Thomas Clarnette

Thomas Clarnette commenced at Prince Alfred College in 1976 in Year 6 following in the steps of his father David Clarnette (1952) and brother, Richard Clarnette (1979).

Thomas achieved excellent academic results in his senior years at PAC achieving five As on his Year 12 report for Maths 1 & 2, Physics, Chemistry and Latin. His reports contain many glowing comments from his teachers with the tutor comment on his Year 12 report reading as follows:

‘A Prefect of the School and Monitor of his tutor group, he has given valuable assistance. In his studies he has proved to be a serious, zealous and conscientious worker with first-class results.”

Thomas was awarded the Rob Scholarship in 1981 and the Longbottom Scholarship in 1982 and was presented a Year 12 Academic Excellence Award.

During his time at PAC Thomas not only excelled academically but also enjoyed a number of sporting successes. He was a member of the Combined Athletics Team in his final year and took out 1^st place in the 110m hurdles at the School Championships. Thomas was awarded Colours for both athletics and cricket in his senior years. He was Captain of the Intercollegiate Cricket Team in 1982 and his Prefect profile from the Chronicle that year illustrates his passion for the sport:

Name – Thomas Clarnette

Characteristics – Very puny

Likes – Fertilizer

Dislikes – Weed Killer

Favourite Team – Princes 1^st XI

Ambition – To make double figures for Princes 1^st XI

This ambition was realised in Term 3 of that year when he made 20 against Sacred Heart College, 21 against Westminster, 42 against Pulteney Grammar School and 30 in the Intercol.

Thomas graduated from the University of Adelaide Medical School in 1988, before completing his surgical training in both South Australia and Victoria. He went on to paedriatric surgery and at the conclusion of his training undertook three and a half years of post-fellowship training in the United Kingdom. This included 18 months at Kings College Hospital, London, specialising in hepatobiliary surgery in children, which remains a key area of interest.

In 2018, Thomas was part of the medical team who successfully separated 18 month old conjoined twins Nima and Dawa Pelden from Bhutan.

Thomas currently lives in Victoria where he is a Senior Consultant Paediatric Surgeon at Royal Children’s Hospital, Monash Children’s Hospital, Sunshine Hospital and Goulburn Valley Health.