Edward Dunlop was known for his entire adult life by the nickname he acquired at Ormond. At College, possibly during orientation, he was given the nickname ‘Weary’, a pun on ‘tired’ as he shared his surname with a tyre company.
The nickname proved ironic as Weary was energetic in sport, study and the life of the College. He represented Ormond in football, rugby, shot put and running; played a butler in the College play and served as Chair of the Students’ Club. But his activities went well beyond Ormond. He was a champion boxer, earning a University ‘blue’ and represented Australia in rugby whilst still at College. Yet he continued to find time for study, achieving first class honours as well as a prize for Chemistry. To this day, the Students’ Club awards only its highest achieving all-rounders the prize in Weary’s name.
Weary (centre, with ball) playing for Victoria whilst still a sixth-year medical student at Ormond. That year he achieved first-class honours in Medicine, Surgery as well as in Obstetrics and Gynaecology, for which he received a scholarship.
After graduating from Medicine, Weary joined the army where his leadership skills saw him promoted to lieutenant colonel. Serving as a surgeon and commander of various medical units during World War II, he became a prisoner of war in 1942. Despite threats, beatings and his own ill health, Weary administered medical treatment that saved countless lives. In addition, his leadership during this period helped sustain his fellow prisoners: he received smuggled supplies at substantial risk to himself and fostered activities and education for fellow prisoners under difficult conditions.
Weary Dunlop later in life.
Whilst Weary’s career took him all over the world, his Ormond nickname never left him. In fact, he retained a strong connection to the college which he served as a medical tutor, donor, president of the Old Ormond Students’ Association and member of the College Council.
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