Graeme was born on 3rd September 1924 in Dunedin, and died recently at his home on 21 May 2002 in Wellington.

He attended John McGlashan College for Primary and Intermediate education, but Christ’s College for his Secondary years. Graeme studied at Otago Medical School graduating at the end of 1949.

House surgeon years were spent at Christchurch Hospital, followed by a period at Greymouth Hospital as a Registrar. A few years spent in Britain, helped Graeme decide that his future career should be in general practice. On return to New Zealand, Graeme served another term at Greymouth Hospital as registrar, where he met Ellen who worked as a theatre nurse. They married and Graeme became a partner in a Christchurch general practice.

In 1965 Dr David Kallman retired and advertised his practice in Brooklyn. Graeme expressed his interest, and visited the area with Ellen. They greatly liked the area and agreed to settle here later that year. Some months later, Graeme arrived and took over the practice, which soon thrived, remaining there until his retirement in the early 1990s.

Graeme fitted into the area well, joined the weekend roster with Brooklyn / Island Bay colleagues, which included the duties of an assistant port health officer. For a few years Graeme also served as a Medical Officer at the Home of Compassion in Island Bay, but his first love was for his patients, who soon reciprocated the feeling. Graeme was considered to be an excellent doctor, totally reliable, and “sound”.

Ellen had chronic mobility and health problems, which greatly limited the extent of their travels. They lived in Brooklyn initially, later moving to Kelburn, then on to Wadestown after retirement. Ellen predeceased him in 1998, and Graeme lived with William his son until his death. Of recent years Graeme was welcomed into the monthly, retired GP lunch group, where he found many old friends.

He is survived by daughter Elizabeth who has two children and is a nurse on Bribie Island in Queensland, and by William who is a psychologist in Mental Health for the MASH Trust, in Wellington.

Graeme was a wonderful friend, and a greatly respected colleague among his peers. We are all going to miss him.