William (Bill) Arnold Conolly was the second son of Arnold Conolly, a government architect who was subsequently ordained as a minister of the Church of England. He was educated at Maitland Boys’ High School, and the University of Sydney, graduating in Medicine in 1925. He was not a socialite but was keen on sport, being able to wield the cricket bat and the racket. Bill had represented his year in Inter-Faculty cricket. In 1923 he undertook the arduous and thankless job of librarian at Royal Prince Albert Hospital. A keen student – with credit in his second and fourth years – he was regarded as a jolly good chap and held in high regard by his peers.
A hard-working country doctor
Dr Conolly was a hard-working country doctor in New South Wales where he practised at Morlong (1927-37) and at Cessnock (1937-54), entering fully into the life of the community he served. His time at Cessnock was interrupted by a period of war service. He worked as an Army Medical Officer from 1940-44, including time in New Guinea serving in the second Australian Imperial Force, attaining the rank of major. Then later as Medical Officer (1954-58), Chief Medical Officer (1958-67) to the New South Wales Department of Government Transport and Rehabilitation Medical Officer at Royal South Sydney Hospital and with the Department of Repatriation.
He also gave long and distinguished service to the St. John Ambulance Brigade and to the Order of St. John of Jerusalem and he was a Knight of that Order.
A quiet leader amongst men
Dr Conolly’s greatest contribution was that he was a founder of the Australian College of General Practitioners. He was first Chairman of the College Council 1958-59, first President of the College 1959-61, Censor-in-Chief 1962-68, a member of the College Council 1958-73 and Honorary Director of the College Development and Research Fund from 1961 to the time of his death.
He also served on the University of Sydney Post-Graduate Committee in Medicine, and on the NSW Executive of the Medical Benefits Fund of Australia, and on the NSW Bush Nurses’ Association and on numerous other committees.
Dr Conolly was a wise counsellor, a leader in the community and a doctor who always practiced medicine with the highest ethical standards. But despite his attainments he remained a modest and unassuming man.
A sound supporter for an Australian college of general practitioners
Dr Bill Conolly canvassed support for the foundation of an Australian college of general practitioners from his fellow general practitioners after returning from a trip to England in 1952 where the possible foundation of a British college was being considered.
“As an Australian who has been in general practice for more than twenty-five years, I would like to add my support to the formation of a college of general practitioners…If this college is to be founded soundly and expediently, I trust the Steering Committee will give to those who practise in other parts of our great Commonwealth the opportunity to co-operate.”
The William Arnold Conolly Oration
In 1970 in acknowledgement of Dr Conolly’s tireless efforts in the formation and the early days of the College, an annual oration was named in his honour.
In 2001 Dr Conolly’s son, Associate Professor W Bruce Conolly AM, a world-renowned and respected professor of hand surgery was the orator of the thirtieth William Arnold Conolly Oration. His oration was titled “The hand that heals around the world”.
Based on a poster produced by RACGP in 2001.
William A. Conolly Obituary – written by H. Stuart Patterson. Published in The Medical Journal of Australia (MJA), 6 February 1982, p.142.