George Beattie was born at Bellingen, and was the first Bellinger River native to graduate in medicine at the University of Sydney. He won a State bursary to Kempsey High School, and later a bursary to Sydney University, from which he graduated with honours in 1931. His initial appointment was to Goulburn District Hospital, and the following year to the Brisbane General Hospital, after which he became superintendent of the Winton District Hospital in Queensland. He received glowing testimonials from his surgical mentors at St Vincent's Hospital, Douglas Miller and Victor Coppleson. Indeed he seemed initially destined for a career in surgery.
Whilst at Winton he married Lillian Evans, better known as 'Billie', and thereafter enjoyed a very happy marriage, with two daughters, and a son who became a distinguished consultant physician in Hobart. After four years of Army service and finishing up as the ADDMS of 6 Military District, he was appointed as honorary inpatient physician at the Royal Hobart Hospital with a special interest in cardiology and skin diseases.
He enthusiastically participated in all local College activities, and was a valuable clinical teacher to residents.He was a dutiful and accomplished attender at residents' parties with a fund of earthy stories acquired in Queensland. At his school he had been captain of tennis and kept up this sport in his later life. His somewhat poker face concealed a dry humour, a warm and compassionate nature and a penetrating brain. Sadly he sustained a stroke in 1950, and ultimately succumbed to the effects of hypertension after ten years of ill health.