by Diana Wood

General practitioner and long time member of the Aviation Medical Society, Graham Robinson lost his life in mid-October, when he was tragically killed while cycling north of Auckland. In his twenties, already a qualified and experienced pharmacist, Graham moved with his wife, Lin, and family of two small girls, to embark on medical training in Otago in 1973. By working as a pharmacist’s locum during university holidays, the Robinsons made ends meet. The family continued to grow, with the arrival of three more children, including twins, by the time Graham’s MB ChB was finished in 1978. Graham graduated with distinction in medicine and won the Marjorie McCallum Medal.

As Wanganui Hospital offered accommodation which was sufficiently big to cater for two adults and five children, Graham took up his house surgeon position there. There were no registrars, which meant house surgeons carried heavier responsibilities. While at Wanganui, Graham gained his Diploma of Obstetrics.

His house surgeon years completed, Graham moved to Taihape to a vacant practice – one of only two practices in the town. The community action committee set up surgery for him in a house donated by a local motel. The rugby club provided couches for the waiting room. Boards were put over the bath to make an examination bed. Two years later, a Keith Hay home was trucked in, providing a new surgery.

Graham enjoyed Taihape, where he delivered around 100 babies each year and carried out much of the emergency work in the area, as local hospitals had limited facilities. In 1984 he gained his MRNZCGP.

The family moved to the North Shore as Graham joined the Mairangi Medical Centre, where he became an FRNZCGP. Described as an extraordinary family doctor, Graham will be missed by colleagues and patients. During his 23 years at the medical centre, Graham was on the Boards of Procare and Shorecare and was the Chairman of PreMec.

Around 600 mourners gathered at Graham’s funeral to honour the life of a man who won friends easily through his wonderful sense of humour, kindness, and his wise and gentle manner. Testimonies from patients spoke of a man who knew how and when to reassure, and how and when to take action.

He was a fit and athletic man. As a Mount Albert Grammar School student he was the Auckland Schools’ Cross Country Champion and the Intersecondary Schools Champion in the 880 yards. His best mile time was 4 minutes 04 seconds. Throughout his life, he jogged for pleasure and fitness, becoming a cyclist in recent years when a persistent Achilles tendon problem made running difficult. A popular Rangi Rocket, he rode long distances and lapped up the companionship and the coffee which followed each ride.

In his fifties, Graham took up flying and gained his private pilot’s licence, further developing a long-held interest in aviation. He was one of the country’s earliest doctors to gain a Diploma of Aviation Medicine from the Univeristy of Otago. In 1995 he became an Aviation Medicine Assessor, AMA – 1, which allowed him to issue medical certificates to pilots. He was medical advisor to the Gliding Association. He was a member of the Aviation Medicine Society of New Zealand for over 20 years, many of these years on the committee and the last few of these as Treasurer.

Graham was an outstanding example of how to live life. Recent highlights included seeing the sun rise on Macchu Picchu and doing a tandem parachute jump on a day out with his family.

Above all, Graham was a family man. He was loved by his best friend Lin, his wife of 40 years, and his five adult children, who speak of the way that Graham was always there for them. His seven grandchildren adored him. Deepest sympathy is extended to Lin, Nicki, Tracey, Brenda, Bridget and Brett and their families.