Where are they now – Craig Dallimore (SPC 1954)

The College recently reconnected with Craig Dallimore (SPC 1954), who made his career as a well-respected pharmacist, and continues to exchange Christmas cards with a SPC classmate every single year since 1954.

 

Where has life taken you since leaving SPC?

Having only spent one year at SPC, my experience was rather limited compared to those who spent many years there. During that year, 1954, my parents moved from Stawell to Drysdale on the Bellarine Peninsula, so after leaving SPC at the end of ’54, I spent the last three years of schooling at St Joseph’s College, Geelong. Strangely enough, on my first day there, I happened to sit next to one of my classmates from SPC who was in the same year!

I was lucky enough to leave St Joseph’s as Dux of College and began a career in Pharmacy. This involved two years correspondence, then moving to Melbourne to finish my course. After several years of locum work in Melbourne, I returned to Geelong to spend the next five years at the pharmacy I was apprenticed to, then finally moved to Melbourne to my own pharmacy for the next 20 years. After selling this, I spent the next 16 years doing locum work around Victoria, both in Melbourne hospitals and country Victoria, including at one in Ballarat owned by another ex-SPC boy, and retired in 2007. I am married to Pauline with four adult sons, aged 51 to 56, and I am turning an octogenarian this coming June. Life after retirement involves meal deliveries for Bayside Council, Brighton St Vincent de Paul Conference, race management duties at Brighton Yacht Club, woodwork, walking and travel.

 

What are your fondest memories of your time at St Patrick’s College?

It is difficult to pinpoint my fondest memories, as, after the initial homesickness, which was short-lived, I enjoyed every minute whilst at the College, from Brother Mullins’ “flicks” on the weekend, to making a “crystal set” and climbing one of the pine trees on “the hill” to hang an aerial for reception, spending time in the music room, the nightly rosary in the Chapel.

 

How has your education shaped your professional life and which teacher from your time at SPC had the greatest impact on you?

Having decided pharmacy was to be my profession from a very early age, the discipline at SPC formed an important part of my study regime, both at school and later whilst studying Pharmacy. I admired Brother Healy and his caring attitude towards the students and who could be easily approached in times of uncertainty.

 

If you could pass on one message to the students of today, what would it be?

For today’s students, I would encourage them to always strive to do your best, without wanting to BE the best. All that can be asked is that “I tried to the best of my ability”. Be empathetic with people you meet in life and learn to be a good listener.