Name: RONALD WELLESLEY GREVILLE

Qualifications:
MBBS, Melb, 1950
DA, Melb, 1955

Date of Birth: 21 July 1912
Date of Death: 9 June 2001

Ronald Wellesley Greville was born in Sydney in 1912 and educated at Cleveland Street High School, which he left early to work in a local pharmacy. He returned to study at the North Sydney Boys High School and the University of Sydney, where he graduated in Veterinary Science in 1936. Following a year as the House Surgeon at the Veterinary School, Ron moved to Townsville as a veterinary officer with the Queensland Department of Agriculture animal health laboratory. Later in 1937 he commenced work as the veterinary surgeon at the Lort-Smith Animal Welfare League Hospital in Melbourne.

In 1940 he enlisted, serving as Officer Commanding 2/5 Field Hygiene Section in Malaya until he was captured by the Japanese in 1942. Greville was part of the famous “A” Force which was sent to Burma in 1942 to reinstate British aerodromes for Japanese use. Greville was in charge of hygiene at the Tavoy camp, where he was imprisoned with Captain Charles ‘Roly’ Richards. Once the air fields were completed, “A” Force would take part in the construction of the Thai-Burma Railway..

After the war Greville studied Medicine at the University of Melbourne, graduating in 1950. He began his medical career as a GP, with an interest in anaesthesia. He started worked as an anaesthetist in 1954, gaining his DA in 1955, and faculty fellowship in 1957. He also served as an anaesthetist in the RAAF Medical Reserve and, from 1958 to 1960 was medical consultant to the Commonwealth Serum Laboratories (CSL) in Melbourne.

Greville then moved into medical administration, becoming Medical Superintendent of the Geelong and District Hospital from 1960 to 1961, after which he returned to the CSL as director, a post he held until 1965. Greville also had a pivotal role in the formation of the Australian College of Medical Administrators and was a foundation member and councillor.

In 1978, Greville’s service to the CSL was recognised during their 60th anniversary celebrations when the Animal Vaccine Laboratory was named in his honour. From 1966 to ‘67 he served as First Assistant Director-General, Laboratory Services and Quarantine Division, in the Commonwealth Department of Health. The following year Greville was appointed secretary of the National Health and Medical Research Council and played a significant role in funding research institutes such as the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute in Melbourne.

In 1972 he was appointed Senior Medical Officer at Australia House in London. For five years he had responsibility for medical matters associated with Australia’s immigration policy in the UK. Greville returned to Australia in 1977 and retired from the department of health. From then until 1982 he was the Medical Director of the Australian Kidney Foundation and served on the Social Security Appeals Tribunal in Canberra from 1981 to 1983.

SOURCES

Form of application for permission to appear before a Court of Examiners for the final Fellowship of the Faculty, 1957; Obituary, ANZCA Bulletin, November 2001; Interview of Charles Rowland Bromley Richards (aka Roly Richards) held at the Australian War Memorial.

Not all entries have detailed biographical information. Lives of the Fellows is an ongoing project. Help us discover the rich biographies of our college and faculty fellows.

Can you add any details to this biography?
If so, complete the Contributor Form.