Herbert Bullmore

Herbert Bullmore

Birth name	Herbert Henry Bullmore
Date of birth	12 July 1874
Place of birth	Ipswich, Queensland, Australia
Date of death	28 December 1937(1937-12-28) (aged 63)
Place of death	Point Piper, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
School	Ipswich Grammar School
University	University of Edinburgh
Occupation(s)	physician
Rugby union career
Position(s) Forward Amateur team(s) Years Team Apps (Points) Edinburgh University RFC () Provincial / State sides Years Team Apps (Points) Queensland () International career Years Team Apps (Points) 1902 Scotland 1 (0)

Herbert Henry Bullmore (12 July 1874 – 28 December 1937) was a rugby union player who represented Scotland, a leading physician and the grandfather of Australian media magnate Kerry Packer.

Life history

Bullmore was born in Ipswich, Queensland in 1874,[1] the only son, along with five daughters,[2] of grazier and unsuccessful political candidate Edward Augustus Bullmore, Esq[3] and Caroline Frederica Bullmore,[4] and was educated at Ipswich Grammar School, Queensland. While in Australia, Bullmore made a name for himself as a sportsman, going as far as being chosen to represent Queensland at rugby union.[5] Bullmore spent three years studying law, before deciding to undertake medical studies at the University of Edinburgh in Scotland, graduating in 1902.[5] During this time Bullmore continued to indulge his sporting nature, gaining a blue in football and rowing[6] and starring as a sturdy second-rower for the university rugby union team. From 1901 to 1902 Bullmore was President of Edinburgh University Union.[7] By dint of his medical degree at Edinburgh, Bullmore was available for selection to the Scotland rugby teams[8] and was selected to represent Scotland as a forward in a match against Ireland in Belfast on 22 February 1902, with Scotland losing 5–0.[9][10]

Bullmore with the Edinburgh University team of 1900/01. Bullmore is back row, fourth from left.

Bullmore served as a resident at the Royal Infirmary and at the Children's Hospital, Edinburgh, gaining his Membership of the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh in 1904.[6] He then practised in Bath for a while before returning to Australia to practice as a consulting physician in Sydney.[6]

Appointed an honorary physician at St Vincent's Hospital, Sydney, in 1912, Bullmore treated leading Australian cricketer Victor Trumper during Trumper's final days suffering from Bright's disease.[9] Bullmore would later also be appointed honorary physician at the Prince of Wales Hospital, Sydney, in 193, was an honorary major in the Australian Army Medical Corps[6] and one of the founders of the Royal Australasian College of Physicians.[11]

While Bullmore retired from rugby, soccer and rowing to concentrate on his medical career, he continued to be involved in sporting interests, including motor cycling, tennis, golf and angling.[6]

Bullmore died suddenly at his residence "Altona" in Point Piper, Sydney on 28 December 1937.[12] His funeral was held at All Saints Church, Woollahra and was cremated.[13] His estate was worth £9,944.[14]

Personal life

Bullmore married Melbourne-born Elfrida Buttner, the daughter of Dr Alexander Buttner, at St Andrew's Church, Ashley-place, London on 24 August 1904[3] and together they had a son and four daughters. Bullmore's son Herbert James Bullmore was a Flyer-Officer in the Royal Australian Air Force who was killed in action in New Guinea during World War II,[15] while one of Bullmore's daughters was Mary Horden, fashion editor of The Australian Women's Weekly from 1946 to 1957[15] and another was Gretel Packer, the wife of Sir Frank Packer and the mother of Australian media magnate Kerry Packer.[8]

References

1. "Players & Officials/Herbert Bullmore". ESPNscrum. Retrieved 12 July 2012.
2. "Ipswich". CORNWALL ONLINE PARISH CLERKS. Archived from the original on 20 March 2012. Retrieved 12 July 2012.
3. "Marriages", The Argus, 30 September 1904, p. 1.
4. Hall, Kerry. "Ipswich General Anglican "B" Section". Australian Cemeteries. Retrieved 12 July 2012.
5. "Dr H. Bullmore: Death announced". The Sydney Morning Herald. trove.nla.gov.au. 29 December 1937. Retrieved 12 July 2012.
6. Roseby, D. "College Roll: Bullmore, Herbert Henry". racp.edu.au. Royal Australasian College of Physicians. Archived from the original on 30 March 2012. Retrieved 12 July 2012.
7. Catto, Iain, ed. (1989). 'No spirits and precious few women', Edinburgh University Union 1889-1989. Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Union. p. 116.
8. "For the love of rugby, not country". Rugby Union Rules. rugbyunionrules. Archived from the original on 1 February 2013. Retrieved 12 July 2012.
9. Growden, Greg. "Australians breathe life into Scots' game". The Age. Retrieved 12 July 2012.
10. "Home Nations – Belfast, 22 February 1902: Ireland 5 – 0 Scotland". ESPNscrum. Retrieved 12 July 2012.
11. Hall, Sandra (2010). Tabloid Man: The Life and Times of Ezra Norton. Sydney: HarperCollins. p. 201. ISBN 9780730400684.
12. "Family Notices", The Sydney Morning Herald, 29 December 1937, p. 10.
13. "Family Notices", The Sydney Morning Herald, 29 December 1937, p. 9.
14. "Probate of will", The Sydney Morning Herald, 9 June 1938, p. 5.
15. "Death of Mrs Mary Horden". The Australian Women's Weekly. 21 June 1961. p. 2.