By Marg Stork
OBITUARY
George Jeffrey
May 14, 1922-May 31, 2012
OVER several decades Dandenong practitioner George Jeffrey was the stork to hundreds of expectant parents in the south-east suburbs.
Born in Edinburgh, Scotland, he brought to Australia the expertise gained from a city that was famous for medical education.
Dr Jeffrey was the son of James and May Jeffrey and won scholarships to attend Heriots School and, later, study medicine at Edinburgh University.
After completing his medical degree, he became a doctor on a British naval ship bringing home injured troops at the end of World War II.
After his stint in the navy, he married Maisie, whom he met while working in one of the hospitals in Scotland during his training.
In 1951, Dr Jeffrey decided to migrate to Australia with his wife and six-month-old son. He arrived in Dandenong in 1956 to join the Robinson Street Medical Group, which later moved to Hemmings Street and also set up a branch in Narre Warren.
Dr Jeffrey was a devoted member and then president of the board of management of Dandenong Hospital. He lectured at the school of Midwifery at Dandenong Hospital and trained the midwives.
Relatives, a wide circle of district friends, and former patients mourned the death of Dr Jeffrey on May 31, just 17 days after celebrating his 90th birthday. Dr Jeffrey’s wife died in 1983 of breast cancer.
Dr Jeffrey encouraged his four children, Graham, Barbara, Catherine and Ian to follow their successful career paths. He had eight grandchildren.
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