Max Biggins was born in Launceston, Tasmania, the son of Montague Biggins, publican, and his wife May. His early education took place in Tasmania, and subsequently in Victoria. He attended De La Salle College, Malvern and Melbourne High School. He pursued his medical studies at the University of Melbourne and on graduation was appointed successively a resident medical officer at St Vincent's Hospital, the Royal Children's Hospital and the Eye and Ear Hospital. He then commenced general practice in Echuca.

He married Mary Lilian Harding in 1938, and later that year they travelled to England as Max had a long-felt desire to become a consultant physician and towards that end successfully sat the MRCP. On his return he sat and obtained the MRACP. He was then appointed physician to outpatients at St Vincent's and, in the course of time, physician to inpatients, a position he held until his retirement from the staff. For a period after his return from the UK he conducted a general practice in Hampton, while also developing his consultant practice. He served in the Australian Army Medical Corps from 1942 to 1945, and attained the rank of major.

It was soon apparent that Max was a splendid and enthusiastic undergraduate teacher, students were always anxious to be attached to his clinical and to attend his tutorials. His great knowledge of medicine and his empathy with students resulted in his appointment as dean of the clinical school in 1964, and in 1966, associate dean (clinical) in the Faculty of Medicine.

I was personally most impressed by his wide knowledge of medicine and his skill in imparting it to others – as well as those attributes he showed marked compassion and kindness towards patients, students and staff. His culture extended beyond medicine. He was equally at home in the garden and in art galleries and at the time of his death he had acquired a superb collection of Australian paintings. He was a devoted family man and is survived by a son, John, and a daughter, Rosemary.