successfully achieved his membership of the Royal College of Obstetrics and Gynaecology.

Career and Hospital Appointments -
Upon his return to Australia in 1960, Edwin started half-time practice in Obstetrics and Gynaecology (O & G) from rooms at Andrew House, with some sessions at Ipswich Road Clinic, and as First Assistant to the Professor of Obstetrics & Gynaecology at the University of Queensland. He also worked as a Consultant Junior Obstetrician at the Women's Hospital, and later became Honorary Senior Consultant Obstetrician at the Mater Mothers' Hospital in 1961, and Honorary Gynaecologist to the Mater Public Hospital in 1962. These appointments were unpaid, and Edwin had to work independently, taking 24-hour responsibility for his patients, which made it difficult for him to take breaks. The demands of obstetrical practice were heavy, and Edwin's family life suffered as a result, with him rarely being able to attend his children's sporting or school activities. Later, when Edwin moved to new premises at Alexandra, 201 Wickham Terrace, he shared the workload with another doctor, which eased the pressure somewhat.

Work Ethic and Remuneration -
Remuneration was not a top priority for Edwin, and he often did not charge his patients, especially if they were old or did not take up much of his time. The Australian Medical Association (AMA) suggested fee for a pregnancy was 26 guineas, later $70, which covered the initial consultation, monthly checks, confinement, and postnatal check, but Edwin did not charge extra for additional appointments. Despite the demanding lifestyle, Edwin found his work rewarding and enjoyed it, with most patients being healthy young women who were delighted with the outcome of their care.

Reputation and Health Challenges -
Edwin, affectionately known as "Uncle Ted" or "God" by his patients and the Mater nursing staff, was a highly respected and loved figure in his field. Due to his demanding work schedule, which often involved long hours and night call-outs, Edwin's health began to decline, and he suffered his first heart attack in 1967 at the age of 47, followed by two more in 1970 and 1972. As a result of his health issues, Edwin was forced to re-evaluate his career, and in 1973, he took up the position of half-time Clinical Superintendent of the Mothers' Hospital, which later became a full-time role as Medical Superintendent.

Medical Superintendent and Hospital Contributions -
In this role, Edwin's duties were primarily administrative, including supervising junior medical staff, lecturing and examining nurses and medical students, and serving on relevant committees. Edwin made significant contributions to the hospital, including establishing an innovative computerized program for obstetrical records, which was the first of its kind in Australia and provided valuable clinical information for scientific research. Under Edwin's leadership, the Mothers' Hospital grew to become one of the largest public obstetrical hospitals in the southern hemisphere, with 150 beds and 4,800 deliveries per year by 1977, increasing to 7,000 births by 1983. Edwin was widely respected and admired for his excellence as a clinician, teacher, and administrator, as well as his commitment to education and patient care, and was particularly appreciated for his kindness and respect towards all individuals, regardless of rank or status.

Pursuit of Languages and Hobbies -
In addition to his work, Edwin pursued his passion for languages, enrolling in a Bachelor of Arts degree in Japanese and Ancient Chinese at the University of Queensland in 1973, which he completed in 1976, and later compiling a dictionary of English/Japanese gynaecological terms, although he was unable to complete it due to his declining health. Edwin continued to work part-time on his medical records until 1994 and remained active in his retirement, pursuing hobbies such as stamp and coin collecting, calligraphy, and studying Latin and Ancient Greek with a Classics group at the University of Queensland.

Reconciliation and Connections with Japan -
With the help of the UQ staff, Edwin made contact with Yukimori-san, a compassionate guard from Sandakan Camp, to express his gratitude for his kindness during the war, and they kept up a simple correspondence for years with the help of Yukimori's granddaughter. In 1980, Edwin and his family spent two months in Japan, where they attended a World O & G Congress in Tokyo and made home visits to relatives of UQ staff, including a ryokan (inn) in the mountains outside Kagoshima, where they attended a country harvest festival. Edwin's experiences and willingness to mix freely with the Japanese and make contact with one of his previous gaolers made him a subject of interest for Japanese students and journalists, leading to a report in the Nagoya Times by journalist Sato-san in August 1990. The report stimulated a lot of responses, including an offer from Mrs Emiko Hameda, a retired teacher, to host Edwin and his family for a week at her home as a mark of reparation, which led to a visit to Japan in 1990, where they met the family of the now-deceased guard Yukimori.

Later Years and Passing -
Edwin had the pleasure of spending time with his grandchildren and maintaining contacts with members of the University of Queensland (UQ) Japanese Department, which led to some interesting outcomes. Edwin never discussed his Japanese contacts with his prisoner-of-war mates, not knowing what their responses would be, and he continued to battle health issues, including quadruple bypass surgery in 2000, before passing away on 17th April 2003, aged 82.