Gov officials pay respects to former WA senator and doctor Alan Eggleston at Christ Church Grammar memorial

From compassionate doctor, to unlikely mayor and eventually a Senator who championed the remote parts of Australia, particularly his beloved Pilbara, Alan Eggleston’s many achievements were celebrated on Saturday. Former Prime Minister John Howard was among those to pay tribute to Mr Eggleston at a memorial service, praising his contribution and his devotion to the nation, WA and the Liberal Party. Mr Howard’s message was read out by former Senator Chris Ellison at Christ Church Grammar School Chapel. Many former political colleagues were among the 200-300 attendees, with many moved to both laughter and tears, as speakers recounted stories from the different chapters of his life. Michaelia Cash, Richard Court, Linda Reynolds, Madeleine King, Dean Smith Liza Harvey and Fred Chaney were among the current and former federal and state politicians who paid their respects. Dr Eggleston died last month, aged 83. He was buried in Busselton, the town of his birth, last week. The fourth of five children of Frank and Girlie, Dr Eggleston was determined to make a difference, rather than be defined by his physical difference - dwarfism. “He decided this was not going to change the way he tackled the world and showed his incredible mental strength and positivity from a very young age,” his nephew Seth Eggleston said in his eulogy. After boarding at Christ Church Grammar School for seven years, he enrolled at the St George’s College at the University of WA, to study medicine. “The first three years of university were an incredible time, flying through medical school, rowing, debating,” his nephew said. “He joined the Uni Liberal Club, where he met and came under the influence of the young Fred Chaney. A frequent speaker was Sir Charles Court, and would talk to them about the future North West.” He would learn all about the North West later and go on to live there for 22-and-a-half years, but in the meantime he hit a major hurdle in his final year as a medical student. “He was grossly discriminated against by a member of UWA medical school,” Frank Prendegast, a student friend, said. “Perhaps on the grounds of height, he instructed to withdraw from his medical course. In typical Alan style, he refused. He was then informed that he would never graduate from the UWA medical school. He was not passed in his final exams - the threat had been carried out.” Undeterred, he took off to the UK and completed his studies at London University and Birmingham Hospital. This was followed by residences in obstetrics and gynecology, as well as anesthetics. “He had climbed another mountain,” Mr Prendegast said. Four years after leaving, Dr Eggleston returned to Perth and applied for a rural health position in Port Hedland. A three month trial became more than two decade stint in the region. “Medicine in Port Hedland was all encompassing, from GP duties to flying doctor services and even resulting in a number of babies being delivered mid-flight by Alan,” he nephew said. “His Port Hedland name was Doccy and it followed him his whole life. “He had a keen interest in Aboriginal health, and I’ve read several accounts of his efforts at the time to solve complex social problems through a medical lens. “In fact, ultimately, this led to him becoming involved in local government with election to the town council, and ultimately mayor.” His Liberal Party colleague and close friend Greg Kneale hadn’t fancied his chances when Mr Eggleston mentioned his interest in the mayoral position. “(The area) was a bastion of Labor support. It was a wasteland for us ... (I told him) it will be a tough ask,” Mr Kneale said in how own eulogy. His mate won anyway. “It was a reflection of the high regard and respect that he was held in the community,” he said. During his time in the Pilbara, he saved lives a doctor and championed the delivery of new health facilities as a councillor and later as an MP. After three years as Mayor, Dr Eggleston entered Federal Parliament in 1996, where he stayed for 18 years, rising to become Government Deputy Whip in the Senate. Mr Howard said it was his “privilege” to enjoy Dr Eggleston’s constant support during his time as Prime Minister. “Alan Eggleston saw politics as a battle of ideas, rather than the public relations contest. In the wake of a recently disappointing election, it is particularly important to salute those who always saw the prosecution of our values as fundamental to our political success,” he said. During his time in Canberra, Dr Eggleston was committed federalist and a Republican. Mr Ellison said Dr Eggleston never stopped being a doctor, showing care to his parliamentary colleagues and approaching problems in a practical and calming way. His nephew said he was incredibly proud of his time in the Senate. “However, he found the traveling hard, particularly with three hour timezone. “He would announce to my family he was coming to visit. Having waited all day, he had the amazing ability to turn up right on the stroke of dinner time and then he would fall asleep, even at the table. “I believe his ability to fall asleep anywhere, actually led to the sitting times in Parliament being changed to avoid a repeat of snoring into the microphone late on the night of the Telstra discussion.” Another medical student mate, Christopher Lawson-Smith, recalled a compassionate man with great sense of humor, who formed friendships across the political divide. “Alan was very keen to support indigenous people where he could. This was a factor in his going to South Hedland Hospital to work. “He had no time for bullies. He was not impressed with politicians, both male and female, who treated other people badly because he was on Senate committees and chaired a number of them ... Party politics were not the problem. “He also got to know a lot of people from Indonesia important representative positions, and he regarded them as friends. He cherished his friends from all sorts of backgrounds.” “I believe all of us consider it a privilege to have known him,” he said. “Alan was not tall in stature, but surely was a giant by of a man, loved and respected by his peers,” Mr Prendegast added. In 2019, Dr Eggleston was awarded Membership of the Order of Australia.