Brian was educated at St James’ School, Gardenvale, St Patrick’s College, East Melbourne and then the University of Melbourne Medical School where he graduated in 1942.

After resident medical duties at St Vincent’s Hospital 1942-43 he transferred from the University Rifles to the AIF. He was posted to the Army Medical Corps, trained at Wilson’s Promontory and then went to New Guinea where he was heavily involved in action at Lae, Finchhafen and Bougainville from October 1943 to December 1945. There began an intense interest in the history of the Milne Bay battle and he collected data and documents over the next several decades with the intention of writing a book. In the 1980’s he visited Japan and met with Japanese officers who had been at Milne Bay and retained a correspondence with them until illness interfered with the completion of his work.

Towards the end of the war he was repatriated to a hospital in Brisbane with problems of severe dysentery and obstructive airways disease, both contracted in the difficult conditions of New Guinea. In 1964 he married Yvonne Bland. Together they had eight children (six sons and two daughters). There were long years of happiness as the family grew up. Sadly Yvonne died suddenly in 1983. Brian pursued medical practice at the Children’s Hospital and St Vincent’s and the joined the Tuberculosis Department in the Health Department and in turn Greenvale Sanatorium and Heatherton Sanatorium where he was the Superintendent from 1949-1956. It was here especially where Brian Clerehan provided gentle and compassionate care to those patients so affected with tuberculosis including many medical colleagues.

A WHO scholarship allowed him to travel to Europe in 1952 to study management of tuberculosis in Scandinavia and Switzerland, for Streptomycin and Isoniazid and para-amnaosalicylic acid were being introduced. He studied at the Brompton Chest Clinic London on that tour.

On return he liaised with the Chest Clinic at the Austin Hospital with his surgical colleague Mr Officer-Brown and Mr John Hayward. In those years thoracoplasty and induced pneumothorax were still common practice. Brian Clerehan introduced the anti-TB drugs at Heatherton, supervised their use and efficiency and integrated the medical care with surgical procedures.

In 1956 he returned to the Central Health Department Chest Survey. The practice of mass miniature radiography involved screening all adults in the State of Victoria with chest x-ray. Brian became quite expert in interpreting chest radiology. With use of BCG inoculation, x-ray surveys, anti-tuberculosis antibiotics and surgical procedures, the incidence of tuberculosis progressively declined. Much credit was due to Brian Clerehan whose organisational skills had a major impact. Patients at Heatherton thought he was very special.

With all his medical endeavours he still maintained an interest in military affairs and in the Citizens Military Force (CMF). In 1948 he was appointed Captain in the Medical Corps and served until his retirement age. He was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel and was in charge of 6th Field Ambulance. When transferred to Command and Staff Training Units he served as Staff Officer and Instructor in military history. He became an institution and was promoted to the rank of Colonel. His students thrived on his broad knowledge, but especially on his lively, witty lectures and discussions. From his retirement until just before his death he maintained a lively association with Melbourne University Rifles of which he had been President.

Fortunately Brian Clerehan returned to St Vincent’s in 1976, where he taught medical students and post-graduate students and nurses. He was seconded to the Department of Medicine and there saw patients, still demonstrating an outstanding caring attitude. He retired from the Department of Health and St Vincent’s Hospital in 1987.

Outside of medicine, Brian Clerehan pursued family origins in Ireland, studied genealogy and developed an intense interest in Irish history. I might observe, too, that Brian played competitive hockey until aged 64.

His own health declined, influenced by the illness contracted during his war service. 1985 Brian married Dr Sheila Clifton, an outstanding pathologist and long time friend of the Clerehan family. There followed a loving, inseparable marriage and Shelia provided Brian the most outstanding care in those years and especially in the final months of his life. Simon Clerehan, his youngest son died of an overwhelming illness in 1994.

Thus concludes the life of a remarkable man – highly intelligent, deep in his knowledge, supreme in his wit and humour and a loving companion to his wife and family. All who knew him remember his with respect and affection.