“Born in suburban Sydney in 1912, the son of a senior administrator in the New South Wales Public Service, I was motivated from my earliest days to train in the Law in order to investigate how the family seat, Sidmouth Castle could be extricated from the intricacies of Chancery, and to that end was educated at North Sydney Boys' High School, that illustrious seat of learning which has produced so many professional men.
However, on a certain Saturday morning, a fall in the YMCA gymnasium produced a fracture of both bones in the forearm, and I was duly escorted to Sydney Hospital casualty department in time to see a veritable stream of casualties carried or helped in, and presiding over all a regal type of woman in a starched uniform and veil who at the appropriate moment rolled up her sleeves and proceeded to work half as hard again as anyone else present. Matron Maud Kellet was at her best, treating and comforting the distressed and injured passengers rescued from the ferry Greycliffe, which had a short time previously been cut in half in Sydney Harbour by the liner Niagara.
The whole scene impressed me so much that I promptly returned home and informed my family that Law was not for me, but my future lay in Medicine, treating people! And so it was."
Geoffrey Puddicombe entered Sydney University in 1932 and graduated - without distinction he says - in 1937. For three years during that period, his interest in, and knowledge of people was furthered by activities with the children at the University settlement in Chippendale, which involved a considerable amount of visiting parents in their homes most of whom had at least socialistic if not communistic attitudes, all very anti-academic, but all alienating him from that intolerable society.
Following a period of residency at Balmain Hospital he gravitated by chance to Junee where he commenced private practice just before the outbreak of World War II. After a little more than twelve months, he returned to Sydney and joined a very skilled and knowledgeable family doctor, remaining just long enough to increase the work load in the practice before enlisting in the Army.
On his return in 1945 he was appointed to the Canterbury District Hospital - a position he enjoyed until his resignation in 1955 when he sold his share in the practice and moved to what was then the delightful village of St. Ives on the outskirts of Sydney's upper north shore. Since then, time has caught up and St. Ives has become just another suburb - though still a very pleasant one.
Geoffrey Puddicombe joined the College in 1959 shortly after the death of his first wife and found in it an outlet for his leisure time, so from the outset he has involved himself in College affairs.
One of his claims to fame is the winning of a golf prize at the 1960 College Convention in Melbourne, so unexpected a feat that when prizes were presented, the bashful recipient was found lounging in his bed reading.
After a frustrating start, the development of the Medical Recording Service was entrusted to Geoffrey Puddicombe and Harvard Merrington. This Service which has grown under their guidance and care began an association between them which Geoffrey Puddicombe values highly.
In 1965 he became Vice-Chairman and in 1968 Chairman of the New South Wales Faculty of the College, holding the position until 1971.
In 1970 he was elected Faculty Representative on Council, but before he could fill this position for even one meeting found himself elected Honorary Secretary of the College. In 1966 he attended the seminar on Medical Education in Melbourne where the format of the College education and Examination was constructed and in 1967 took part in the first Examination.
He followed Cuthbert Geeves as College Representative on the New South Wales Medical Board in 1969 and when the new Commonwealth Act required it in 1970 became College Representative on the Specialist Recognition Advisory Committee for the New South Wales and A.C.T. Both of these positions he still holds.
During the last nine years Geoffrey Puddicombe's activities particularly in the Medical Recording Service have been immensely helped and supported by his wife. She was in addition an active member of the Ladies' Committee of 43 Lower Fort Street and for two years presided over that organization.
The College despite its elaborate organization is a strangely amorphous body - a handful of zealots, a larger band of enthusiasts and a mass of loyal but less dedicated members. To give cohesion and direction to such a body the Secretary must be omniscent, imperturbable, efficient, tactful, concise and indefatigable. He must be able to rebuke without offence and accept criticism without resentment; in short he must be a superman. Geoffrey Puddicombe does not claim to be a superman but he is a pretty good Secretary.
Written by John A. Stevens - First printed in Australian Family Physician Volume 2 February 1973 p44