Graham Francis Hall—known universally as Frank Hall—was a splendid character, an excellent doctor, a lovable person, and a loyal friend.
Born in Dunedin in 1914, he was the son of an ear, nose and throat surgeon. He received his secondary education from the Christian Brothers in his hometown and earned his first degree, in arts, from the University of Otago. His classical education contributed to his remarkable communication skills; he was a gifted wordsmith in both written and spoken language.
After completing his MA in French, Frank turned to medicine, graduating again from Otago in 1941. He served for three years with the Second New Zealand Expeditionary Force in the Middle East and Italy, where he rose to the rank of major and was mentioned in despatches.
After the war, he returned to Dunedin’s medical unit before pursuing postgraduate studies in London and Edinburgh. He then moved to Wellington to become a part-time consultant at Wellington Hospital and the Home of Compassion, where he eventually succeeded Sir Charles Burns as principal physician. He also served as assistant director of medical services at Army Headquarters.
Though a general physician, Frank had special interests in cardiology, hypertension, and diabetes. He himself was diabetic, a fact known to very few. He was known for being practical and conscientious with patients, courteous and considerate with staff, and generous in teaching. He welcomed registrars and house physicians into his home and went out of his way to offer help beyond the call of duty—often ferrying friends and colleagues to and from airports using his encyclopedic knowledge of airline schedules.
He remained humble despite his many contributions and constantly celebrated the achievements of others. His deep involvement with the College spanned roles as regional representative, secretary, chairman, council member, and finally vice-president for New Zealand. He was instrumental in creating a stable headquarters and permanent secretariat and was widely respected on both sides of the Tasman. In recognition of his work, he was awarded the CBE in 1973.
In 1971, Frank became the first dean of the Wellington School of Medicine. Although the role was demanding, he approached it with characteristic diligence, building a strong partnership between the clinical school in Wellington and the medical school in Dunedin. He retired due to illness in 1975 and later served as a geriatrician at Silverstream before retiring fully in 1978. He passed away shortly after suffering a second stroke.
Frank was known in his earlier years for his witty turn of phrase and sense of humour, and remained a gifted essayist. He appreciated art, music, and literature, though professional demands often left him little time to indulge in them. A devout Christian, he attended daily Mass when possible and was a founding member and secretary of the Guild of Catholic Doctors in New Zealand, established in 1954. His sense of duty often saw him juggling seemingly impossible schedules, driven by his hope and faith.
Throughout his life, Frank Hall was the epitome of a dedicated doctor, loyal colleague, and trusted friend. His grace and courtesy were sincere and deeply rooted. In 1949, he married Winifred McQuiken, then headmistress of a girls’ school in Dunedin. Winifred later became a lecturer in English at Victoria University, allowing the couple to share a profound appreciation for the fine and good. To their mutual sorrow, they had no children.