Archibald John Collins was born at Lismore, NSW in June 1890. His death at Killara, Sydney on 24 June 1955 abruptly terminated a distinguished professional career. He was in full harness in several set spheres of activity at the time of his death from coronary heart disease. `Archie', as he was known to his colleagues and friends, was blessed with a keen intelligence, a high sense of duty and great moral courage. These qualities led him to become a leader in virtually every activity he embraced.

He was educated at Fort Street High School in Sydney and became dux of the school before entering Sydney University as a medical student in 1908. He graduated in 1913 with first-class honours, and in 1914 was awarded the Walter and Eliza Hall Travelling Scholarship. However he did not take this scholarship - the call of wartime duty being too strong. Having spent 1914 as RMO at Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Archie enlisted in 1915 and served, first as captain and later as major, in Egypt and France until the war ended in 1919. Again his qualities of leadership stood out, and he was awarded both the DSO and the MC, the latter for outstanding bravery in the field, in 1918.

Back in Australia Archie was reappointed to the staff of RPAH and became medical superintendent from 1920 to 1923, when he gained appointment to the honorary staff as assistant physician. At this time he also commenced his private medical practice in Macquarie Street. In 1934 he became a full honorary physician, a post in which he served with distinction until his retirement, at the age of sixty in 1950.

Archibald Collins's career in medicine from 1923 until his death in 1955 must of necessity be divided into several compartments for descriptive purposes, but it is important to remember that they all ran concurrently, making him a very busy as well as an influential man with little time for hobbies. Despite his many professional activities Archie's family and home formed a very important part of his life. Happily married to Clotilde Donnelly, a nursing sister from his hospital, he was a devoted husband and father to his two sons at the family home in Killara on Sydney's North Shore. The elder son, Ian, and his wife, Roberta (nee Horsley) are both fellows of the College, while the younger son, Anthony, is a judge of the District Court of New South Wales.

Royal Prince Alfred Hospital was one of his most important fields of activity. As a student and later RMO there I remember him as a keen clinician, clear thinker and patient teacher. There was nothing flamboyant about his teaching, just a quiet marshalling of facts, leading to a clearly expressed diagnosis and discussion about management. From 1934 onwards, when he became a full physician these activities became even more important and time-consuming. In addition, from 1935 until his death he was a member of the board of directors of the Hospital, with a strong hand in helping to shape its policies.

Archie was also very active in Sydney University affairs. Having been appointed a member of the senate in 1935 he gave unstinted service in this important field until 1954. Other professional activities included consulting service to Royal North Shore Hospital and Hornsby District Hospital, honorary director and consulting physician to the Australian Red Cross Society and consulting physician to the Royal Australian Navy during and after World War II. One must not overlook Archie's busy private medical practice in Macquarie Street. It was well said in his obituary by Kempson Maddox (later Sir Kempson) that `his consistent friendliness, loyalty and personal charm gave boundless pleasure to his patients and friends'.

When The Royal Australasian College of Physicians was formed in 1938, Archibald Collins became a foundation Fellow and he was an active member of the NSW state committee from 1946 until his death. His service in this capacity was both thorough and consistent, but his numerous other activities precluded him from ever seeking any high offices in the administration of his College. He would undoubtedly have done so had it not been for his time-consuming activities in the medico-political field.

The greatest monument to Archibald Collins's service to the profession was his distinguished service to the British Medical Association in Australia, later to become the Australian Medical Association. In 1930 he became a member of the NSW branch council and was state president in 1934. From 1937 to 1948 he held office as honorary secretary and when he vacated this office in 1948 he was appointed vice-president, a position of honour with a seat on council which he retained until his death.

From 1945 onwards he served on federal council, and in 1951 he became president. He was still president at the time of his death. The period from 1945 onwards, after World War II, was of tremendous medico-political importance to the profession. It saw the beginning of the National Health Service under the Menzies Government, with Earle Page as minister for health. Many in the profession saw it as a fight to retain professional freedom, and there were many hotly contested issues.

Archie Collins inevitably had a strong influence on the policies and activities of the BMA in its relationship with Government, especially after he became president in 1951. He had a great capacity for organisation and administration, coupled with a broad vision of what the future might hold. He was a forceful debater, keenly interested in all the topics, prepared to listen to other points of view, but once his mind was made up it was difficult to persuade him to change it. He was slow to anger, but once really stirred was slow to subside or give in. I have a vivid memory of some heated debates in the NSW branch council, first as an observer for my local association and later as member of council during these years.

There were many occasions when I disagreed with Archie Collins's views, and a number of members of the branch council took exception to what we felt was an expectation that council would accept the prior decisions of some senior members as to what was right for the profession on particular subjects. These senior members included Archie Collins, Ronald Grieve and the long-standing general secretary John Hunter, all of whom were also very active at federal council level. This criticism of Archie in no way detracts from my respect for his ability or integrity - it merely emphasises the great influence he exerted in shaping the policies of the Association.

Early in 1955, only a few months before his death, Archibald John Collins was knighted by the Queen. This was an honour richly deserved, and it must have given him great satisfaction. It is fortunate that this honour was awarded in time for him to receive the congratulations of his many friends and colleagues. The medical profession in Australia remains indebted to him for his remarkable and distinguished service in his several spheres of activity.