Dr Gregory Bernard (Greg) Murphy died at Mt. Olivet Hospital, Brisbane, on 9 December 1999. Born at Kew, Victoria, on 6 February 1909, he was the eldest son of Dr. and Mrs. John Murphy. He was educated at Burke Hall, the Jesuit Preparatory School next to his parents’ home ‘Glendalough’ before proceeding to Xavier College, Kew.

After graduation in medicine from the University of Melbourne in 1932, with honours in surgery, he had posts in major Melbourne teaching hospitals - the Alfred, the Royal Children’s, the Royal Women’s, Fairfield, and Royal Park Psychiatric Hospital. He was awarded MD, University of Melbourne in 1938, the year in which he was admitted MRACP. Later that year he sailed for England as ship’s surgeon, arriving in January 1939. He was admitted MRCP in January 1940, He later became FRACP in 1958 and FRANZCP in 1968..

It was during his time in London that his interest in psychiatry blossomed. These were the early dark days of World War II, so he returned to Australia, again as ship’s surgeon, joined the AIF and was appointed to the staff of 2/7 AGH with the rank of Captain. He left Sydney in February 1941, proceeding to Bombay, Rehovot (Palestine) and the 1st Australian Psychiatric Centre at Nathania till February 1942. The hospital was then based at Sidon and finally at Biuseli in Egypt, from July 1942 to February 1943, where casualties from the Battle of El Alamein were received. There he met Father Byrne, an Army Chaplain, who was later parish priest at Yeronga where the church is a memorial to the Battle of El Alamein. Greg and Molly Murphy were later among his parishioners.

His unit returned to Australia in February 1943 and as Major Murphy he was appointed to the 7th Australian Camp Hospital at Redbank – an appointment that was to mould his future personal and professional life. On the staff at Redbank was a much-respected Ipswich general practitioner, Dr. Tom Cooney, who welcomed Greg to his home. He subsequently became engaged to Molly, Dr Cooney’s eldest daughter, and they were married in August 1944. Greg was posted to RGH Heidelberg and while he was still in the Army, Molly and Greg lived in the Murphy family home “Glendalough". They returned to Brisbane in January 1946, when Greg joined the Brisbane Clinic. He practised as a clinical psychiatrist for 45 years till his retirement in 1991. He served as a visiting specialist psychiatrist at Royal Brisbane Hospital for 20 years, where his sound clinical judgment and his personal attributes influenced the professional attitudes of a succession of registrars.

Professor Tess Cramond notes: “It was my privilege to have been his resident during my intern year in 1952. He stimulated my interest in the physical manifestations of emotional stress. He even tried to encourage me to accept an appointment as a psychiatry registrar.

“He was years ahead of his time in always having a specialist anaesthetist administer the anaesthetic when he undertook electro-convulsive therapy. Later, I was his anaesthetist for 20 years from the time of my return from the United Kingdom until I was appointed to the Chair of Anaesthetics in 1978. It was not unusual to receive a call from Greg requesting a pre-anaesthetic consultation to ensure that the patient’s medical condition and hydration were adequate. His superb philosophy of total patient care could be emulated in many specialties today.”

For several years from 1970 he was the official representative of the Australian Medical Association on the University Standing Committee for the Diploma of Psychological Medicine. He was a member of the BMA/AMA for 64 years

He worked long hours till his retirement in 1991 but relaxed with a day at the races and though he was not a gambling man, he enjoyed seeing his selections ‘get up’. He loved his garden, especially his roses and his ride-on mower. He read widely and enjoyed music on ABC FM. Above all, Greg Murphy was a family man - with Molly’s support their home in Feez Street, Yeronga, was a hive of activity for their three sons and four daughters. He was never too busy to drive them to school, sporting commitments or even to motor racing. There were always birthdays, weddings and anniversaries to celebrate - and ‘home’ with Molly and their children was the centre of his life.

Greg Murphy will be remembered as a very humble man who rarely mentioned his Army service and never spoke of his contribution to the Spastic Children’s Welfare League, which he served for 25 years in a honorary capacity. He received its medal for distinguished service in 1968. He earned the respect of patients, families and colleagues by his great dignity, superb clinical judgment, his thoroughness and his unfailing courtesy. During his years at the Brisbane Clinic he was a highly respected member of his group of specialists and my own memories of him were his courtesy, his gentle dignity, and his unfailing helpfulness to his junior colleagues.