George Selby was born in 1922 and grew up in Vienna where his mother encouraged and developed his love of music. The only child of Alexander and Cecile (née Mandl) it was he who persuaded them to leave after the Nazi takeover. They settled in Sydney in 1938 where George attended Scots College and then entered the University of Sydney in 1941. Graduating with honours five years later he already wanted to be a neurologist. After a resident year at Royal Prince Alfred Hospital and another as a research fellow, George served as a medical officer with the International Refugee Organisation in Salzburg for a year before proceeding to the National Hospital for Nervous Diseases, Queen Square, London to pursue his neurological training and studies.

Returning to Sydney in 1951 George determined to practise only in neurology. He was appointed neurologist-in-charge of the Northcott Neurological Centre, a unit devoted to the diagnosis and treatment of nervous diseases in ex-servicemen and their dependents. In 1953 he was appointed to the Royal North Shore Hospital, an association which lasted for over thirty years. In 1965 he became the first Head of the Department of Neurology and greatly influenced its development. He held appointments at other hospitals and conducted a busy private practice.

Widely recognised as a clinician and clinical researcher, George became noted as a teacher at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels. He lectured in neuroanatomy at the University of Sydney. Hospital tutorials were memorable and case demonstrations were meticulously conducted and were highly informative and entertaining. Junior staff and others from far afield would give many hours well into the evenings and during weekends to attend; some were stimulated to train as neurologists.

George’s research interests were mainly in Parkinsonism. With neurosurgeon, John Grant, he collaborated in the performance of a large series of stereotactic thalamotomies demonstrating during the decade prior to the use of levodopa, the benefits of surgery. Other particular studies were in headache, notably migraine and trigeminal neuralgia. He contributed extensively to the neurological literature. Well respected internationally, his authorship was sought for chapters in major reference texts and he wrote a well-received monograph, Migraine and its variants (Adis Press, 1983). He collaborated with and encouraged others to publish and lectured widely in Australia and overseas.

George gave a total commitment to the care of patients who received not only his meticulous clinical skills but also his exquisite courtesy and warm personality. He had an ease of communication, identification with the human condition and a patient and genuine desire to do the best for each person that made him special to those coming under his care. An early and active member of the Australian Association of Neurologists, George was President from 1974 to 1978. During this period he ensured there was an appropriate program developed in association with The Royal Australasian College of Physicians to enable full neurological training to be undertaken in Australia. He was Chairman of the RACP Specialist Advisory Committee in Neurology, 1976-8. Realising the value of additional overseas experience, he negotiated training positions at Queen Square and the Mayo Clinic. He was a foundation member of the Australian Neurological Foundation, later to become the Australian Brain Foundation. For his numerous and considerable services to Australian neurology he was appointment to Membership of the Order of Australia in 1995.

From his father George inherited a love of life, which was to be enjoyed to the full.
He maintained a consummate love for and interest in classical music and opera and an appreciation of art and literature. He was a keen skier and enjoyed fly-fishing in the Snowy Mountains. Wit, charm and an ability to extract every bit from each experience made him a delightful companion. An innate love and respect for other people gave him a great capacity for friendship and relationships with him were continually enriching and enhancing.

After retirement in 1993 his activities were curtailed by progressive cerebrovascular disease which proved to be cruelly debilitating but was borne with courage and dignity. George was survived by his wife Deirdre and by three of his four children by his first marriage to Noni Robb. George Selby loved his adopted country and identified himself firmly as Australian. He achieved an enduring place in Australian Neurology.