Obituaries Australia

Dr. Peter Lalor, senior medical officer at Sunbury (Vic.) Hospital for thc Insane, died on Tuesday. He had a severe attack of pleurisy a few months ago, and since then his health had not been satisfactory.

He was a grandson of Mr. Peter Lalor, the hero of the Eureka (Vic.) Stockade, and a former Speaker of the Victorian Legislative Assembly (1880-87). Educated up to the matriculation standard at Xavier College, Kew, Dr. Lalor passed on to the Melbourne University, where he took his degree as Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery. He joined the professional division of the Hospital for the Insane staff 10 years ago, and served at Kew, Ararat, and Sunbury Asylums. For a while he was lent to the Tasmanian Government to take charge of the mental asylum at New Norfolk while Dr. S. Morris went on war service, and took up his duties there on May 11 1918.

From the very beginning Dr. Lalor won the respect of every member of the New Norfolk Hospital staff; and was very popular among them. He was ever ready to assist in raising funds to provide for those on active service, and by his excellent management and energetic work a considerable amount of money was raised. At the conclusion of the war he was made secretary to the repatriation committee which had been formed in the district mainly through his efforts. He was one of the prime movers in the erection of a war memorial at New Norfolk. He took a keen interest in public affairs, and did excellent work in the preliminary arrangements for the establishment of a Convent school at New Norfolk, which has since been erected. He was noted for his generosity, and gave the use of his home for functions in aid of any worthy cause. He vacated his position at the Mental Hospital in 1919, when the present medical superintendent, Dr. E. McDonnell, was appointed. Dr. Lalor, who was 39 years of age, leaves a widow and four young children.