Book review

George Stanley Sharp – the story of a family doctor

Here is a book which is a particularly relevant addition to South Wairarapa’s recorded history. Dr, Sharp was the area’s doctor for forty years. In 1925 he bought Featherston doctor, Dr Doctor’s, practice then in 1930 added Dr Hugh Webb’s Martinborough practice to his commitments. Dr Webb had served the district since 1900 and was, at that stage, anxious to retire. Later, when the work load became too much he sold the Martinborough practice.

So often history based books turn out to be a series of facts jerkily added together to end up rather like a Wikipedia entry. This book is definitely not in this category. Author Juliet Oliver has produced an interesting tale of a man of may skills interwoven with clear descriptions of the times and various situations which Dr Sharp found himself faced with.

Following Dr Sharp through his medical journey is one part of the story however, his private life was equally interesting – he was clearly not a boring person. While a medical student at Dunedin University his actions resulted in a serious brush with the law.
A later interest was investing in small start up companies which he felt would help a local community. These included a eel canning factory in Greytown, a flax mill at Foxton and the group which originally developed Wainuiomata.
He was always keen on personal health and fitness with associated dietary quirks – one day a week was ‘liquids only’. He won New Zealand titles and represented New Zealand in athletics taking out the hotly contested one mile title at the Australasian games. He also loved tramping in the hills and duck shooting in season, target shooting at other times.

In 1914 he went straight from university into the Army medical Corps bound for the horrors of Gallipoli. Serving throughout he war he rose to the rank of captain. After the war he studied surgery at Glasgow gaining his Fellowship in Surgery (FRFPS) then went on to Dublin to study obstetrics to gain his Diploma in Obstetrics.

Kelvin Hospital, situated beside the doctor’s house, was part of the Featherston practice. Here the districts numerous babies were delivered and minor surgery: appendics, tonsils and prostate removal carried out and broken bones set. The busy hospital was managed by his wife Myrtle who was herself a registered nurse who he had met when they were both working at Wellington Hospital. (Here Dr Sharp removed my father’s tonsils and later set my sister’s broken arm, then, in all probability, saved my very prem. baby bother’s life).

With a small minority of families owning cars the practice was mostly one of house calls, some involving arduous journeys. To reach Tora he had to open , and close, 27 gates. On calls to the south coast he always arranged for draught horses to be on hand to pull him through the creeks.
To save a life emergency treatments often had to be basic. When a women on the coast would die without an immediate blood transfusion he lined up all the neighbours taking a spot of blood from each and mixing it with some of the woman’s in a saucer until he found a compatible donor. Fortunately there was one and the woman was saved.
This book abounds with facts and interesting stories all beautifully told. Highly recommended, both to those who enjoy a good read and those with an interest in local history.

Mike