Melville Brookfield was born in Papakura (Auckland) where his father William Brookfield was General Practitioner/Surgeon. His mother (nee Will), also medically qualified, was a daughter and a sister of doctors. In both families there is an unusually strong medical presence.

Dr Brookfield was educated at John McGlashan College Dunedin where he was Dux, and at Otago Medical School. Following his graduation in 1937, he spent a year as a house physician in Dunedin Hospital (1938). Following his marriage to Inez Herrick in January 1939, he volunteered as a medical missionary in Kong Chuen, South China. With the outbreak of World War 2 their plan to go to China was altered en route. He spent that year in Australia as a Resident Medical Officer in the Townsville Hospital, and St George's Hospital in Sydney. He returned to New Zealand and joined the NZ Army (1943-1945), serving in New Zealand, Norfolk Island, and finally becoming Senior Medical Officer at the Papakura Military Camp, with his final rank of Major. He worked as a GP in Timaru from 1946 to 1954, then decided to complete his training as a physician with the postgraduate course in Melbourne in 1955, gaining his MRACP. He returned to work as a part-time General Physician at Timaru Hospital from 1955 to 1964.

Following the loss of his son with leukaemia at the age of 18, he decided to make changes in his life. He shifted to Dunedin and spent 3 years as Pathology Registrar (1966-1968), in the Dunedin Hospital Department of Pathology, Otago Medical School. He then returned to Timaru where he took up a full-time position at the Hospital as Consultant and General Physician, and Clinical Pathologist from 1969 to 1984.

He served at various times as Secretary and President of the New Zealand Medical Association (South Canterbury Branch), and the South Canterbury Post Graduate Medical Society, and also served as a supervisor in Marriage Guidance in Timaru.

He enjoyed most outdoor pursuits with his family, was a keen squash and bridge player, gardener and carpenter, however his abiding interest was in reading. He read extensively and had a life-time interest in philosophy and theology. This was in association with his very profound interest and complete faith in the Anglican religion combined with a life-long quest to integrate his Christianity with his interest in psychology, especially the teachings of Carl Jung. He involved himself very actively in his church, holding various posts including vicar's warden and Synod representative.

He was a fine Physician, held in respect by his patients, colleagues and his community. Inez, his wife, died in 2000, and he is survived by his two daughters, Janet and Ann, and his grandchildren and great grandchildren.