Jimmy Laurenson

Dr ‘Jimmy’ Laurenson and his wife arrived in Matamata in 1920 following a two-year stint at Auckland Hospital and six months at Christchurch Hospital. His private practice in Matamata would be his first and only. In 1936 he went to England to study surgery and remained there for the rest of his life. 

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He had two partners and six assistants in the practice during his twelve year stay in Matamata. When he first arrived he was the only doctor resident for a very large area, made even more difficult with impassable roads, and surgeries being conducted by lamplight. Dr Laurenson became accustomed to travelling to his patients in a variety of ways, sometimes on foot along the railway at night, in winter the weather often required chains on the car wheels and “no trip was made without a shovel and a timberjack”.

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Aside from practising medicine Dr Laurenson had a decorated tennis career, winning the NZ Men’s Singles Championship in 1922, mixed doubles in 1923, 1928 and 1929 as well as the Auckland Singles title in 1932.

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A substantial tribute at the Matamata Tennis Courts was made to Dr Laurenson and his wife and this was documented in the Matamata Record in 1936.  Past President of the Matamata Tennis Club Mr W Macdonald spoke of Dr Laurenson’s determination to help people - navigating challenging roading, weather conditions and at all hours of the day and night. He spoke of how Dr Laurenson is fondly referred to as ‘Jimmy’ by hundreds of people. He also shared how remarkable it was that Dr Laurenson was able to have such strong tennis results given he had hardly any time to train. 

You can’t question his dedication to his patients as you can see from this story at Firth Tower Reserve and Museum, when Dr Laurenson was in Auckland for the 1932 Tennis Championships:

“I was rung at the Grand Hotel at about 10pm the night before the final of the Auckland Singles Championship and informed that a patient of mine who was due to have her first baby in a fortnight had come into labour. I had promised her that I would be sure to attend her myself whatever happened. 

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“So accompanied by my wife, I drove my Studebaker car straight to the Matamata Hospital where I arrived some time after midnight. The case was a difficult one, but all went well and the birth took place late in the morning. 

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“After a shower and a quick breakfast we started our return journey, my wife driving in order to give me a rest. I arrived at Stanley Street [tennis courts] just half an hour before I was due to go and play the final which I won, three sets to two.

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You can view more information about Dr Laurenson and his contribution to the Matamata community at the Firth Tower Reserve and Museum in Matamata.