Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

William Evelyn Hood was born in Childers, Qld, on 6th October, 1900. Completing his senior studies in 1 year, he moved to Sydney to study dentistry. He graduated from Sydney University & was registered as a dentist on 17th January, 1922.
Soon after he started in practice with dentist George Beresford in Bowen, making monthly visits to Proserpine by horse & sulky. Realising that a full time practice was viable, he bought Mr Persival Merediths dentistry business in January, 1923 & by May 1923 he set up permanently.
Bill set up shop at Mrs Beames shop, which was situated near the Grand Central Hotel. His hours were 9am to 5pm on Monday to Fridays. 7pm t0 8pm Thursday & Saturday nights & 2pm to 3.30pm on Saturday afternoons. If none suited he would open for special appointments, he also gave family discounts. He later relocated to Chapman Street.
Evelyn Hood married Gladys Iris Trail on 21st March, 1926 & at the start of WW2 his family consisted of 5 children, Robyn, Prue, Evelyn, Vivienne & Rosemary. He enlisted on 3rd June, 1940 & was commissioned a Captain on 24th November 1940, assigned to 2/11 Field Ambulance. He served at Yeppoon & Redbank prior to going oversea with the Australian Dental Unit to New Guinea at Milne Bay, Port Moresby & Samarai.
Prue, the eldest daughter, remembers writing weekly to her father from St Margaret's boarding school in Brisbane. As there was no high school in Proserpine until after the war. It was one penny postage to servicemen but it cost 2d to write home to Proserpine. Mr Hood was discharged on 1st March, 1945, resuming practise in Proserpine immediately.
Bill played golf & was club champion a number of times. In later years he played bowls. He enjoyed shooting for ducks & quail at Goorganga & fishing. Many Christmas’s were spent on the nearby islands.
He was the Proserpine dentist for 40 years.
William Hood died at the age of 63 years on 14th February, 1964.