Brian Thomas Shearman, MB BS (Hons), DLO, FRACS

Photo, courtesy of Howard Gwynne

Brian Shearman was born in Greenwich, New South Wales, on 29 June 1930. He achieved significant academic, musical and sporting successes, completing his schooling at the Sydney Church of England Grammar School in 1947 as Dux. Known to his university friends as “Broad Grins”, he attended medical school at the University of Sydney, where he was awarded his medical degree with honours in 1953, and was granted the Robin May Memorial Prize in the same year.

Starting in general practice, Brian then trained in ear, nose and throat surgery at Sydney Hospital, attaining his Fellowship of the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons in 1964 and his Diploma of Laryngology and Otorhinology from the University of Sydney in 1965. He then spent 2 years at Wayne State University in Detroit, United States, as fellow in otology, undertaking pioneering work in stapes surgery. He returned to Sydney in 1967, where he practised at Hornsby Ku-ring-gai Hospital and at the Sydney Adventist Hospital. He became head of section of ear, nose and throat surgery at both of these hospitals and actively participated in a number of professional bodies, such as chairman for the NSW section of the Otolaryngological Society of Australia and state representative to their Federal Council and chairman of the Hornsby Ku-ring-gai Hospital Visiting Medical Officers’ Council.

As a medical student, he supported the Sydney University Musical Society as both a tenor and a violinist. In 1949, playing violin, he won the Instrumental Section of the Federated Music Clubs of NSW Scholarship. After his retirement in 1997, he vigorously pursued his passion for the violin, which he had played from the age of 6 years. He played with many musical groups, including the NSW Doctors and the Australian Doctors orchestras, Orchestra 143 and the Amateur Chamber Music Society. Brian also enjoyed tennis, golf, bridge, walking, the Probus club and the Shore School Archives.

Brian was a kind, sincere friend and compassionate doctor. He died on 18 January 2017. He is survived by his wife Margaret, his children Don and Christine, and his grandchildren Paige, Arabella, Myles and Eloise.

The Brian Shearman Memorial Prize (https://sydneyeisteddfod.com.au/new-scholarship-added-thanks-to-dr-brian-shearman-memorial-fund) has been established through the Sydney Eisteddfod organisation to be awarded in conjunction with the NSW Doctors Orchestra Instrumental Scholarship for young musicians. Donations are welcome through Sydney Eisteddfod (Sydney Eisteddfod; BSB 062 005; account 2801 5557; ref. Dr Brian Shearman).