Bertram Wainer
Encyclopedia
Bertram Wainer was a Melbourne
doctor who successfully campaigned for legal access to abortion for women in Victoria
. In the process he received multiple death threats from the police and survived at least three attempts on his life, including shootings and arson. He was also to uncover political and police corruption
.
Born in Edinburgh
, he left school at thirteen and migrated to Australia eight years later with 2s 6d in his pocket. He did many odd jobs while attending night school and later Melbourne University where he obtained his medical degree in 1958.
He became an army doctor in 1960 but resigned in 1966 as commander of a military hospital to go into private practice in St Kilda
, Melbourne.
In 1967 a young woman came to Wainer's Melbourne surgery seeking emergency treatment after a back-yard abortion. For Wainer it marked the beginning of a long struggle to overturn laws that made abortion an offense punishable by up to fifteen years in jail.
In mid 1969 Wainer raised allegations of police corruption in protecting back-yard abortion rackets. His claims were published in stories written by journalist Evan Whitton
in Melbourne's Truth
newspaper. On 9 December 1969 a series of affidavits was handed to the Solicitor-General, Basil Murray QC. They alleged that police were protecting doctors as well as back-yard abortionists, including Charles Wyatt
, a former Victorian police officer.
During the six months Wainer had complained Jack Ford had been promoted to the head of the Homicide squad. An inquiry which commenced in early 1970 headed by William Kaye QC saw Ford and another Superintendent, Jack Matthews, jailed for five years. Martin Jacobsen, a constable, was jailed for three years.
The inquiry revealed an institutionalised and systematic graft dating back to about 1953, two years before Bolte's arrival, and in the days of Premier John Cain (senior)
.
He opened a Fertility Control Clinic in East Melbourne in 1972: the first in Australia where public access to abortion could be obtained with no upfront fees.
In 1975, Wainer was interviewed on the ABC TV Norman Gunston
show.
He died of a heart attack
in 1987 at Ararat, Victoria
.
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
doctor who successfully campaigned for legal access to abortion for women in Victoria
Victoria (Australia)
Victoria is the second most populous state in Australia. Geographically the smallest mainland state, Victoria is bordered by New South Wales, South Australia, and Tasmania on Boundary Islet to the north, west and south respectively....
. In the process he received multiple death threats from the police and survived at least three attempts on his life, including shootings and arson. He was also to uncover political and police corruption
Police corruption
Police corruption is a specific form of police misconduct designed to obtain financial benefits, other personal gain, or career advancement for a police officer or officers in exchange for not pursuing, or selectively pursuing, an investigation or arrest....
.
Born in Edinburgh
Edinburgh
Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, the second largest city in Scotland, and the eighth most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council governs one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. The council area includes urban Edinburgh and a rural area...
, he left school at thirteen and migrated to Australia eight years later with 2s 6d in his pocket. He did many odd jobs while attending night school and later Melbourne University where he obtained his medical degree in 1958.
He became an army doctor in 1960 but resigned in 1966 as commander of a military hospital to go into private practice in St Kilda
St Kilda, Victoria
St Kilda is an inner city suburb of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 6 km south from Melbourne's central business district. Its Local Government Area is the City of Port Phillip...
, Melbourne.
In 1967 a young woman came to Wainer's Melbourne surgery seeking emergency treatment after a back-yard abortion. For Wainer it marked the beginning of a long struggle to overturn laws that made abortion an offense punishable by up to fifteen years in jail.
In mid 1969 Wainer raised allegations of police corruption in protecting back-yard abortion rackets. His claims were published in stories written by journalist Evan Whitton
Evan Whitton
Evan Whitton is an Australian journalist who currently is a columnist the online legal journal Justinian. He was editor of The National Times from 1978 to 1981, Chief Reporter and European Correspondent for The Sydney Morning Herald, Reader in Journalism at the University of Queensland, Journalist...
in Melbourne's Truth
The Truth (newspaper)
The Truth was a Melbourne tabloid newspaper established in 1902 as a subsidiary of the Sydney Truth, established in 1890.In its early years its politics was very much left-leaning, and it painted itself as the voice of the working class. Before 1945 it had a style of journalism that was high...
newspaper. On 9 December 1969 a series of affidavits was handed to the Solicitor-General, Basil Murray QC. They alleged that police were protecting doctors as well as back-yard abortionists, including Charles Wyatt
Charles Wyatt
For musician and writer see Charles Wyatt .Charles Wyatt was an English architect and Member of Parliament for Sudbury, Suffolk....
, a former Victorian police officer.
During the six months Wainer had complained Jack Ford had been promoted to the head of the Homicide squad. An inquiry which commenced in early 1970 headed by William Kaye QC saw Ford and another Superintendent, Jack Matthews, jailed for five years. Martin Jacobsen, a constable, was jailed for three years.
The inquiry revealed an institutionalised and systematic graft dating back to about 1953, two years before Bolte's arrival, and in the days of Premier John Cain (senior)
John Cain (senior)
John Cain was an Australian politician, who became the 34th premier of Victoria, and was the first Australian Labor Party leader to win a majority in the Victorian Legislative Assembly. He was the only premier of Victoria whose son also served as premier.-Early life:Cain was born, one of 18...
.
He opened a Fertility Control Clinic in East Melbourne in 1972: the first in Australia where public access to abortion could be obtained with no upfront fees.
In 1975, Wainer was interviewed on the ABC TV Norman Gunston
Norman Gunston
Norman Gunston was a satirical TV character performed by Australian actor and comedian Garry McDonald. Norman Gunston was primarily well known in his native Australia, and to a lesser extent, the United States during the mid to late 1970s.- Early years :...
show.
He died of a heart attack
Myocardial infarction
Myocardial infarction or acute myocardial infarction , commonly known as a heart attack, results from the interruption of blood supply to a part of the heart, causing heart cells to die...
in 1987 at Ararat, Victoria
Ararat, Victoria
Ararat is a city in south-west Victoria, Australia, about west of Melbourne, on the Western Highway on the eastern slopes of the Ararat Hills and Cemetery Creek valley between Victoria's Western District and the Wimmera...
.