Adrian Dawson was born in Brisbane, lost his father at age 11, the family moved to Sydney and he was educated at Knox College, began medicine in 1940-- did the foreshortened course because of the war [no holidays!] graduated with honours, and after residency at RPAH did locums before a year at MMH, then years in GP with Dr. Bill Ferguson at Mayfield before doing his higher degree and specialising in neurology -the first neurologist in Newcastle.

He had an intimate knowledge of the old Lodge system, the times when all consultants were Honorary, and when most of the obstetrics in Newcastle was done by Goshen, one of the first specialists to get his higher degree from general practice, and saw the change s which made this impossible in later years.

He had to do neurology in the years when investigations were quite primitive, and the results from neurosurgery were extremely poor. Adrian was a gentleman of the old school, and of course the pioneer in neurology in the Hunter Region,-his philosophy of life, and views on what it really takes to be a "good doctor” are inspirational.