Maurice Etheridge, son of Benjamin John Etheridge and Rose Connor, was born in Melbourne. One of three children, he was known to friends and family as Maurie. His father was a wool classer and his mother cared for the family. Maurice left school at fourteen and worked in a factory to help support his family. While continuing to work, he returned to complete his schooling at night at Taylor's College where he excelled in his studies.

He decided to become a veterinary doctor and was accepted by Melbourne University. After completing this course, he became passionate about becoming a Doctor of Medicine and changed direction. A determined and dedicated man, he completed his medical degree at twenty nine years of age. He graduated and married his long term girlfriend Mollie Carter on the same day: 14th March 1943. They had two daughters, Judith Bradbury and Margaret Shearn. Judith worked in Therapy Radiography at Peter MacCallum and later in Nuclear Medicine Technology at St Vincent's Hospital in Melbourne. Margaret completed a degree in biochemistry at Melbourne University and later graduated with a Diploma of Education.

He set up a general practice in Essendon with the help of a benefactor. After several years there he went to England and complete further study in cardiology. He then returned to Melbourne and began private practice in Collins Street while working as Honorary Physician to Royal Melbourne Hospital.

He was appointed Physician to Outpatients at Royal Melbourne Hospital in 1950 and became Assistant Physician to Royal Women's Hospital in 1951. He was Clinical Research Physician, Peter McCallum Clinic in 1959, Honorary Cardiologist Royal Women's Hospital in 1960, Rehabilitation Inpatients Royal Melbourne Hospital in 1966 and a member of the Rehabilitation Committee of Heart Foundation in 1972 as representative of Royal Women's Hospital. He held many consultant positions in Melbourne hospitals. He was Consultant Physician at Royal Melbourne Hospital from 1974 to 1994 and Life Member of the Freemasons's Hospital. He published articles on cardiology in Australian and overseas journals in the 1950s and 1960s.

Maurice was a very conscientious and caring man who loved life and the people who encouraged him and had several mentors.

He was proficent at many sports. His love of golf prevailed and he became very involved in the development of the Rosanna Golf Club. He served on their Committee and became President at the time of their relocation to Banyule. He represented the Rosanna Golf Club on the Handicapping Committee of the Victorian Golf Association until he was in his 70s.

His golfing involvement diminished from 1960, after he purchased land at Merricks North. He enjoyed this area which he loved until he died at the age of 79. He had cleared fifty acres and began an apple orchard, bred Murray Grey cattle and spent many of his later years there.

Maurice Etheridge was an inspiration because of his devotion to his patients, many of whom he had known for decades. At the end of his life he was still consulting with patients one day a week; many had become life-long friends. He was due to retire one month after his death. He died of heart failure after multiple surgery and until the very end was watching the monitors with the next generation of cardiologists by his side.