A.S.E. Inc. Honorary Life Membership = Dr G.J. Shearer

Gilbert James Shearer was bom in Esk. Queenslanc - a sleepy little town just west of Brisbane on August 23, 1937. His early schooling took place at Somerset Dam Primary School 2nd later he went to Church of England Grammar School as it was t7en known in Brisbane. Here he left his mark in the sporting arena representing the school in cricket and in rugby. After completing his r.chooling in 1955. Gil worked for the Shell Company of Australia fo- two year's before commencing dentistry in 1958. He graduated from the University of Queensland Dental School in 1962. and in his years at University played rugby for the Queensland University team and represented the state of Queensland in rugby. GiI took cff on a boat to England immediately after his graduation where he practised from 1962 to 1964. In 1964 he practised in RhodesiaZimbabwe and also practised for a short while in South Afnca.

Subsequently Gil returned to Brisbane. Australia in I365 with h s wife Liz - who he met whilst overseas. Liz's family came from Somerset West just oulside of Capetown in South Africa. GiI returned to Australia in 1965 where he set up his cwn private practice in Kelvin Grove, an inner Brisbane suburb. la 1966 he joined the ASE Qld Branch at which point Gil describe; himself as being "endodontically illiterate".

Gil took a one-year break from practice in Australia when he returned to South Africa during 1969. In I970 he returned to his original practice which is still ongoing.

During I977 Gil limited his practice to Endodontics and began accepting referrals. During the 1970s Gil had two tenns as State President of the AS€ Qld Branch and in 1983-84 was President of the ASE Inc. Gil has been the driving force behind the Queensland Branch for the last 20 years and was awarded Life Membership of the Branch in 1994. His enthusiasm for his profession. ha colleagues, and his specialty of Endodontics are second to none, and he inspired and continues to inspire a great many fellow practitioners to improve their education and practice of

GI1 Sheorer, left. recewing his swords from Mark Wotzke (centre) and )ohn McNamara.

Endodontics GiI is currently in a group Endodontic Practice with five colleagues He has contributed to the Postgraduate Training Programme in Endodontics at the University of Queensland on an Honorary Basis for the last eight years and is widely recognised by his peers as an astute diagnostician and a clinician with excellent skills

GiI has been running hands-on courses throughout Queensland for the past three years and during the past two years in particular has had a constant course running on a regular basis which has helped upgrade the skills of many General Practitioners

Gil's social interests include golf, where he confesses to a myriad of tutors and hours of lessons and says he is still yet to find the secret Gil's other sporting love is rugby He is still actively involved in the University of Queensland Rugby Club and is a keen follower of the Queensland Reds Rugby Team

In recent times GiI has enjoyed the experience of becoming a grandfather His daughter Gina and son-in-law Hamish having two children now - Eloise and more recently Charlie Gil's family is also involved in running a travel business where his eldest son Simon is manager, and Liz takes an active role in looking after things also His daughter Nicola is an up-and-coming artist and younger son Ben involved in property development and management

GiI has contributed widely to the dental community and also the community at large, being involved in a major restoration project in a prominent area on the Brisbane nverfront. Gil's tremendous enthusiasm for people and the great personal interests he takes in his family, staff and colleagues has made him a popular figure in Brisbane In particular. his contributions to Endodontics in Queensland and Australia have been tremendous His life membership is richly deserved

Congratulations Gilbert!

John McNamara

GI at work wth staf

AUSTRALIAN ENDODONTIC JOURNAL VOLUME 24 No. 2 AUGUST I998 PAGE 59