125 stories for 125 years

A.T.S Sissons

Alfred Thomas Stanley Sissons was born on 22 April 1888. His appointment as dean of the college in 1920 began a 42-year period of service, during which he lectured in chemistry and was the director of studies.

He grew up in Brunswick, where his father was an established builder and real estate agent, and the family was well known in the local area. After completing secondary school he attended the Victorian Teachers’ College, graduating with a Bachelor of Science and a Diploma of Education in 1915. He won two prestigious Gladman Memorial Exhibitions – one for the greatest academic achievement and the other for excellence in practical teaching and class organisation.

Prior to his appointment at the college, Mr Sissons worked at the Ministry of Munitions in Scotland as a research chemist and as science master at University High School, Melbourne. During his service in the Ministry of Munitions he was seriously affected by the accidental inhalation of nitrogen peroxide gas, the results of which were to affect his health for the rest of his life.

He was the first Australian-born head of a pharmacy school and he exerted a profound influence on the development of pharmaceutical education in Australia. He was a gifted teacher and his advice relating to the subject matter of courses, examination conduct and general organisation of the college teaching programs was of great value to successive boards and councils.

Mr Sissons was tireless in keeping up correspondence within numerable students as they went into retail practice, hospital practice and other professional fields. During World War II he maintained contact with many men in the field. He was elected Honorary Member of the Chemists Sub-branch of the Returned & Services League (RSL) as a token of gratitude from returned servicemen, for whom he did so much in assisting with their rehabilitation after the war.

The Sissons Mural was commissioned by Eric Scott, president of the Pharmaceutical Society of Victoria and commemorates Mr Sissons’ 42 years at the college. In 1984 the Sissons building – the main administration building of the college that houses Cossar Hall– was also named in his honour.

The Sissons Mural is located in Cossar Hall. It tells a story of the peaceful development of science, medicine and pharmacy, all of which were inextricably interwoven in ancient times.

‘I remember “A.T.S.” as a great teacher and dean of the college. He instilled in us all a great respect for the profession, and the need for us to have a thorough scientific background to our practice,’said Alistair Lloyd AO. ‘He was passionately interested in the history of the pharmacy profession and was able to help us understand the historical context of the rapid evolution of the profession after World War II, with the growth of the pharmaceutical industry and its consequences for pharmacy practice.’