Keith Millingen was an outstanding member of the medical profession in Hobart, Tasmania, specialising in neurology.

He was born in 1922 in Brisbane but when his family moved to Sydney attended the Sydney Church of England Grammar School. After graduating from Sydney University in 1945 and after a year as junior RMO at Sydney Hospital he moved to Hobart where he was senior RMO from 1946 to 1948 at the Royal Hobart Hospital, thus laying the foundation for his later return to that city.

In 1950 he married June Haworth, a nurse originally from Sydney, whom he met at the Royal Hobart Hospital and who was incidentally a colleague of my wife from the Royal Prince Alfred Hospital in Sydney. Post graduate work had taken them to London where we had a close association as they occupied our flat in Kensington in London for some weeks while my wife and I holidayed on the continent.

Keith’s interest in neurology was kindled after spending some time at the National Hospital for Nervous Diseases at Queen Square, and after registrarship at Rushgreen Hospital, Romford, Essex from 1950 to 1952, returned to Hobart. In 1953 our association recommenced when he and June hosted me for a week while I was investigating the possibility of moving to Hobart, having recently returned from England and their hospitality convinced me to move there.

Keith’s first wife June was tragically killed after being hit by a car in 1961. He married Eileen Trotter in 1966. He had two children, both girls from his first marriage, the eldest Felicity now a registered nurse and Prudence, now a lecturer at TAFE. He had one child from his second marriage, Samantha, now an early childhood teacher.

Keith’s career in Hobart was marked by his great qualities as a teacher and he is remembered by having the lecture theatre in the clinical school of the Medical School of the University of Tasmania named after him. With the late Sir Douglas Parker he had been instrumental in the setting up of the medical school there.

On his return to Hobart in 1952 he was appointed an honorary physician at the Royal Hobart Hospital and in 1960 appointed visiting senior specialist (neurology) at the Repatriation General Hospital, Hobart. He had been a provisional member of the Australian Association of Neurologists(AAN) since 1959 and was admitted as an ordinary member in 1963.

Determining on an academic career, he became a senior lecturer in the Department of Medicine, University of Tasmania in 1973 and Reader from 1982 to his retirement in 1987. However, he continued his teaching career as an Honorary Clinical Lecturer in Medicine, University of Tasmania, and visiting specialist in neurology and consulting physician to the Royal Hobart hospital to the time of his death.

He was active in college activities in the state being a member of the Tasmanian State Committee from 1960-78 (Hon Sec 1964-6) and chairman in 1966. He was also a member of the RACP Council from 1968-76. In addition to this, he a member of many associations including the AAN, as mentioned previously, the Australian Medical Association, Multiple Sclerosis Society of Tasmania, Australian Brain Foundation, Epilepsy Society of Australia and many others.

He served in the CMF Field Ambulance as captain from 1952 to 1958 major from 1958 to 1962 and major Reserve of Officers 1962-1976.

An interesting sidelight on his ancestry is that one of his forebears Dr Julius Millingen was physician to Lord Byron. Another was Dr Van Millingen, physician to Napoleon.

Keith had many hobbies. A dinghy played a big part in his life and he had some harrowing experiences on occasion. His love of dogs was legendary and earned him the nickname of “Rover”. For many years a parrot called Percy lived in their house. The parrot was a good imitator and often indicated when it was time for visitors to leave by saying “Percy wants to go to bed”. He was a keen gardener and in later years a house at Middleton on the D’entrecasteaux Channel provided an opportunity to be very successful at growing vegetables, most of which were given to friends and neighbours.

Keith was survived by his wife, three daughters and seven grandchildren at the time of passing. His death was a great loss to the community.who had depended on his neurological skills for so many years.