A: It’s nice to meet you Roger after all these years. I don’t know how many.
R: 15 years or so.
A: Anyway, nice to meet you again.
A: Where were you born?
R: I was born In Adelaide. In the lift of the Memorial Hospital. I was the last one of five. Mum just got to the hospital in the nick of time and they put her on a trolly and got her into the lift.
R: In the nick of time.
A: Not quiet the nick of time.
R: Well at least she was in the hospital.
A: Did you study in Adelaide?
R: I started working for Flinders University in the research lab for two years. My family didn’t have the financial resources. After working for two years, I was an independent student and could study full time.
A: Did you want to be a dentist?
R: Never wanted to be a dentist. Wanted to be a vet from the time I was eight. And I missed out by a smidge. Each year while I was working at Flinders University I would apply. Even up until third year of dentistry I would apply every year to transfer.
A: How did you finish up in dentistry?
R: I just go into it with the hope of transferring out of it. After about the third year I realised I was actually really good at it. And enjoyed it. I started dentistry with the hope of transferring out but I realised I really enjoyed it. Realised I was good with my hands and I was a people person. Might as well keep going.
A: Where was your first job?
R: When studying I came to Tasmania for a holiday. And I was in Launceston and a colleague of mine who graduated the year before walked past and he was working In Launceston and he said come up and meet my boss and I did and later his boss Philiip offered me a job.
R: And then I came and worked for Phillip for a year and a half.
A: Where was your first job in Hobart?
R: I worked for Andrew Westbrook for a year or two and then I bought in as a partner and we developed Sorell. Running it part time. Two days a week. We set it up together.
A: When you first went into dentistry what did you think of dentistry? How did you see your future?
R: I was chuffed with myself being a dentist and excited by it. I loved the patient’s reactions. I loved all the surgery. The extractions. The fillings. Even after 36 years I still clean people’s teeth. I don’t have a hygienist. There is some satisfaction in cleaning people’s teeth.
R: And over the years I have improved my skill set.
A: What do you enjoy about being a dentist nowadays?
R; The technology has changed dramatically. The advantage of 3D dentistry means we can make crowns, dentures, bridges on the same day. About ten years ago I did an implant course and began placing implants and restored them and now basically I am into placing ten implants at a time and rebuilding everything.
A: After becoming a dentist what has surprised you?
R: A pleasant surprise I was actually good at it and enjoyed it.
R: And when I grew up the smell of a dentist was over powering. It is not the same sort of horrible smell that I remembered. Whether the cleaning solutions have changed.
A: Would still like to be a vet?
R: I am really happy with the way it has turned out. I have animals at home.
A: A pet dog?
R: Yeahh. We have a cat. A dog. We’ve had guinea pigs, rabbits and birds. Birds that would land on your shoulder and fly around the house.
A: Do you have any children?
R: One son. Just finished his law science degree in Melbourne. Hopefully admitted to the bar.
R: A daughter here and she is 15.
R: Eventually Andrew reclaimed Glenorchy and I took over Sorell.
A: After you owned the Sorell practice why did you go to Melbourne?
R: I had a son In Melbourne who I used to visit very fortnight and my wife was from Melbourne and her mother was in her eighties and becoming frail and we spent five years near her mum and my son.
A: You eventually came back to Sorell.
R: I commuted. I had two dentists working for me at the time. For five years I commuted. I would get up at 4:25 on a Monday morning. Then airport and plane by six. Every single week. For five years.
R: 15 years or so.
A: Anyway, nice to meet you again.
A: Where were you born?
R: I was born In Adelaide. In the lift of the Memorial Hospital. I was the last one of five. Mum just got to the hospital in the nick of time and they put her on a trolly and got her into the lift.
R: In the nick of time.
A: Not quiet the nick of time.
R: Well at least she was in the hospital.
A: Did you study in Adelaide?
R: I started working for Flinders University in the research lab for two years. My family didn’t have the financial resources. After working for two years, I was an independent student and could study full time.
A: Did you want to be a dentist?
R: Never wanted to be a dentist. Wanted to be a vet from the time I was eight. And I missed out by a smidge. Each year while I was working at Flinders University I would apply. Even up until third year of dentistry I would apply every year to transfer.
A: How did you finish up in dentistry?
R: I just go into it with the hope of transferring out of it. After about the third year I realised I was actually really good at it. And enjoyed it. I started dentistry with the hope of transferring out but I realised I really enjoyed it. Realised I was good with my hands and I was a people person. Might as well keep going.
A: Where was your first job?
R: When studying I came to Tasmania for a holiday. And I was in Launceston and a colleague of mine who graduated the year before walked past and he was working In Launceston and he said come up and meet my boss and I did and later his boss Philiip offered me a job.
R: And then I came and worked for Phillip for a year and a half.
A: Where was your first job in Hobart?
R: I worked for Andrew Westbrook for a year or two and then I bought in as a partner and we developed Sorell. Running it part time. Two days a week. We set it up together.
A: When you first went into dentistry what did you think of dentistry? How did you see your future?
R: I was chuffed with myself being a dentist and excited by it. I loved the patient’s reactions. I loved all the surgery. The extractions. The fillings. Even after 36 years I still clean people’s teeth. I don’t have a hygienist. There is some satisfaction in cleaning people’s teeth.
R: And over the years I have improved my skill set.
A: What do you enjoy about being a dentist nowadays?
R; The technology has changed dramatically. The advantage of 3D dentistry means we can make crowns, dentures, bridges on the same day. About ten years ago I did an implant course and began placing implants and restored them and now basically I am into placing ten implants at a time and rebuilding everything.
A: After becoming a dentist what has surprised you?
R: A pleasant surprise I was actually good at it and enjoyed it.
R: And when I grew up the smell of a dentist was over powering. It is not the same sort of horrible smell that I remembered. Whether the cleaning solutions have changed.
A: Would still like to be a vet?
R: I am really happy with the way it has turned out. I have animals at home.
A: A pet dog?
R: Yeahh. We have a cat. A dog. We’ve had guinea pigs, rabbits and birds. Birds that would land on your shoulder and fly around the house.
A: Do you have any children?
R: One son. Just finished his law science degree in Melbourne. Hopefully admitted to the bar.
R: A daughter here and she is 15.
R: Eventually Andrew reclaimed Glenorchy and I took over Sorell.
A: After you owned the Sorell practice why did you go to Melbourne?
R: I had a son In Melbourne who I used to visit very fortnight and my wife was from Melbourne and her mother was in her eighties and becoming frail and we spent five years near her mum and my son.
A: You eventually came back to Sorell.
R: I commuted. I had two dentists working for me at the time. For five years I commuted. I would get up at 4:25 on a Monday morning. Then airport and plane by six. Every single week. For five years.
