Dr George Busby (1797-1870)

Dr George Busby was born in Scotland, educated in Belfast and Edinburgh and qualified as a surgeon at Edinburgh in 1824.

In 1826 he followed his family to Australia, joining the government service, serving at Norfolk Island, Newcastle and Moreton Bay, before being transferred to Bathurst in charge of the convict hospital in 1828.

In 1842 the New South Wales Government handed control of the hospital to a local committee, terminating his employment.

Dr Busby refused to leave Bathurst, where he remained for the rest of his life, devoting himself to his medical practice, and many civic activities. He managed the Bathurst Hospital for many years, was involved in the establishment of the Presbyterian Church, the School of Arts, and the Bathurst Bank.

In 1832 he married Agnes Thompson, daughter of Bathurst’s first Presbyterian Minister. Agnes Busby died in 1906 aged 96, after a lifetime of constant work for her church and other charitable institutions.

Dr George Busby died on January 29, 1870 and is buried in Bathurst Cemetery. A stone memorial was erected in the Presbyterian Church in 1878.

Dr Hugh Busby Senior (1876 – 1929)

Dr Hugh Busby, grandson of Dr George Busby, was born in Goulburn, educated at Newington College and the University of Sydney, graduating in Medicine in 1900. After service at Sydney Hospital he spent three years in practice in Gulgong before moving to Bathurst in 1906.
 

He was Government Medical Officer in Bathurst, Honorary Medical Officer at Bathurst District Hospital. Foundation member of the medical staff at St Vincent’s Hospital Bathurst, a keen sportsman in football, cricket, tennis and boxing, and very involved in the School of Arts, Bathurst Musical and Dramatic Society, and several local Masonic Lodges.

Following his death on 9th September 1929 at his residence on the corner of Bentinck and Keppel Streets Bathurst his funeral was on the biggest ever seen in Bathurst. When his body was brought from his house it passed through an honour guard of nurses, and over one hundred Masonic brethren marched in front of the hearse.

His memory is perpetuated in the Hugh Busby Memorial library at Bathurst Base Hospital.

Dr Hugh Busby Junior (1918-1972)

Son of Dr Hugh Busby senior, and his wife Ethel, Hugh Busby junior was born in Bathurst, educated at All Saints College, Sydney Church of England Grammar School, and the University of Sydney. A keen sportsman he distinguished himself at cricket during his school and University career. On graduating in Medicine in 1941 he served at St George Hospital before enlisting in the Army as a Medical Officer with the 2/5th Battalion (AIF).

During a three month campaign in the Sepik River district in New Guinea he was mentioned in dispatches, and in June 1945 was awarded the Military Cross for the exemplary way he cared for the health of his unit. It was here that he was wounded and the resulting injury to his elbow ended his promising career as a cricketer.

On return to civilian life Dr Busby trained at Prince Henry Hospital, and Royal Hospital for Women before settling in Bathurst in 1948. He was known to many people as “Mick”, a nick name adopted within the family to distinguish him from his father.

Dr Busby collapsed and died on August 10th 1972 while playing golf on the Bathurst course with Dr Noel Lucas and Dr Terry O’Sullivan. His body was cremated after a private service.