Gerard (Bruce) Barblett (17.3.1933 – 4.1.2026)
Bruce was born in Nedlands in 1933 and attended Nedlands State School and later Scotch College. His father initially worked in the Agricultural Department then went on to complete a law degree and later established the law firm Barblett and Barblett with Bruce’s elder brother Alan who himself had a distinguished career in the law profession. Bruce, however, chose Dentistry over Law.
Bruce was attracted to Dentistry by family dentist, Dr Ayres-Bennett especially after he saved Bruce’s front tooth injured in a diving accident. Bruce graduated from the University of Western Australia (UWA) in 1955. After working for a short time at the Perth Dental Hospital, he left for the United Kingdom in April 1956. He worked for some months in the National Health Service then accepted a two-year appointment as an intern at the Eastman Dental Institute. The overseas stay included meeting and marriage to his lovely wife Beryl and a three-month trip to the USA visiting dental schools and spending time with Professor Gil Brinsden at Northwestern University in Chicago. At the invitation of Professor Ross Taylor, Bruce returned to Perth in 1959 to teach fulltime at the UWA Dental School for one year.
The following year Bruce joined Cottesloe Dental, joining the partnership in late 1960 where he remained until his retirement in 1999. Throughout this lengthy period, he was a great contributor to the growth and development and ultimate success of the practice introducing new concepts and overseeing the training and skills development of the laboratory technicians. Bruce was a much-respected Dentist at Cottesloe Dental. He did much to raise the profile of Cottesloe Dental and dentistry in Western Australia.
Bruce’s contribution to dental education saw him continue as a part time lecturer and demonstrator at the dental faculty in full and partial dentures from 1959 until 2010. In recognition of his contribution to dental education, UWA’s Dental Alumni appointed Bruce to the Campbell-Wilson roll of honour in 2003.
Bruce had a particular skill with making complete dentures. Many students will remember him teaching those skills at dental school. At Cottesloe Dental he not only received referrals from Dentists within the practice but also referrals from Dentists external to the practice. He used many of the “traditional’ materials with enormous success. Many will remember border moulding acrylic impression trays with compound and using zinc oxide impression material and taking occlusal records with compound rims on acrylic bases.
During his professional life, Bruce served six years (1993 – 1999) on the Dental Board of Western Australia. In 1994, Bruce was presented with a Distinguished Service Award (1961 – 1994) from the WA branch of the Australian Dental Association for his contribution both as an industrial officer for a number of years and later as the Associations representative for the education and training of dental technicians (later prosthetists). Bruce held continuous membership of the Western Australian Dental Association for 70 years for which he received acknowledgement from the ADA (WA) in 2025, only the second member to achieve this length of membership. Bruce’s loyalty and contribution extended to his membership of the Dental Study Group of WA (DSGWA), Australian Society of Prosthodontics and Australian Endodontic Society to name just a few. He held committee positions with the UWA Dental Alumni Council and the National Dental Foundation. Bruce also became a Fellow of the Academy of Dentistry International in 1991, and a member of the International College of Dentists in 1992.
Bruce joined the DSGWA as an ordinary member in 1988, and after a number of years became president in 1994. Bruce was awarded Honorary Life Membership in 2000.
Bruce was a highly ethical, professional, and much respected member of the dental community throughout his career. His passion, enthusiasm and dedication to Dentistry was exceptional. These same attributes he applied to his involvement in various community activities. Bruce was a member of a number of clubs, the Scotch College Foundation, Nedlands Tennis Club Suburban Hockey Club, and the Weld Club to name just a few. His involvement in Dentistry and the community was a lifelong commitment and his loyalty and dedication unwavering.
Dr Colin O’Brien