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Les then returned home to Australia, after heeding the call to become a priest.
In 1969 Les was made an honorary member of PSA NSW Branch for his contributions to pharmacy.
Among the lessons have we have learnt from the past in this story is the necessity for a uniform course of study and the need for better liaison between pharmaceutical organisations and tutorial bodies. We have advanced already to having a national registration data base and an organisation to assess overseas qualified pharmacists wanting to practice in Australia.
No doubt the formation of NAPSA and IPSF provided greater stimulus for students to get involved in the curricula offered in pharmacy schools and then as graduates to offer their skills for the ultimate benefit of the community through the organisations that serve the profession. This is why NAPSA is there today.
It is interesting though, to note
in passing, that NAPSA had been disbanded in 1980, and then reformed in 2001. But that’s another story!
Les Cashen, administrator and parish priest
In 1953 Les gave up practising
as a pharmacist but retained his registration with the Pharmacy Board. He then entered St Columba’s college at Springwood to study for the
Les Cashen at ordination
Catholic priesthood. He was ordained in St Mary’s Cathedral, Sydney, by Cardinal Gilroy in March 1958 and he completed his theological studies at St Patrick’s College, Manly.
Father Cashen was for a number of years a member of the Council of the Catholic Chemist’s Guild of St Francis Xavier in NSW.
The leadership skills he developed in his pharmacy life were quickly put to good use. He was involved with several high powered committees within the church including the Archbishop’s Senate and he was chairman of the National Council of Priests of Australia, where he was the founding father.
He also was chairman of the
board of directors of the Catholic Weekly, among many other roles he undertook.
His involvement with the University of Sydney continued after his ordination and his mission was to encourage young people to develop their talents and potential and help them play a positive role in society.
He was very much involved with the administration of St John’s College within the university where he was resident Vice-Rector for four years and Rector for 12 years and in 1991 was elected Rector Emeritus of St John’s College.
The University of Sydney conferred an honorary Master of Philosophy on him with the citation that the award was for leadership support
and encouragement which has
been instrumental in providing a caring link between the university environment and the student’s home.
As well as serving the university community, Les also served in seven parishes around Sydney and amongst his peers and his parishioners he was regarded as a man of wisdom and vision and a gentle and caring pastor.
Father Les was awarded a Medal of the Order of Australia only a few months before his death in April 2003, in recognition of his special contribution in the area of education and administration of St John’s College.
Father Les
His funeral was attended by most of the hierarchy of the Catholic Church, including Archbishop Pell. He will be remembered as a great pharmacist, a great priest and a great man.
Some words of wisdom...
‘The heights by great men reached, and kept
were not attained by sudden flight. But, they while their companions slept were toiling upwards in the night.’
Is there a Les Cashen sitting out there among you today?
1. Gregory Haines. The Grains and Three Penn’orths of Pharmacy. Pharmacy in New South Wales. 1976 Pharmaceutical Society of NSW
2. Les Cashen. AJP 1948:941.
3. Gregory Haines ibid.
4. W Wilkinson. AJP 2003;84:253. 5. Catholic Weekly April 2003.
24 Pharmacy History Australia
volume 5 no 37 NOVEMBER 2009