Rolland O'Regan

Doctor
Rolland O'Regan
FRCS
36th Chair of Wellington Harbour Board
In office
1971–1974
Preceded by Eric Malcolm Hodder
Succeeded by Henry Alan James
Wellington City Councillor
In office
1965–1974
Personal details
Born John Arthur Rolland O'Regan
1 June 1904
Died 24 November 1992
Wellington, New Zealand
Political party Labour
Spouse(s) Rena Bradshaw
Relations Patrick O'Regan (father)
Tipene O'Regan (son)
Alma mater University of Otago
Profession Surgeon

Doctor Rolland O'Regan FRCS (born John Arthur Rolland O'Regan; 1 June 1904 – 24 November 1992) was a New Zealand surgeon, activist and politician. He was the son of judge Patrick O'Regan and the father of businessman and academic Sir Tipene O'Regan.

Biography

Early life and career

O'Regan was born in 1904 and was educated at St Patrick's College.[1] His father was Patrick O'Regan, then a Member of Parliament and later a prominent Wellington judge[2] of the Arbitration Court.

He married Rena Bradshaw (of Ngai Tahu descent) in 1932 and would later change his name by deed poll from John Arthur Rolland O'Regan to Rolland O'Regan.[2]

Medical career

He received his tertiary education at the University of Otago, where he studied medicine, graduating as a doctor in 1928.[3] He became a house surgeon at Wellington Hospital for several years, before moving to Britain to do further postgraduate studies. He returned to New Zealand and set up a medical practice of his own. He supported the First Labour Government in their reform of the healthcare system, one of only a few doctors who did so.[2]

During World War II he served as a surgeon aboard three different hospital ships (the Maunganui, Oranje and Pacific Star) where he was largely responsible for the evacuation of wounded Allied servicemen from Burma.[2]

Political career

O'Regan got his first taste of political activism when he became the chairman of the Citizens' All Black Tour Association that called for the abandonment of the 1960 All Black tour to South Africa. He unsuccessfully lobbied for the government to intervene and cancel the tour alongside such figures as George Nepia and Vincent Bevan. He remained the chairman until 1966.

In 1965 O'Regan was elected to the Wellington City Council on a Labour Party ticket.[4] He was a popular councillor, always polling highly, and topped the poll on two consecutive elections. He retired from the council in 1974. He was also a member of the Wellington Harbour Board. He was first elected in 1968 and served three years as Charman (1971–74).[5]

O'Regan stood for election to the New Zealand House of Representatives for the Labour Party for the seat of Wellington Central in 1966 finishing runner-up.[6] From 1969 to 1970 he was a member of the Labour Party executive.[1]

Later life and death

He was famed as a tireless public advocate being President of the Cancer Society, a member of the Victoria University Council, the Wellington Polytechnic Council, the Carter Observatory Board, and the Wellington Free Ambulance executive.[1]

O'Regan died in 1992.[2]

Notes

  1. 1 2 3 Traue 1978, pp. 212.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 "Former surgeon and city councillor dies". The Dominion. 24 November 1992. p. 5.
  3. ↑ "NZ university graduates 1871–1960: Mu-O". shadowsoftime. Retrieved 3 August 2018.
  4. ↑ Petersen, G.A. (23 October 1965). Declaration of Election Results (Report). Wellington City Council.
  5. ↑ Johnson, David (1996). "Members and Officers of the Wellington Harbour Board, Appendix 1". Wellington Harbour. Wellington Maritime Museum Trust. p. 475. ISBN 0958349800.
  6. ↑ Norton 1988, pp. 386.

References

  • Traue, James Edward (1978). Who's Who in New Zealand, 1978 (11th ed.). Wellington: Reed Publishing.
  • Norton, Clifford (1988). New Zealand Parliamentary Election Results 1946–1987: Occasional Publications No 1, Department of Political Science. Wellington: Victoria University of Wellington. ISBN 0-475-11200-8.
Political offices
Preceded by
Eric Malcolm Hodder		 Chair of Wellington Harbour Board
1971–1974		 Succeeded by
Henry Alan James
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