Edward Willis Way

Dr. Edward Willis Way(c.1847 – 28 September 1901), frequently written as "E. Willis Way", was a noted medical doctor and surgeon in the early days of thecolony of South Australia.

Early life and education

Way was a son of Rev.James Wayof theBible Christian Church,and brother ofSir Samuel Way,the noted jurist, and left forAdelaidewith his parents as a young child in theAnna Maria,arriving on 14 November 1850.He was educated atAEIandSt. Peter's Collegebefore studying medicine atGuy's Hospitaland theUniversity of Edinburgh.

Career

He returned to Adelaide and soon had a lucrative practice, though pursuit of wealth was not his prime concern.He was Medical Officer to the Stockade (laterYatala Labour Prison) and Health Officer to theAdelaide City Council.He established his own private hospital (previously Miss Baker's Private Hospital?) inNorth Adelaide.He lectured inobstetricsandgynaecologyat theUniversity of Adelaide.

Much of his work at theNorth Adelaide Hospitalwas taken over by James Alexander Greer Hamilton (c.1853 – 8 October 1925).

Way also worked at thePrivate Hospital, Wakefield Streetand was Honorary Gynaecologist (and Physician) at theAdelaide Hospital.He was President of theSouth Australianbranch of theBritish Medical Associationfrom 1892 to 1893.

Hospital controversy

Adelaide Hospital in the last decade of the 19th century was a dysfunctional workplace, riven with jealousies and intrigues. In 1895 aRoyal Commissionwas called to investigate a promotion seen as favouritism, and the sacking of nurseGraham.Around the beginning of 1896 the Board of Adelaide Hospital, of which Way was a member, made changes in the nursing structure,one of the results being the promotion of Bessie Way, one of his daughters, to the position of Charge Nurse. PremierKingston,who bore an antagonism towards Way, accused him ofnepotism.Nurse Way avoided the disagreeable situation by accepting a somewhat better position with the Kalgoorlie Hospital inWestern Australia.Kalgoorliebecame the home of most, if not all, of his children.

Family

He was brother ofSir Samuel Wayand close friend of brother-in-law theHon. Dr. Allan Campbell.

He and his wife (c.1850 – 20 October 1906) had a home onNorth Terrace, Adelaideand another residence atStrangways Terrace,North Adelaide. Among their children were:

• Inman Way, Resident Medical Officer, of Kalgoorlie Hospital.
• Eldest daughter Florence Jane Elizabeth "Bessie" Way (died 14 July 1949) married Arthur Vernon Harvey (1864 – 30 August 1901), mining investor of Kalgoorlie, and son ofArthur Harveyon 7 October 1896. He was killed atDevondale, South Africain the South African War.She married again, to Captain C(harles) Stanley Tratman of the 22nd Battalion, 8th Brigade,1st AIF,on 19 October 1915. She was first matron of Kalgoorlie Hospital, then its secretary, later matron of Ru Rua Hospital, North Adelaide.
• Second daughter Kate Isabel married William Arthur Irwin (ca.1860 – 12 October 1939), surveyor, on 18 April 1898, lived at South Perth.
• Third daughter Grace Mary "Gracie" Way married Henry Offley Irwin M.B., B.S. (ca.1871 – 31 January 1939) on 14 March 1898, lived at Boulder, Western Australia.
• Youngest daughter Marian married general practitioner (Arthur) Waldo Connelly (died 27 July 1946), ofBoulder, Western Australiaon 4 March 1903; later ofCamberwell, Victoria.

Death

He died suddenly on 28 September 1901, while performing a surgical operation at his private hospital, and was buried at the North Road Cemetery. A parliamentary debate on matters critical of Chief Justice Way was postponed out of respect for the loss of his brother.