Kevin King
Kevin King FRACS
6 May 1933 - July 2015
Orthopaedic Surgeon
Kevin was a close friend to all of us and I first met him in 1969 in the Orthopaedic Outpatient Department at Saint Vincent's Hospital. According to the history of that unit he had appointed acting relieving assistant overseas in 1964, so I am not sure what I would have called. I noted his diligence and spidery handwriting and concluded that he was different.
Kevin was different. He was widely read, particularly on English History and Naval Battles. He loved cricket and often recalled bowling out the opposition top batsman while playing for the London Hospital. He was asked to stay on as a Consultant but returned to Oz. He didn't like football. I took him to a match once and he thanked me for an enjoyable afternoon, but it was only ½ time when he left.
Kevin liked entertaining at home or at Pellegrini's Pasta, with his Patsy and the glances and smiles between them showed everyone how much they loved each other.
Kevin was the workhorse of the AOA. He delivered his first paper in 1968 and many others, always with a sting in the tail, making you think he was central in the revolt of Sydney Surgeons who left the Public System in the 70's.
He campaigned successfully and extensively against the possible separation of the AOA from the College of Surgeons. Kevin was at St. Vincent's from 1964 to 1985, also working at PANCH, the RCH and Western General Hospitals. He was Director of o/s RMF from 1985 to 1998 and he also founded an elective O/surgical Unit at Essendon which greatly reduced waiting lists.
Kevin was President AOA in 1991, carrying out this role with distinction and was heavily involved in expanding Orthopaedic training to country centres in Victoria and Tasmania; a difficult task of persuading trainees that they needed and of course seeking funding for Registrar posts.
Perhaps his greatest legacy has been mentoring and teaching of our orthopaedic trainees and particularly the young women, I'm sure. Buckbinder, Keith, Liew and Taylor would agree, as would De Steiger, Falkenberg and McCulloch and many others.
Kevin championed the Public Hospital system in caring for patients. He was not a champion of Chief Executive Officers, who he thought came for a year or two and then moved on.
He deplored the lack of Public Hospital posts for young o/s, pushing them into Private Practice only where there was little peer preview to maintain standards and set an example to young trainees.
We, the Orthopaedic community will remember Kevin affectionately in different ways. Perhaps standing with his head cocked to one side, his eyes sparkling and coming out with a constant stream of stories and observations.
A man whose humanity was always present, who in his later medico legal days, realized his own good fortune which he readily transposed to those less fortunate.
We mourn his departure but the great man will rest in peace with his darling Patsy.
Mr Brian Davie FRACS