Biography

Coates David

David Coates OAM

1949

Apprenticed to Ernest W.F.White, Pharmaceutical Chemist, of Summer St, Orange, New South Wales

1950

Apprenticeship transferred to Lloyd Hittmann, Pharmaceutical Chemist of Lyons Road, Drummoyne, Sydney.
1st Year Pharmacy, University of Sydney

1951

2nd Year Pharmacy, University of Sydney. This year was called “Materia Medica”

1952

On 8th April, Registered by the Pharmacy Board of New South Wales  – Pharmaceutical Chemist  “Ph.C.”
On 1st April,  Elected a Member of the Pharmaceutical Society of New South Wales  –   “M.P.S.”
My first job was as locum for Stewart F Shearman’s Pharmacy in Crown St, Orange, for a fortnight followed by a fortnight as locum for Tom Hallett’s Pharmacy also of Crown St, Orange.
The rest of 1952 I worked as an assistant at Frank Blomfield’s Pharmacy in Keppel St, Bathurst

1953 – 1954

Purchased Tom Hallett’s Pharmacy in Crown St, Orange, and managed that for 2 years.

1954 – 1958

Attended Theological College.

1959

Worked in Pharmacies in Condobolin and Warren in the west of New South Wales

1960-1967

Opened and managed the Mall Pharmacy in Central Road, Unanderra, NSW.

1968 – 1972

Managed Carr’s Pharmacy at Princes Highway, Fairy Meadow, NSW

1972

On 7th February, we purchased Carr’s Pharmacy.  I operated the Dispensary as ‘David Coates – Chemist’ and my wife Robin, operated the front of the shop as ‘Robin Coates – Health & Beauty Aids’.

1978

On 27th November we amalgamated with Allan’s Pharmacy that was owned by Allan Kahler and from then on we traded as Coates & Kahler – Chemists.

1998

On 28th February, we sold Coates & Kahler – Chemists to Michael Coates (my son who is also a Pharmacist) and Monir Elhage who continue to trade as Coates & Kahler – Chemists.

2003

On  15th March , my former partner Allan Walter Kahler PhC MPS passed away – not only a business partner but a close personal friend. We first met as young chemists in Wollongong in the early 1960’s   and played together in the Illawarra Pharmacists Squash Club. From 1968 to 1978 we were in friendly opposition in separate Pharmacies in Fairy Meadow and then in 1978 we amalgamated our two pharmacies and worked together in a wonderful partnership that lasted 20 years.  R.I.P.

2012

In May 2012, the Illawarra Pharmacists Association presented me with a Certificate of Achievement marking 60 years as a Community Pharmacist.

2013

In November of this year, I finally retired from Pharmacy. At age 83, I decided at was time. One needs to let go while still at one’s peak. It was most gratifying that the Chemists for whom I was doing locums, did not want me to retire.

Official Pharmacy

1952

Registered by the Pharmacy Board of NSW
Elected a member of the Pharmaceutical Society of NSW.

1959

Joined the Illawarra Pharmacists Association.

1969 – 1972

Secretary of the Illawarra Pharmacists Association

1972 – 1988

Vice President of Illawarra Pharmacists Association

1973 – 2000

Pharmacist Locum Service Director for Illawarra Pharmacists Association.
Pharmacy Staff Recruitment Director for Illawarra Pharmacists Association

1979 – 1980

Part-time Field Officer for the Pharmaceutical Society of Australia

2000

Life Member of the Illawarra Pharmacists Association

2002

Life Member of the Pharmaceutical Society of Australia

2004

Australia Day – 26th January: Awarded the medal of the Order of Australia   for Service to Scouting, to Pharmacy, and to the Community.