John Learmonth was the distinguished pioneer physician of central Queensland. Originally from Victoria, he was educated at Geelong Grammar School, and after Royal Australian Air Force service at the end of the war, completed the MBBS course at Melbourne University. He undertook internship at Prince Henry’s and then post graduate studies in Scotland. He gained the Edinburgh MRCP in 1957. After a registrar post at the Royal Perth Infirmary he returned to Australia.

At the suggestion of his uncle, general practitioner Dr Ted Hasker, John came to Rockhampton in 1958, to commence consultant physician practice. He was then only the second consultant physician working north of Brisbane. He continued distinguished work in both public and private spheres until retirement in 1999.

John was a devoted family man. He married Barbara, a physiotherapist whom he met in Scotland, in 1960. They had five children. In younger days his hobbies included water-skiing, flying and sailing. He was a long-term committee member of the Capricorn Cruising Yacht Club and its Patron until 2012. During retirement in Rockhampton he played golf and bridge.

John was the archetypal general physician, skilled over the complete range of internal medicine. He had a wry sense of humour, an inexhaustible thirst for knowledge, and indefatigable enthusiasm for medical education. In all his work he exhibited the highest levels of compassionate professional care.

John initiated the Rockhampton Hospital Library, its journal club, and organised many annual north Queensland physicians meetings. He was awarded the OAM for service to medicine in 1992, and the RACP Medal in 1998. John was a Fellow of the Queensland Branch of the Australian Medical Association: a rare honour.

John Learmonth is remembered by colleagues, nurses, patients, and indeed everyone with whom he interacted, as a perfect gentleman, a thoughtful, knowledgeable, patient, astute clinician, and an inspired and energetic medical educator.