BIRKS, David Melville (1945-2019)
Born on 5 July 1945, the son of Dr W G Birks, David Birks was enrolled at Geelong College as a boarder from 9 February 1956 to December 1962. He had previously attended Albert St Primary School, Moe. At College, he was a member of the 2nd Rowing VIII in 1961 before graduating to the 1st VIII in 1962. In 1962, he was Boat Captain, a House Prefect, and a member of the Rowing Committee and Pegasus Committee.
After leaving College, he studied medicine at Melbourne University, graduating MBBS in 1968. He then took up an internship in surgery in Vancouver, Canada, then worked in England and returned to Australia in 1977. He subsequently joined the Latrobe Valley Hospital as a general surgeon (1977-2012) and Senior Consultant General Surgeon (1998-2011), as well as the Moe Medical Group. He was particularly involved in both promoting and training rural medical students in surgery and anatomy, and in latter years lecturing in Monash University's Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences. David Birks also had a long-time interest in the organisation, 'Specialists without Borders'. He also contributed as a Board Member and Vice-President of the Latrobe Valley Regional Hospital (1983-1993). For three years he was the medical officer for the Moe Football Club (1978-1981).
He was honoured in 2014 by the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons for his contribution to the profession.
David Birks died at his home in Moe on 17 March 2019.
His brother, Andrew Birks, was also educated at Geelong College.
Sources: Monash University, School of Rural Health, Rural Health News 20 January 2015; The Age (Melbourne) 19 March 2019. OGC 1958.