Wilton Campbell Carter
6 October 1935 - 28 February 2013
Orthopedic Surgeon
Wilton Campbell Carter was born in Coburg on 6 October 1935. He lived in Coburg and went to school there graduating from the Coburg high school. With a scholarship from the Dafyyd Lewis Trust and a Commonwealth scholarship he went to Melbourne University where he studied medicine.
After his graduation in 1958 he worked at the Royal Melbourne Hospital undertaking his surgical/orthopaedic training. He also worked as anatomy demonstrator at the University of Melbourne. He qualified as a surgeon receiving his FRACS in 1964. During 1963 he had spent some time in Ballarat with Mr John Jens and Mr Ron Beetham in the orthopaedic department at SJOG and he commenced working there on a permanent basis in early 1964. In October of 1964 he married Skeet (nee Allen) and they went to England in December 1965 where Wilton spent a year involved in postgraduate training at the Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital.
On his return to Ballarat he continued his work in the orthopaedic department at SJOG Hospital and rapidly developed a large orthopaedic practice including providing orthopaedic services to the surrounding towns of Camperdown, Cobden and Ararat.
He was made an honorary at the Ballarat Base Hospital in 1974 and continued to work there for the next twenty years. He went to Indonesia working with World Orthopaedic Concern and was involved in the surgical training programme. In Victoria he was involved with the Rural Surgeons' executive.
He was a very skillful and caring orthopaedic surgeon whose major practice interests included paediatrics and road trauma. He had excellent recall of patients' names and the operation they were about to have or had had, when on ward rounds or when instructing his staff in regard to further arrangements.
In 1989 he had a stroke and after his recovery he changed his practice and performed medicolegal work as well as assisting in theatre where he shared his extensive knowledge and experience of orthopaedics. He retired in 2005.
Wilton developed renal failure and was on dialysis for the last six years of his life. He again adapted to this physical challenge and went on several holidays including cruises where dialysis was provided. He had reached the stage in life where his four sons and their partners were having children and he spent 'good times' with all of his grandchildren.
His other external interests included his beloved Carlton (he was at many of their premiership victories) and his involvement in the Ballarat Wine and Food Society and the Ballarat Epicurean.
He was an outgoing and intelligent man who enjoyed life, was a great organiser of entertainment where he was often the life and soul of the gathering and he had a great sense of humour. He was very adept at using fireworks to entertain, a talent he first displayed whilst working as a houseman at the Royal Melbourne Hospital.
Wilton is survived by his wife Skeet and their four sons Lachlan, Michael, Anthony and Rohan and by their eight grandchildren. Skeet trained as a registered nurse and initially worked on the same ward as Wilton at the Royal Melbourne. She went to England after qualifying and on her return she worked at the Fairfield hospital. She met Wilton at a Christmas party and their relationship blossomed. She has been a supportive, devoted and caring wife (for forty eight years) and after the children left home she returned to work in the health industry.
Obituary kindly provided by John Bourke and Don Moss.