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- Doctor considered father of Abbeyfield
The Nelson mail, 23 Mar 2005
The man described as the ?father? of Abbeyfield in New Zealand and the archetypal rural general practitioner has left a formidable legacy of achievement.
Former Wakefield GP Dr Edward (Ted) Bassett, OBE, died earlier this month. He was 78.
He was labeled the father of the Abbeyfield movement, which provides community housing for the elderly, and colleagues described him as the archetypal rural GP, an iconic figure in the field, and despite all his achievements a humble and down-to-earth figure.
Dr Bassett was Wakefield?s GP for 37 years, the driving force behind construction of the Rotoiti Chapel and the Noel Oxenham Rest Units at St Arnaud.
He was chairman of the Nelson and national Abbeyfield movements, which has set up elderly communal homes in Stoke, Motueka and Takaka.
For 13 years he was chairman of the Wakefield Residents and Ratepayers Association, and served on the Nelson Hospital Board for 15 years.
He was a fellow of the Royal New Zealand College of General Practitioners and in 1988 he received an OBE for service to medicine and the community.
Born in Levin in 1926, his early schooling was at Levin and Fielding and Wanganui. He studied medicine at Otago University where he met Myra Collier, who he married in 1951.
They moved to Nelson in 1953 where Dr Bassett was a house surgeon at Nelson Hospital.
He also worked in Westport and Collingwood before they moved to Wakefield in 1957, where Dr. Bassett took up a sole GP?s position.
Widely involved in the Wakefield community, Dr Bassett was instrumental in the fight to retain the Wakefield police station which was threatened with closure in 1982.
Dr Bassett retired as a GP in 1994.
He had a well-regarded baritone voice and sang for many years with the Nelson Male Voice Choir and various smaller groups.
He died in his sleep on March 12.
He is survived by son David and daughters Wendy Hansen and Rosalind Black, and four grandchildren.
The New Zealand Medical Journal
1 Apr 2005, Vol 118 No. 1212
Edward Bassett
Edward (Ted) was General Practitioner for Wakefield, Nelson and the surrounding rural areas for 38 years. He was very involved with local community affairs in Wakefield and the wider Nelson region as well as in the Royal New Zealand College of GPs (RNZCGP).
He was awarded an OBE in the Queen?s Birthday Honours List for Services to Medicine and the Community in 1988; Fellowship of RNZCGP in 1980, the College Gold Medal in 1988; and Honorary Fellowship of both RCGP and RACGP in 1989.
Born in Levin in 1926, his early schooling was at Levin and Fielding and subsequently Wanganui Technical School where he was Head Prefect.
He then attended Otago University where he initially started a science degree and went on to Medical School, graduating in 1953.
While in Dunedin, he met Myra Collier and they were married in 1951.
Myra played an integral role in his subsequent life when his many activities and care for others took him away from home a lot. They were very much a partnership.
After graduation from Otago, he worked as House Surgeon at Nelson Hospital, Registrar at Buller Hospital in Westport, and undertook a year?s general practice in the Collingwood Special Area, a time in which he and Myra made long-lasting friendships.
He also took up solo General Practice at Wakefield in 1957, covering a large rural area with one other GP, Dr John Davis, and John?s wife, Gladys.
He attained Membership of RCGP in 1962 and was a foundation Member of NZCGP in 1974. He held many positions of responsibility within the College and kindly hosted trainee interns and GPTP registrars.
In Nelson, he was Secretary of the RNZCGP Subfaculty for many years, and was responsible for organising regular meetings of GPs which were very well appreciated by his colleagues and were a forerunner of the present day peer-review groups.
He helped many new GPs coming in to the area with practical advice and encouragement and initiated a GP training programme in Nelson; he also continued to be active in the Subfaculty as Treasurer and as a mentor after his retirement from practice in 1994. He was also President of the Nelson Division of NZMA for some years.
He was a member of the Nelson Hospital Board for 15 years, being Deputy Chair for 8 years and Acting Chair for 1 year.
He had a particular interest in the care of the elderly; for example he was:
? Chairman of the Nelson Regional Coordinating Committee for Accommodation for the Aged for 20 years from its foundation.
? Chairman of Nelson Area Health Board Service Development Group for Care of the Aged.
? Member of Green Gables Home and Hospital Management Committee and Trust Board.
? Part of the Establishment Committee for the Wakefield Village Rest Home, and subsequently on the Management Committee.
? And, in 1989, he was awarded the Christian Hospital Trust Study Award for Geriatrics which he used to explore various forms of residential care for the elderly, resulting in him introducing the Abbeyfield concept to NZ. He was Chairman of Abbeyfield Nelson from its formation in 1992?96 and subsequently Chairman of Abbeyfield NZ 1996?99. The first home in NZ was built in Nelson in 1994 and there are now several others built or planned throughout the country.
Ted was very active in the local community in Wakefield, being the instigator and one of the driving forces in the concept and building of the Wakefield and Districts Community Health Centre with its combination of the General Practice team, publicly-funded services and community input.
Ted was also Secretary of the Wakefield Methodist Church Trust for 30 years and of the Combined Wakefield Churches for 12 years, and was lay representative to the Methodist Church Conference and Synod.
At St Arnaud, where the family has a bach, he was Chairman of the Community Association and Chairman of the Lake Rotoiti Chapel Trust, and a medical assessor for the Trust?s rest units. The family spent many good times at ?the Lake? although Ted always took his medical bag, and was often called upon while there. He very much enjoyed tramping in the Lakes area. It remains a special place for the family.
As you can see, his committee work has been very extensive (he had great vision and an ability to assess new ideas, adapt these to local conditions and then drive a project through to completion) and he has made a major impact on those organisations with which he was involved, yet that is only a small part of his legacy. Of much greater significance is the personal contact he had with many individuals?whether they be patients, work colleagues, friends, or other acquaintances.
Ted enjoyed gardening, and maintained a large and productive vege garden at home. He was a member of the Wakefield Country Players for many years taking part in several productions?and he had a well regarded baritone voice and sang for many years with the Nelson Male Voice Choir and various smaller groups. Favourite performances (often impromptu) included ?Shortnin? Bread? and ?the Bold Gendarmes? and his duets with fellow GP John Davis playing violin mirrored their working relationship in Wakefield.
His colleagues describe him as ?an archetype rural GP?, ?an iconic figure in general practice?; ?a great representative of the profession?; ?a very fine man and an excellent doctor?; ?nothing but praise for his work, his ability, his temperament, and his devotion to his patients?; and ?despite all his achievements he struck me as being very humble and down-to-earth?.
Ted is remembered by many for his kindness, caring, sincerity, and humility. He never appeared rushed or stressed and was always willing to take time to listen. He could make each individual feel special. Indeed, there are many people who recall with great affection his help through difficult times and many who credit his help with positive changes in their lives.
Ted?s wife, Myra, died in July 2004. He is survived by his 3 children (David, Wendy, and Rosalind) and 4 grandchildren.
We are grateful to Tony Eames for the text of this obituary as well as Ted?s daughter, Rosalind, who provided the photograph.
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Bassett Family Association Database
1926 - 2005 (79 years)
d. 7 Apr 1984, Wanganui, New Zealand