The Common Vein

September 2009

Copyright 2009

Birth date:                  1^st December 1952

School:                         King David 1955 ? 1969

Army:                           1970: 9 Months

University:                   Dental School 1971- 1976

Travel and Australia    1977 ? 1982

Postgrad:                     Orthodontics Eastman Dental Centre NY

1983 ? 1984               MS University of Rochester NY 1985

Sydney Australia         1985 to present

Family:

Wife:                           Jacqueline 46 yrs

Children:                      Jessica 19 yrs,

                                    Cameron 17 yrs

                                    Daniel 14 yrs

Contacts:

E-Mail                          Hilton@Wasi.com.au

Web                             http://www.wasi.com.au

I would like to thank you guys for your energy and effort in putting this reunion together. Unfortunately I will not be able to attend, however I have really enjoyed reading about you all.  I was so inspired by your commitment I thought I too should contribute something!

Post School

I decided to go to the army prior to starting my career, which in retrospect was the right decision.  I was sent to Lenz with Stan Seef f and as he highlighted we had some interesting times, insisting that we should be able to eat Kosher food we thus became the Cooks. We also did our Matric again to get some time out of the army. I think as a result of this we were sent to Grootfontein close to the border of Angola.  There were many memorable times, initially building the camp but also running with telephone poles and finally standing guard watching the petrol tanks without rounds.  I am proud to report that I managed to go through army training without firing a bullet!

Dental School

I then went to dental school which was somewhat enjoyable.  Probably the most memorable times spent were those when we protested on Jan Smuts Ave just outside the Dental Hospital. However, I failed second year because of biochemistry. Fortuitously though this started me on my teaching career which I have continued to enjoy over my most of my life. I tutored Anatomy and Physiology to the other dental students when I had to repeat.

Unfortunately during dental school my mother died of Breast Cancer, which changed the dynamics of my family as my brother and sister were younger with my brother being just 14 years old.

Travel and Australia

My timing was extremely lucky in as I finished Dental School just after the Soweto Riots which forced me to make a decision about leaving South Africa.  Rather than procrastinating and waiting around, I always knew I would leave South Africa and was encouraged to do so by my father.  I thus applied to immigrate to Australia not really knowing if I would like to live there but knowing that I probably would not end up in England as many of my dental colleagues did. I also knew I wanted to do orthodontics in the States eventually, so I was keeping my options open.

Because the Embassy was flooded there was a delay in having the interview to go to Australia.  , I was fortunate to be given a job teaching prosthodontics at the Dental Hospital for a period of six months, I then decided to transfer my papers to the States and have the interview there and at the same time do the American Dental Board exams.

This worked out well as I arrived and had my interview immediately, I then did part one of the Dental exam.  I then went to England where I worked as a dentist for 6 weeks and came back for Part II of the exam. After that I purchased a VW Bug and travelled across the US after which I was off to Australia with my backpack and suitcase; my total possessions.

I had some difficulty finding a job in Sydney and ended up practicing in an area called Coffs Harbour, an area on the coast North of Sydney. I stayed there for 7 months, a month, longer than I said I would and then lived in the Eastern suburbs of Sydney and obtained a job in an area Called Castle Hill, 1.25 hours away by train or car. I worked there for 4 days a week and was able to get another job nearer to home for another 1.5 days a week. Life was great I ended up sharing a rundown apartment in one of the best streets in Sydney (Dramalbyn Road) with an incredible view. I had many friends, some of whom were South African, Clive Evian was here at that time and we had some great times travelling around Australia, doing some of the more difficult hikes. One of which was to the top of the Sydney Harbour Bridge at 12:00 at night, this prior to it being an organised tour, another Federation Peak in Tasmania one of the most difficult hikes in Australia.

I then applied to Orthodontic programs in the US and was once again fortunate to get into few.  I chose to go to Eastman Dental Centre in Rochester New York, although I did see Ashley Davidoff in Boston who was extremely hospitable when I was applying to schools in Boston.

Postgraduate Training

Orthodontic training in America was one of the most intense times of my life.  Six of us worked all the time, having Friday nights off to get drunk, sometimes going Skiing on the local mountains, I improved my basic skiing skills on these hills. I loved the snow and the area.  I spent two years getting my Diploma and although my classmates left I decided that I should stay another year and do a Masters degree.   I thought that this would be of benefit if I were to go back to Australia. I did research and also taught the first and second year students during this time. I was still not married although I had a close friend throughout my orthodontic training.

Sydney Australia

I decided to return to Australia which I did at the end of my training. I again had to look for a job which fortunately was relatively easy although there was a steep learning curve as things were done a little differently in Sydney.

My father died in 1986 in South Africa from a heart attack, which was extremely traumatic, I still remember Stan coming to visit, I had not seen him for many years, good to see that he is doing well.

I met my wife in 1986, an ex South African Jacqui Joffe who had migrated here in the 1974. Her father is a Neurologist and mother a Pathologist, they had a very difficult time when they came to Australia breaking into the system. Jacqui is 10 years younger than me and a Lawyer. I was sure I wanted to marry her after the 2^nd date and told her so but it took her some time to come round to my thinking!

I started my own practice in 1987 and have not looked back. I started a second practice in the suburbs close to where I live and continued my teaching commitment to the Orthodontic students up to a couple of years ago.

Life has been good, I love Australia and Australians. Some of the highlights have been the birth of my three children. My professional life has been very satisfying and although I do not do much for the benefit of mankind,  I love my work and I provide my wife the opportunity of contributing to society on my behalf. During the early years of my children?s upbringing Jacqui studied further, doing a degree in History and another in Multimedia, she now works part time at the Sydney Jewish Museum, running the Department of Community Stories, working with the Holocaust survivors and publishing their stories. She also interviewed the people for a recent exhibition of South African Jewish immigration to Sydney, all this which I support. On a personal basis I have extended myself professionally becoming a Diplomate of the American Board of Orthodontics and a Member of the American Angle society, as well as traveling to the States giving lectures to this group. As mentioned I have also been involved in lecturing and teaching in Australia, real high for me.

Regrets

I do not have many regrets thus far, except for the early death of my parents.   I am extremely  grateful that I have been very lucky in my decisions and things have worked out.  But, in some ways I am sorry I cannot give my children the youth I had growing up in South Africa; I suppose we all miss those times. In the mean time I have taken them to South Africa, toured Johannesburg and the Game Reserves (Russel organised this).  We also go Skiing to Whistler once a year, where we have a timeshare and at the same time I hope they will grow up with good values. As my dental nurses say ?whatever?, they are great kids!!!

Thanks Eric Ashley and Stan and anyone who has done all this work putting this together,

Hilton at Work Taken from his Web Site

92863p 92864p Courtesy Hilton Wasilewsky

 Very Best to you all and have a great day

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