Esmond Venner (‘Bill’) Keogh won a scholarship to Melbourne Grammar School and entry to a science course at the University of Melbourne. After completing the first year of the course he enlisted, in November 1914, as a private in the AIF and served in Gallipoli and France. For bravery he was awarded the Military Medal in 1918 and for conspicuous gallantry on another occasion he received the Distinguished Conduct Medal in 1919.

Unsettled for a time after his discharge in 1919, he eventually entered the medical faculty and graduated with first-class honours in 1927. After his residency at the Alfred Hospital, Keogh entered the Commonwealth Department of Health as a medical officer at the Commonwealth Serum Laboratories. He spent the next eight years in various government laboratories throughout Australia and in 1934 was given the task of setting up a research department within CSL. He did so with zeal, set up virus laboratories, and sought and obtained collaboration with Charles Kellaway and Macfarlane Burnett of the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute. He published a number of papers on microbiological subjects and soon established a reputation as a scientist.

With the coming of the Second World War in 1939 he enlisted in the AIF again, this time as a major and pathologist to 2/2 Australian General Hospital. In the Middle East Keogh carried out investigations into dysentery, other tropical diseases and wound infections and set up the first army blood bank. When the focus of Australian military activity moved in 1942 to the Pacific area, malaria became by far the most serious medical problem and threatened the whole operation. In 1943 Keogh was promoted to colonel and appointed director of pathology and hygiene. He gave strong support to the establishment of the malaria research unit at Cairns which, under Brigadier NH Fairley’s direction, developed a successful method of controlling the disease - an important factor in the successful conclusion of the War.

After the War he returned to his CSL post and successfully promoted and produced Salk vaccine for the control of poliomyelitis. He then became director of tuberculosis services in the Victorian Health Department and set up the necessary organisation for mass x-ray surveys, treatment and BCG vaccination. In his last position as medical adviser to the Anti-Cancer Council of Victoria he built up the Council from practically nothing to a highly effective organisation.

This brief record has mentioned some of his achievements but little of his personality. He did not marry. In his address at the memorial gathering for Bill Keogh, Sir Benjamin Rank gave a sensitive assessment of his character. Keogh’s advice was frequently sought by those in authority, but he tended to stay in the background, neither promoting himself nor seeking publicity. He was compassionate and always ready to help those in difficulties. He enjoyed literature, art and music but had little interest in accumulating possessions or wealth. His name is not well known to the public but his contribution to the health of the community was considerable, and his name is held in honour by his professional colleagues.