Obituaries

  Obituary – Dr Wilson Daniel

Born January 1929 – Died 8^th February 2015

Wilson was a stalwart member of Clan Gunn who belonged to the Dunedin branch. His passing is of great sadness to us all as he was a man with a lot of academic talent, very humorous disposition and loved a fun time with the Clan. Despite his numerous degrees and talent with languages he always remained a humble man and liked just being one of our members. He rarely missed a Gathering and then only if he had to go away or was sick.

He was celebrating Christmas at his cousin’s house on Christmas Eve when he felt ill and was vomiting. He took himself off to hospital and was admitted, where it was discovered he had advanced cancer. He had an operation and went to Ross Home to recuperate but the cancer was too advanced and he died peacefully early in the morning as he slept on the 8^th February 2015.

He will be very sorely missed by us all in Dunedin but I am sure he will have a great time with past Clan members at any Celestial gatherings they may have. Ride the wind Wilson.

Todd Wall (aka Sonny Jim)

Dr Richard (Dick) Ewart Rawstron MD.

    Born 3rd March 1916.  Died 2nd November 2014.

" Dick was a much loved and respected member of Clan Gunn Society for many years and attended almost all Christchurch Gatherings where his wisdom and experience were deeply appreciated.  We miss him greatly".

Dick died at the amazing age of 98 years after a full and busy life.

Following a secondary education at Christchurch Technical College Dick studied at Canterbury University College. He then attended Otago Medical School in Dunedin graduating with a MB ChB in 1941.

He worked as a House Surgeon at New Plymouth Hospital for 18 months and then served as a Medical Officer in the Royal NZ Air Force during World War 2. He was based at several  NZ Air Force  Stations and then at Nausori Station in Fiji.

Dick married Jessie Gunn from Whataroa South Westland in 1945 and was stationed at Wigram Air Force Base. After several months he was transferred to Ardmore Air Force Base in Papakura, Auckland where he was discharged in late 1945. On his discharge he went to Waikato Hospital in Hamilton for 12 months. After 6 months in Sydney he went into General Practice in Hamilton.

In 1954 Dick returned to hospital work to specialize in Anesthetics, working as a Registrar with the Auckland Anesthetic Department. In 1955 he was Registrar at the Royal Children's and Royal Women's Hospitals in Melbourne.

Dick was appointed Director of Anesthesia at Palmerston North Hospital in 1957 and worked there until 1980. He gained his MD in 1973 which was on the subject of low Hemoglobin Levels in patients and how this affected them when under anesthetic.

Together with Massey University and Palmerston North Hospital Dick set up a muscle biopsy testing clinic for Malignant Hypothermia Syndrome. This laboratory is still functioning and is now the National Laboratory for muscle biopsy testing in NZ.

Over the years as an Anesthetist Dick treated some patients for persistent pain. He was several years researching this problem and spent time observing pain clinics overseas. Late in 1978 he began conducting a Pain Clinic one afternoon a week at Palmerston North Hospital.Dick traveled overseas many times to increase his experience and knowledge in his profession.

Dick enjoyed his membership in Rotary and through this organisation was enthusiastic in supporting Reg and Catherine Hamlin at the Addis Ababa Fistula Hospital in Ethiopia. After he moved to Christchurch he helped at the Pat Cotter Medical History Trust identifying medical instruments that had been donated.

Dick wrote many papers and published a number of books.He was very interested in his wife Jessie Gunns family history and enjoyed. many holidays down on the farm in Whataroa. He published the book "Gunns of Whataroa" in 2011 and had nearly completed a history of the Rawstron Family at the time of his death. This will be published in 2015. He was predeceased by his wife Jessie who died in December 1999. He is survived by his 3 sons - Anthony (Tony) Christchurch, William (Bill) Hastings,  and Robert (Rob) Auckland.