IN THE compilation of stories for “Capturing the Memories” on the history of the Old Bega Hospital when it was a hospital, it was Dr John McKee who was spoken of the most.
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Both former patients and staff remember him with warmth, admiration and affection.
Dr McKee was also publicly honoured in his lifetime (unlike Dr Evershed) with the Freedom of the Bega Municipality, an MBE from the Queen and a fountain in Littleton Gardens erected to pay tribute to his work for the community.
Born in Sydney, the young John McKee attended Fort Street, the prestigious boys' high school, which had a distinguished honour roll of scholastic, professional and sporting personalities.
A student in the days of the great Headmaster Kilgour, Bega's future beloved doctor was taught logic with his mathematics by W A Selle, whom later became the registrar of Sydney University.
Entrance to the Sydney Medical School was achieved through the then senior university entrance examination of nine subjects, after which came student days under the illustrious Dean of Faculty of Medicine, Sir Anderson Stuart.
John McKee graduated as a doctor in 1918 and was appointed a resident medical officer at Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, a position he held for two years.
In that term he mixed with the great, and at the time was assistant to one of Australia's finest surgeons, Sir Alexander McCormack.
Moving further afield, Dr McKee helped establish the Broken Hill Commission into lead poisoning, under the directorship of Dr Chapman.
In his work he checked 5000 miners and carried out routine medical surveys.
His next appointment was through the Rockefeller Foundation to attack the grave effects of hookworm scourge, working at Rockhampton, Queensland.
This was also a commission post, and his services became so expert that the authorities elevated him to assistant director in Brisbane.
It was there that Dr John felt he was confronted by a decision, one he had to face alone, and resolve himself.
The question was whether he felt he was making the most of his talents and training as a doctor by sitting in an office receiving and writing reports of investigations.
The Bega community is forever thankful that he rose from the official desk and donned the mantle of general practitioner, and accepted a partnership in Bega with Dr Merrick O'Reilly, on the retirement of Dr Marshall.
He entered very securely into the community and affectations of the people when he and Miss Flora McLeod married in 1925.
More on Dr McKee next week.
