Dr Fred Clements' career spanned five decades. In his eighties he was a regular visitor to university libraries keeping up-to-date with his main areas of interest — public health, child health, nutrition and education.

His work in nutrition began before the employment and training of public health dietitians and nutritionists, but he was later to have an influence on the training, employment and careers of many dietitians. Dr Clements' contribution to dietetics was acknowledged by the Dieticians' Association of Australia (DAA) when he was awarded Honorary Membership in 1980.

Dr Clements was senior lecturer in child health and nutrition at the School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine at the University of Sydney between 1931 and 1938 and he returned to that University's Institute of Child Health as a senior lecturer between 1952 and 1969. After his so-called retirement in 1969 he continued with his professional activities for many years.

The Advisory Council on Nutrition operated between 1936 and 1938 to advise the Commonwealth Government on the present state of nutrition of the Australian people. The Council appointed Dr Clements as medical director of a team to carry out a study of the growth and health of rural children in eastern Australian states. One of the recommendations of the Advisory Council on Nutrition was the establishment of a Nutrition Unit in the Commonwealth Department of Health. In 1938 Dr Clements became the first director of the Nutrition Unit which was located at the Institute of Anatomy, Canberra. He continued as director until 1949. The Unit was responsible for nutrition research, applied nutrition programs and nutrition education for professionals and the public.

Between 1949 and 1951 Dr Clements was seconded to the World Health Organization as first chief of the Nutrition Section of WHO. He later worked as a consultant to WHO in a number of countries in Africa, Asia and Western Pacific Regions.

In 1967 the University of Sydney introduced a postgraduate Diploma in Nutrition and Dietetics. The Diploma was available to science graduates who previously had done their professional training in teaching hospitals. Dr Clements acted as supervisor of the Diploma and undertook some of the teaching. The Royal Prince Alfred Hospital continued to be involved with the Diploma providing lecturers and supervising practice. He was an outstanding teacher, being ahead of his time in the use of interactive and problem-based learning methods. This and his enthusiasm and warm personality inspired many students who remember him with gratitude and affection.

Dr Clements wrote many scientific papers and books. In 1967, with Josephine Rogers, he wrote the first of a series of successful books on food and nutrition for the general public. Very appropriately his most recent book was A History of Human Nutrition in Australia published in 1986. Fred Clements played a vital role in this history. So many of the things which he started continued and developed.

He not only appreciated the role of nutritional science in health, but he appreciated the role of food in the daily lives of people.

In 1969 he was made an Officer of the British Empire' in recognition of his services to medicine.

He is survived by his wife Muriel and two daughters, Pamela and Rosemary.