Joseph Patrick Slattery

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Joseph Patrick Slattery, CM (21 May 1866 – 31 March 1931) was an Irish-born physicist, radiologist, Catholic priest, pioneer in the field of radiography in Australia and credited with the first use of fluoroscopy in Australia.

Born in 1866 in Waterford, Ireland, he traveled to Australia as a deacon in 1888, where he was ordained a priest by Cardinal Moran. As a member of the Vincentian Congregation, he and several of his confreres took over the running of St Stanislaus' at Bathurst from the diocesan clergy. Appointed to the position of professor and taught science, including physics and chemistry. Slattery had a keen interest in the new technology of wireless radio and was the first to install a wireless set west of the Blue Mountains. He was an early pioneer of radio in Australia and found delight in building radio sets.

Slattery built an X-ray practice at Bathurst and local doctors benefited greatly from this convenience. He performed mission work for the Vincentian fathers and toured Australia and New Zealand to serve the faithful. Slattery was superior of the Vincentian novitiate at Eastwood. He was appointed vice-rector of St. John's College at the University of Sydney. At Springwood and Manly, he was spiritual director of the seminaries for 6 years. Slattery performed parish work for the last three years of his life.

In 1931, he died and was buried in Rookwood Cemetery at Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.^[1]