William Gordon Livingstone was born in Warrigal in the Gippsland area of Victoria. He was the youngest of three children, two girls and a boy. His father was a grazier and surveyor and was well-known for his early surveying work. Gordon was educated at Warrigal and Wesley College, Melbourne. During this period he developed his interest in reading and English literature. In 1919, he entered the medical course at the Melbourne University. On graduation in 1924, he was appointed to the Royal Children's Hospital, Melbourne. In 1926, he was appointed Resident Medical Officer at Ipswich Hospital in Queensland, being one of two junior doctors at the hospital under the guidance of Surgeon Superintendent, Dr D E Trumpy, a well-known and respected medical practitioner.

He remained in the Ipswich area until taking up general practice in Murwillumbah, NSW, at the end of 1929. A long period of general practice in a rural setting then ensued with all the difficulties during the war years of a reduced number of general practitioners in the area and an increasing workload. He was proficient in obstetrics, surgery and anaesthetics but it was in the field of general medicine that carried his greatest interest. In 1946, he decided with his family to leave Murwillumbah and general practice and proceed to Sydney to prepare for the College examinations. These he passed in 1947 at his first attempt and moved to Brisbane and established a private specialist practice as a general physician.

In 1948, following changes at the Brisbane General Hospital, he was appointed visiting assistant out-patient physician. He progressed up the scale as a visiting physician until 1954 when he was appointed senior part-time physician. He remained in this position until his retirement from the Hospital. The Hospital Board appointed him Honorary Consultant, a position he held until his death. He had a great interest and involvement in College activities. He was a Member of the State Committee from 1952 to 1958 and from 1960 to 1966 and Chairman from 1958 to 1960.

He was a lecturer to physiotherapy and occupational therapy students for many years and in 1957 was a member of a committee set up to review the courses. He was a dedicated teacher, liked and respected by his students and registrars who recalled "his kindness, his wisdom and his humility". His life revolved around his work, family, reading and English literature. He was a man of complete integrity who was dedicated to the advancement of medicine. During the 1960's and 1970's he was Medical Director of the Colonial Mutual Life organisation, taking a special interest in the organisation and particularly retirement issues. He is survived by his wife Janet and two sons, Peter and Iain, who are both Fellows of the College.