18 February 1923-16 October 2013 M.B.Ch.B; Ch.M Beaumont Fitzgerald was born on 18 February 1923, the eldest son of Constance and Gerald Fitzgerald. He was known throughout life as Beau. He was educated initially at John McGlashan College, Dunedin, and later boarded at Christs College, Christchurch, from the age of 12. He followed family tradition by entering medical school in Dunedin, graduating B.Med.Sc. in Anatomy in 1947 and M.B.Ch.B. in 1951. He married Anne Fraser in 1948.House surgeon and registrar in obstetrics and gynaecology appointments at Dunedin Public Hospital followed. He applied for, and was awarded, the New Zealand Obstetrical Societys Travelling Scholarship. This took him to Melbourne. He regarded this as a crucial point in his career as he was given responsibility for major obstetrical procedures in the delivery suite. Dr Kevin McCall was in charge of anaesthesia, which Beau put to good use later in Scotland. Anne and their daughter Constance joined him for his last few months in Melbourne.The family travelled by ship to England with Beau as ships doctor. While in the Indian Ocean, Beau carried out an appendectomy on the ships baker who retained the inflamed organ in preservative. While in Port Said, the baker traded this for a leather wallet.After arrival in England, Beau gained an appointment as registrar with Dr Dugal Baird in Aberdeen with responsibilities in three hospitals. Professor Bairds department was one of the leading centres for obstetrics and gynaecology in the UK at that time. Beau gained great experience during the 3 years he spent in Aberdeen. He also developed an interest in cervical cytology and the diagnosis of cervical neoplasia. He sat and gained his membership of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists at this time.In 1955 Beau returned to New Zealand to take up his appointment as assistant to Professor Lawrence Wright, and junior specialist in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at Dunedin Hospital and the Otago University Medical School. He undertook gynaecological surgery, medical student teaching and certain research activities. This was a 2-year appointment. At the end of that time, he was appointed visiting specialist (part time) and joined his father Gerald Fitzgerald in private specialist practice in Dunedin.His private practice grew over the following years. He also devoted much time to hospital and Medical Association affairs. These included the chairmanship of both the general medical staff and the New Zealand Obstetrical and Gynaecological Society, and also presidency of the Otago Division of the British Medical Association.He graduated Ch.M in 1966, became a Fellow of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists in 1968, and clinical reader in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology in 1980.In 1977, Beau spent a month in Tonga on a New Zealand Government support scheme. He gave a series of lectures on obstetrics and gynaecology, attended outpatient clinics and carried out a number of operations, some of which were under challenging conditions. Anne accompanied him on this trip, and they both enjoyed the experience immensely.A Dunedin general practitioner, Dr Barry Grimmond, who had had consultant help from Beau on several occasions and knew him well, wrote following his death: As a clinician and consultant Beau was absolutely reliable. No matter what time of day or night, he was instantly awake, intelligently receptive to the situation and responsive and helpful with great competence. He was forever the good teacher: able to step back and allow those of lesser competence gain valuable experience under his responsible guidance. He brought professional excellence and dignity to the Otago O&G Department. There has been no doctor for whom I had greater respect than Beau. Dr Peter Fitzgerald, Beaus nephew, spoke at his funeral, concluding with,Beaus professional legacy is here in Otago. It is the many thousands of women and their families who have benefited from his care during the 40 years he practiced in Dunedin.Beaus major interests outside medicine included his Waitati home, gardening, fresh and sea water fishing, occasional trips with his friend Sir Tim Wallis, crayfish gathering on the West Coast and above all, his family. He died on 16 October 2013. His wife Anne died in 2014. They are survived by their childrenConstance, Catherine, Gerald and John.

18 February 1923-16 October 2013 M.B.Ch.B; Ch.M Beaumont Fitzgerald was born on 18 February 1923, the eldest son of Constance and Gerald Fitzgerald. He was known throughout life as Beau. He was educated initially at John McGlashan College, Dunedin, and later boarded at Christs College, Christchurch, from the age of 12. He followed family tradition by entering medical school in Dunedin, graduating B.Med.Sc. in Anatomy in 1947 and M.B.Ch.B. in 1951. He married Anne Fraser in 1948.House surgeon and registrar in obstetrics and gynaecology appointments at Dunedin Public Hospital followed. He applied for, and was awarded, the New Zealand Obstetrical Societys Travelling Scholarship. This took him to Melbourne. He regarded this as a crucial point in his career as he was given responsibility for major obstetrical procedures in the delivery suite. Dr Kevin McCall was in charge of anaesthesia, which Beau put to good use later in Scotland. Anne and their daughter Constance joined him for his last few months in Melbourne.The family travelled by ship to England with Beau as ships doctor. While in the Indian Ocean, Beau carried out an appendectomy on the ships baker who retained the inflamed organ in preservative. While in Port Said, the baker traded this for a leather wallet.After arrival in England, Beau gained an appointment as registrar with Dr Dugal Baird in Aberdeen with responsibilities in three hospitals. Professor Bairds department was one of the leading centres for obstetrics and gynaecology in the UK at that time. Beau gained great experience during the 3 years he spent in Aberdeen. He also developed an interest in cervical cytology and the diagnosis of cervical neoplasia. He sat and gained his membership of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists at this time.In 1955 Beau returned to New Zealand to take up his appointment as assistant to Professor Lawrence Wright, and junior specialist in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at Dunedin Hospital and the Otago University Medical School. He undertook gynaecological surgery, medical student teaching and certain research activities. This was a 2-year appointment. At the end of that time, he was appointed visiting specialist (part time) and joined his father Gerald Fitzgerald in private specialist practice in Dunedin.His private practice grew over the following years. He also devoted much time to hospital and Medical Association affairs. These included the chairmanship of both the general medical staff and the New Zealand Obstetrical and Gynaecological Society, and also presidency of the Otago Division of the British Medical Association.He graduated Ch.M in 1966, became a Fellow of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists in 1968, and clinical reader in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology in 1980.In 1977, Beau spent a month in Tonga on a New Zealand Government support scheme. He gave a series of lectures on obstetrics and gynaecology, attended outpatient clinics and carried out a number of operations, some of which were under challenging conditions. Anne accompanied him on this trip, and they both enjoyed the experience immensely.A Dunedin general practitioner, Dr Barry Grimmond, who had had consultant help from Beau on several occasions and knew him well, wrote following his death: As a clinician and consultant Beau was absolutely reliable. No matter what time of day or night, he was instantly awake, intelligently receptive to the situation and responsive and helpful with great competence. He was forever the good teacher: able to step back and allow those of lesser competence gain valuable experience under his responsible guidance. He brought professional excellence and dignity to the Otago O&G Department. There has been no doctor for whom I had greater respect than Beau. Dr Peter Fitzgerald, Beaus nephew, spoke at his funeral, concluding with,Beaus professional legacy is here in Otago. It is the many thousands of women and their families who have benefited from his care during the 40 years he practiced in Dunedin.Beaus major interests outside medicine included his Waitati home, gardening, fresh and sea water fishing, occasional trips with his friend Sir Tim Wallis, crayfish gathering on the West Coast and above all, his family. He died on 16 October 2013. His wife Anne died in 2014. They are survived by their childrenConstance, Catherine, Gerald and John.