NZMJ 1496.Indd

OBITUARY

Ronald Rutherford Elvidge 2 March 1923–30 March 2019

MB ChB, FRCOG

on Elvidge, obstetrician, gynaecologist His most memorable game, an event that and All Black captain died recently, would appear to come straight from the Raged 96. “Boys Own” magazine, was the third test Ron attended John McGlashan College against the British Lions in 1950, an era in Dunedin. There he was Head Prefect in when replacements were not allowed. The years 1939 and 1940. 'He was swimming, All Blacks were trailing 3-0, and were down boxing and fi ves champion, runner up in to 14 players when Ron left the fi eld with cross country, broke numerous athletics a serious shoulder injury and a deep cut to records and was a member of the fi rst XV his head. “With his arm hanging loose and and fi rst XI at the age of 14. experiencing great pain” he returned to the fi eld playing in a roving role. He received In the following years he pursued and the ball, dived through a fi erce tackle and tried to balance both rugby and medical scored a try that won the match and the studies, sometimes with diffi culty. During series for New Zealand. That was his last the war he was a member of the Otago game of rugby. Medical Corps. He gained a NZ University Rugby Blue. He graduated MB ChB in 1948, did his house surgeon years in Dunedin, including From 1942 to 1950 he played 30 games time in Sir Bernard Dawson’s Department of for Otago, for a time captaining the team Obstetrics and Gynaecology, thus sparking that held the Ranfurly Shield for 18 games. his interest for specialisation. He enjoyed Thus earning his god-like status as reported participating in the hospital culture even to in the Otago Daily Times. “When Elvidge the extent that in the role of Father Christmas walks down the street he turns more heads he drove his sleigh, a baby Austin car, around than Bing Crosby would”. He also played the ground fl oor wards, but had to walk the 19 games, including nine tests for the All upper fl oors with his bag of goodies. Blacks, as captain on seven occasions.

NZMJ 7 June 2019, Vol 132 No 1496 ISSN 1175-8716 © NZMA 74 www.nzma.org.nz/journal OBITUARY

In 1950 he went to England to begin another long happy association. Many specialist training in O&G, with residencies families much appreciated the care and in, Shrewsbury, Edgeware General Hospitals attention the partners gave to arranging and Oxford. There he was greatly inﬂ uenced adoptions of babies born in their practice. by the renowned New Zealanders, John Ron became a Fellow of the RCOG 1972, Stallworthy and Bill Hawksworth. He passed served on the College Council 1976–79, and his MRCOG in 1956. apart from that involvement he strenuously Ron married Prue Browne and in 1956 avoided hospital politics and committees. they returned to New Zealand where Tim, He had other quirks too, such as writing James and Jo were born. He joined the oldest abbreviations in the margins of his clinical Auckland O&G specialist practice with Tom record—most not appropriate for publi- Plunkett, Alastair Macfarlane and Bruce cation. A favourite one was UTC—‘Uncle Grieve. Obstetrics was Ron’s forte. Within a Tom Cobley and all’—referring to the very short time he had the busiest practice growing demand for the father to be present in Auckland; every expectant father wanted at the delivery of his baby. his child delivered in the large, safe hands of Forty years of a new happy life started in the ex-All Black captain. 1978 when he and Dawn Ulrich married. He also obtained a visiting position at St Three years later they moved to a lifestyle Helen’s Hospital and a short time later at block and set up a kiwifruit orchard but National Women’s Hospital he joined the Ron continued in practice in the city until “B” team with visiting specialists, Bruce retirement in 1988. Then more time was Grieve, Bernie Kyle and Ian Ronayne. He given to social golf and bridge, community enjoyed and was proud of his team at NWH activities, U3A groups studying cosmology, and contributed to postgraduate teaching. geology and world religions, meeting old Ron performed his private gynaecological colleagues, enjoying a Saturday rugby surgery at Rawhiti Hospital in Mt Eden match and holidaying at his bach in the Bay where he learned laparoscopy skills in the of Islands. late 1970s. His was a life to be celebrated, a life of In the mid-1970s Ron gave the writer achievement and courage, generosity and half of his obstetric practice and so started humility.

Author information: This obituary was written by Ron Jones and Dawn Elvidge. URL: http://www.nzma.org.nz/journal/read-the-journal/all-issues/2010-2019/2019/vol-132-no-1496- 7-june-2019/7904