Fifty years after dying in a plane crash, the first Maltese – born surgeon in Australia who developed his own hair – transplant techniques is being remembered by his family.
Relatives of Thomas Pirotta, who was born in Valletta, came together at the Parafield Airport heritage centre in Adelaide. They were there to reveal a plaque dedicated to him. On March 3, 1975, Pirotta died while flying his light twin – engine aircraft at this very airport. All four of his passengers also lost their lives in the crash.
The ceremony was attended by his children, Michael and Marie, and his widow, Patricia.
Pirotta was 16 when he emigrated to Australia in 1949. He had got a place at the University of Adelaide to study medicine. He was so smart that he had skipped several years of school in Malta. After that, he continued his studies in Edinburgh and London. Then he moved to Melbourne to do surgery.
He became well – known for creating his own methods for hair transplant operations. At that time, he was one of only two surgeons in Australia who did this kind of procedure. He ran clinics in Melbourne, Sydney, and Adelaide. In 1969, Pirotta did a hair transplant on his brother, Charlie.
Besides his private doctor work, Pirotta was also a volunteer surgeon for the St John’s Ambulance Brigade. A newsletter for the Maltese Australian community had a biography of him. It showed that he was a man of many talents. When he was young in Malta, Pirotta was a talented artist. He also won awards in swimming and waterpolo. Later in life, he got into martial arts and loved cars. He had several cars, including two Jaguars.
But Pirotta loved flying the most. He got a commercial pilot licence and had flown for 538 hours before the accident that killed him.
He was also very involved in Melbourne’s Maltese community. He was on the board that set up the city’s Maltese community centre.
Pirotta’s granddaughter, Katie, moved from Australia to Malta in 2014. She said he was very well – liked in Maltese and aviation groups.
Katie, who was inspired by her grandfather to become a pilot herself, said, “I wish I could have met him. He was loved and respected because he started from a simple background and did great things.”
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