P.O. Box 430, Townsville.
15/11/26
Secretary,
Dept. of Home and Territories,
Spring St
Melbourne
Dear Sir,
I hereby submit my application for appointment to the position of Chief Medical Officer and Chief Protector of Aborigines, North Australia.
I am 29 years of age, a graduate of Sydney University (M.B. Ch.M.) of over six years standing. Since graduation I have had a varied experience in Hospital, General and Tropical Practice, my appointment including, in addition to a Residency at the Brisbane Hospital:
Acting Medical Supt. Aramac District Hospital and Health Officer for the Shire of Aramac.
Acting Medical Supt. Hughenden District Hospital and Health Officer, Town of Hughenden, for a period of 6 months.
Acting Medical Supt. Longreach District Hospital and Medical Officer under the Venereal Diseases Regulations, Longreach District, for a period of 10 months.
Medical Officer in Charge, Wattlebrae Plague and Infectious Diseases Hospital, Brisbane, for a period of 3 months.
In 1923, at the London School of Tropical Medicine, I completed the prescribed course in Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, passing the Examination with Distinction and securing the Diploma in Tropical Medicine and Hygiene granted by the London Conjoint Board.
In April of the same year, I was appointed Demonstrator in Tropical Pathology and Entomology at the School and in July was awarded the Wandsworth Research Fellowship for Research in Tropical Medicine.
During the tenure of the Wandsworth Research Scholarship, I studied Leprosy and the measures directed against it in Norway, and in coming to Australia, completed a Leprosy and Granuloma Survey of the North, from Carnarvon W.A. to Camooweal Q.. In addition I made a study of the endemicity of Leprosy in New South Wales and Queensland, for the purpose of delineating endemic areas and ascertaining the factors assisting and retarding the success of Prophylactic measures.
In December 1925, I joined the staff of the Australian Institute of tropical Medicine at Townsville, and for 6 months of the current year was engaged upon a special Epidemiological Investigation into Hookworm Disease in the Cairns and Babinda areas.
Incidentally, I completed at the University College, London, special courses in Hygiene, Bacteriology and Public health Chemistry, entitling me to sit for Part 1 of the Diploma in Public health Examination. I have also fulfilled the requirements fort part 2, but my taking up the Wandsworth Research Fellowship, prevented my sitting for these examinations, and an opportunity of doing so has not since offered.
I volunteered for Active Service on attaining the age of 18 years in 1915, but was deferred for Home Service with the object of completing the Medical Course. Later, when the ban on Medical Students was lifted I volunteered again but was again refused.
Your advertisement does not ask for testimonials, and none are therefore attached. Should such be required I will be able to forward them at short notice.
Yours very faithfully
Cecil Cook