Quick Summary

Born in Great Britain.

Immigrated to WA as 6 year old.

Schooled at Calista primary and Kwinana Senior High School.

Attended 5 years at the UWA general campus and Dental School.

First job as a Dentist for the WA public health department.(school dental services) in the Pilbara.

Various private practice jobs for 2 years after resigning from the Health Department.

Purchased a small, humble practice in Rockingham 1987 which grew from there.

Various moves of practice location around Rockingham trying to find the perfect location.

A Little More Detail

To many people’s surprise Adrian was born in Scotland, as his father was serving in the British Navy. Leaving to the next posting, 6 months later, there was no chance for Adrian to pick up a Scottish accent. The first years of school were in a small village north of London. Then the trip to Australia as “Ten Pound poms” in 1967. Adrian first school in Australia was at Calista Primary School as a 7 year old. He moved on to Kwinana Senior High School and did well enough to choose any University course he desired. He deliberately chose the Dentistry course at The University of Western Australia over Medicine or Engineering as he was quite good with his manual dexterity skills and he found the workings of the human body intriguing.

Adrian managed to complete his undergraduate dental course in the minimum term of 5 years. Prior to graduation he had applied to the WA Health department, with the view of working in the Pilbara area, So after a short stint as a support dentist to The School Dental Service around Perth, he was off to Port Hedland. From Port Hedland he serviced the towns of Shay Gap, Goldsworthy, Telfer, Marble Bar and Wittenoom to name a few. This was a busy first year as a qualified dentist but Adrian was enticed to Karratha to work as a private dentist. From Karratha as a base, he also hold clinics in Dampier and in Pannawonica. This was all good experience for a young practitioner but after a year, Adrian was looking for more challenges and applied to be an assistant dentist in Wagin in “The great Southern” district of the South West of WA. He was successful in acquiring this position and worked in Wagin for a year which was interesting but not ideal for him and his partner Maureen. A small clinic in Rockingham was advertised for sale as a part time venture. Adrian purchased this clinic and Safety Bay Dental Care Centre was born.

For a while the Wagin Practice and the Rockingham practice were both operated by Adrian but eventually the decision was made that Safety Bay was the place to settle and focus on building a long term practice. He married Maureen and  started a family. Eventually having  4 children  who all went to the local schools in Safety Bay.

The Safety Bay Dental Care Centre, was named and envisioned by Adrian in 1987.  For 32 years Adrian, with a close association with Richard Grayson , and numerous assistants dentists, continue to care for some of the first patients who came through the doors at the first location for the clinic, Malibu Road. Over that 32 years the clinic has moved locations 3 times. From Malibu Road to Grange Medical Centre and most recently, in May 2017 to our purpose built practice at 90 Parkin Street Rockingham.