Paul's death in 1979 was as almost the last survivor of the rearguard of a generation of fine physicians who were well known and respected in the Tasmanian community: James Sprent (qv 1), Sir Ralph Whishaw (qv), Terence Butler (qv 1), Charles Brothers (qv 1), Frank Stevens (qv), Malcolm Fletcher (qv 1), Bill Freeman (qv 1), John Dobson (qv), George Beattie (qv 1) and James Tremayne (qv 1). The last stalwart to answer the call was Sir William Crowther (qv). Paul was born and educated in Melbourne, graduating with honours from Melbourne University in 1937. He served in the RANVR during the last war. In 1946 he obtained his membership of The Royal Australasian College of Physicians and the following year was awarded the Doctorate of Medicine from the University of Melbourne. In 1960 he was elected to fellowship of our College.

He inherited the practice and professional rooms of the late James Sprent (qv 1), a founding father of the College in this state. He began his practice as a specialist physician, later becoming a consultant cardiologist. He devoted twenty-four years of honorary service as physician to the Royal Hobart Hospital, the last ten years as cardiologist. He was a member of the Cardiac Society of Australia and New Zealand and of the National Heart Foundation, and a chairman of the Southern Division of the AMA and of the medical advisory committee of the Royal Hobart Hospital. For many years he was treasurer of the Tasmanian state committee of the RACP and he served a term as chairman. On the occasion of the first visit of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II to Tasmania he was proud to be appointed as honorary physician to the Queen.

Twice Paul travelled overseas to the United Kingdom and the United States of America for postgraduate study. On the first trip he spent some time with the great Paul Wood who was then the doyen of British cardiologists, himself a Melbourne graduate. Indeed he was educated at Launceston Grammar School. When Paul returned from London with his newly acquired knowledge, he told us about the fourteen heart sounds which Paul Wood had revealed to him. His colleagues were sceptical, but all sounds gradually became audible to the initiated. Paul became honorary cardiologist to the Royal Hobart Hospital and he made important contributions of reports on unusual cases to the medical literature including osteoclastoma of the heart and an early report on a case of Conn's syndrome.

Above all else he was a restless enthusiast with boundless energy. He was mercurial in temperament and sometimes he could be carried away by his own enthusiasm and his critical judgement could be clouded, but this endeared him. As Anatole France remarked: 'I prefer the errors of enthusiasm to the indifference of wisdom'. His enthusiasms included car rallies, radio-controlled model aeroplanes, woodworking, carpentry and machine-tooling (he almost had a device patented), and stocks and shares. He remained a chartist to the end. His golfing handicap was in single figures. In his later years he took up judo. He was a lexophile, always interested in the origins of words and their precise meaning. Most of all, he was a family man, proud of the achievements of his family and they of his. His brother, Dr Kieran Dorney DSO OBE of Queensland, was a particular source of pride. Three of his nephews are doctors. He is survived by one daughter and three sons.

In 1963, Paul exhibited the first manifestations of a disorder which, slowly but relentlessly, resulted in the progressive decline of his health. He was always ready to meet the day of sorrow and grief with the courage befitting a man. He did not fear death. Rather he welcomed it and he faced its certainty with fortitude and quiet dignity. Adversity ennobled him. He reminded us of Rupert Brooke's lines:

He shall go down with unreluctant tread, rose-crowned into the darkness.