Bobbie Horsley was born in Inverell, New South Wales on 12 December 1922. Educated at St George Girls’ High School, she entered the Faculty of Medicine University of Sydney in 1940. She was a student at Women’s College. After graduation in1945 and residency at Manly District Hospital, she studied pathology at the London Post Graduate Medical School where she obtained the DCP. This training, embodying teaching by world figures in their field, formed the basis of her subsequent career.

After a brief period in private practice Bobbie became a pathologist at St George Hospital, Kogarah, where she eventually became Head of the Haematology Department. Under her direction a first class department was built up with expertise in clinical haematology, cytogenetics and immunology as well as her own special field of marrow trephines in which she was a recognised authority. She was an excellent public speaker, and gave postgraduate lectures which were meticulously prepared and expertly delivered.

When Professor WR Pitney (qv2) was appointed to the Chair of Medicine at St George Hospital, her department provided essential collaboration in the management of many haematological emergencies as well as the treatment of conditions such as leukaemia and the lymphomas. During this time Bobbie played an important role in the training of registrars, most of whom became distinguished specialists. She was a Foundation Member of The Royal College of Pathologists of Australia.

When she retired from St George Hospital in 1985 after 30 years of distinguished service, the hospital honoured her by making her an Emeritus Consultant. After a brief period in retirement, she accepted an appointment at Sydney Diagnostic Services, a leading private laboratory, where she served with her characteristic dedication until ill health forced her to retire finally from her beloved work. She died on 7 June 1996 after a prolonged illness in which she showed great fortitude.

Bobbie married Ian Collins in 1947. The marriage was very happy, and they had three sons and one daughter, a specialist dermatologist. The other children followed different careers.

Warm and gracious, with a vivacious personality and a wonderful sense of humour, Bobbie was always obliging and helpful to her professional colleagues, her scientific staff, students and referring doctors. Her attitude to her work was highly professional. As long as there was work to be done, she would be there, sitting at her microscope surrounded by her slides and reprints.

She was too busy to have many hobbies, but she enjoyed travel, and made overseas trips to attend conferences and to visit colleagues in USA and elsewhere with similar interests. She enjoyed gardening (by proxy), and she was a talented painter. Bobbie was greatly loved by her family, her colleagues and a wide circle of friends. Her husband, four children and seven grandchildren survived her.