John Bomford will be remembered as the “father of psychiatry” in Bendigo.
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Dr Bomford died last Saturday aged 90.
He was known for his innovation in the psychiatry community and installing practices and services that are still used today.
A tribute from Bendigo Health published in the Bendigo Advertiser said Dr Bomford was instrumental in establishing the Bendigo Psychiatric Centre along with instituting broad based mental health services in the Loddon Mallee region.
“Dr Bomford's contribution to Bendigo Health and psychiatric services is highly regarded by past and present Board of Directors and staff,” it read.
Dr Bomford moved to Bendigo from his native United Kingdom in 1964 to establish the Bendigo Psychiatric Service, which survived until the mid-1990s.
“I arrived in Bendigo in 1964 and did the best I could with the idea of starting a service,” he told the Bendigo Advertiser in 2016.
In 1970 he became the first Director of the Bendigo Psychiatric Centre and held the position until 1987.
Executive director of psychiatric services at Bendigo Health Phil Tune said Dr Bomford was held in very high regard by all who worked with him.
“He was well known for introducing practices 40 years ago which are only now gaining mainstream currency,” Dr Tune said.
“Those who worked with him describe him as very down to earth and personable, caring, passionately committed to his work and someone who knew everyone by name.
“He brought modern psychiatric practice to Bendigo and was a central figure in the design and construction of the Bendigo Psychiatric Centre.”
Some of the ideas he was committed to in the 1970s included de-mystifying mental illnesses, educating a wide variety of community members in supporting patients with psychiatric conditions and viewing patients as people first.
“He inspired great devotion among those who worked with him and were treated by him,” Dr Tune said.
“His influence has extended for nearly 30 years since his retirement.
“Those who worked with him describe him as very down to earth and personable, caring, passionately committed to his work and someone who knew everyone by name.
His career in Bendigo was distinguished by his commitment to providing quality psychiatric services and interest in professional education.
Dr Tune said the blueprint of services Dr Bomford developed was still used at Bendigo Psychiatric Centre were still followed today.
“He introduced the inpatient services provided at the Psychiatric Centre, which included acute and longer term care, as well as outpatient services across the region,” Dr Tune said.
“So he set the blueprint which we still follow today. But aside from the structure, he was responsible for creating a culture within the service through leadership and education.
“Some of the important principles were dealing with everyone as equals, involving patients in their own care, setting up supports so that patients moving from an institutional setting back into a community setting would make a successful transition in the long term, and trying new approaches.”
Another of his major achievements was developing a crisis intervention model that could be used by both volunteers and health professionals.
He and his wife taught the method to volunteers and professonals throughout Victoria.
After jokingly suggesting he would become an Australian citizen if Australia won the America’s Cup in 1983, Dr Bomford changed his allegiance “from the Queen of England to the Queen of Australia” in the former Shire of Strathfieldsaye Council offices on September 27 of that year.
In 1998, Bendigo Health’s mental health clinic in Kennington – the John Bomford Centre – was named after him.
It serves as the “nerve centre for psychiatric outreach to patients and their families in the Bendigo region” and was named for him to recognise Dr Bomford’s many years of service to the people of the Bendigo region.
In 2016 Dr Bomford wrote a book about the history of the Bendigo Psychiatric Service after being inspired by a former patient who painted his portrait to enter into the Archibald Prize.
He leaves behind his wife of 38 years, Nancy, his children Nicholas and Nancy, daughter-in-law Janette and grandchildren Lucy, Tessa and Rinzey.
A Thanksgiving Service for the life of Dr Bomford will be held at St Andrew's Uniting Church, Myers Street, Bendigo on Thursday, January 25, at 1.30 pm.
In memory of John, the family have requested that you wear colourful and comfortable clothes.