Heaphy

Cyril Ashley Heaphy....... (1918 - 1988)

Cyril, known as Ashley, was born on the lst May 1918 at Greymouth. Ashley was the third son of Philip Courtney and Miriam Julia (nee Dunn) Heaphy. He was educated at the Marist Brothers School in Greymouth and St Patrick’s College, Silverstream. He then went onto Otago University when he graduated with an MB, ChB, in 1942. On completion of his house surgeon year at Christchurch Hospital, he joined the medical unit of the NZEF, serving in the Middle East & Italy. It was while training at Burnham Military Camp, he met and married Barbara Lindop, a nurse serving with the medical unit there.

On the cessation of hostilities Ash returned to the West Coast and in 1946 went into private practice opening a surgery on the corner of Cinnamon and Church Street - the house being 26 Church Street. This was an extensive area covering the town of Reefton and the Inangahua County and as far as Ikamatua in the south. As well as conducting his general , practice, he also became Medical Superintendent of Reefton Hospital.

After working in Reefton for 21 years, he undertook a Colombo Plan assignment with the NZ Surgical Unit at Oui Nhon in Vietnam. However while there he became seriously ill and was invalided home. After a period of recuperation he spent a short time at Grey hospital before transferring to the medical staff of Ngawhatu Hospital, Nelson, where he remained until ill health forced him into retirement. His retirement years were spent in Nelson.

He was proficient in all branches of medicine, whether it was as a physician, surgeon, gynaecologist, obstetrician, etc., and always maintained the highest principles of his profession and his Catholic faith.

All his life Ash was an active member of the Catholic church - he was always interested in the community affairs of Reefton and knew and took a great interest in all Reefton people.
He was a keen follower of sport, particularly rugby, tennis and athletics. He read very widely and always, even in his retirement, kept abreast of developments in the medical field and the Catholic church. Ash died on the 3rd April, 1988, and is survived by his wife of 44 years, one son and five daughters.