Born in Queensland, George first graduated in Pharmacy and then decided to take up medicine. At that time the University of Queensland only offered the first two preclinical years, so on completion of these he moved to Sydney having represented the University of Queensland in rugby. In Sydney he had a successful academic career, which in part was financed by his expertise in card games.

George spent two years as a resident at Sydney Hospital and then decided to take up a general practice in an isolated area of New Zealand with his recently acquired bride. One look was enough, however, and he returned posthaste and took up a position as medical officer at Waterfall Hospital, a tuberculosis hospital. In 1939 he moved to Lidcombe Hospital and shortly afterwards became deputy medical superintendent. He developed an interest in the new ECG test and established this service at Ryde Hospital. In 1944 he passed the MRACP examination at his first attempt, an achievement he often boasted about particualrly to his eldest son, now also a Fellow of the College.

In 1954 George became medical superintendent of Lidcombe Hospital and worked hard and successfully to lift its standards in medicine, surgery and anaesthetics. In 1961, after the Callan Park scandal, the health department reorganised its administration and George moved to full time administration in the department as director of the Division of Establishments. He was, however, first and foremost a clinician and during the tenure of his adminsitration patient care issues were always uppermost in his mind. He had a dedicated purpose to the most difficult areas of the Public Health System of the time: geriatrics (during its formative period), mental illness, developmental disability and tuberculosis. He made great efforts to increase the standard of care: he even noted if the bread in the wards was stale. He was thorough, demanded high standards without fuss, but was also considerate and did not expect of anyone what he did not expect of himself. Present day health administrators could well heed his advice: "there is a time not to see, not to hear and not to act."

His interests were wider than medicine alone and he found time for collecting antiques, Persian carpets and silver. His greatest interest however was the Rules of Golf on which he became a recognised international expert. He was proud of the fact that on more than one occasion his interpretation of a rule led the Royal & Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews to revise their rules after he had proved that their interpretation was incorrect. A senior health official who served under George has said

I believe his contribution to health in New South Wales has not been fully recognised but I also know that it would not have bothered him.