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Dr Gordon McKenzie.
Gordon McKenzie, surgeon was actively involved as a leader in the post war transition from self taught expertise in the profession towards the development of a more rigorous and professional approach to surgical training in Victoria.
From Horsham State School he was enrolled at the College from September, 1924 to 1934 and was both a gifted sportsman and academic at the School. He rowed with the 1st VIII from 1932 to 1934 and was a member of the 1st Football XVIII in 1933 and 1934. He became a School Prefect in 1933 and Head Prefect the following year as well as becoming a lieutenant in the College Cadet Corps. He was the School Dux in 1932.
His brother, Bruce Calder Mckenzie (1920-1945), also a student at the College, was killed during World War II when his aircraft was shot down near Hamburg, Germany.
He studied at Melbourne University as a resident of Ormond College where he was awarded his ‘blue’ as Captain of the Ormond Crew. He graduated MBBS in 1940 and after completing his residency enlisted on 26 August, 1942 with the rank of Captain. He served with the Army Medical Corps in New Guinea and Borneo before his discharge from the Army on 4 July, 1946. He resumed surgical training after the war and was appointed a surgical clinical supervisor at the Royal Melbourne Hospital in 1947. He later held appointments at both Prince Henry’s Hospital and the Royal Melbourne Hospital from 1954 as well as developing an extensive private practice.
Gordon Graham McKenzie was inducted into the Old Geelong Collegians' Association (OGCA) Notables Gallery at Geelong College in 2011.
Sources: The Age (Melbourne) 19 Nov 1999; James Affleck Geelong Collegians' at the Second World War p60, p370-371