Interview With Guy Joseph Livingstone Hamilton / By John Bannister

Summary

Born in England 1923, within a family of doctors, Guy Hamilton became a medical practitioner. Youngest son born with deafness and cerebral palsy. In 1956 contracted polio after applying for position at the Spastic Centre. Interviewed in hospital, accepted for the post and migrated with his family in 1957. Spastic Centre for 4 years. In 1961 joined Mental Health Services and became physician at Claremont Mental Hospital. Mental disability had very low priority in treatment and care. He outlines problems. Eventually succeeding in removing all the children from Claremont into the community and commencing the highly successful course for Social Trainers. Founding member of the Australian Group for the Scientific Study of Mental Deficiency. Was involved in the purchase of "Tresillian Hospital" in Nedlands and the eventual eviction on emotional and political grounds. He continues to stress the need for greater community understanding of intellectually disabled persons.