The Way We Were – From the Archive
This photo shows a meeting of mates and of minds: in this case, fine minds.
We found this photo in the College Archive recently. On the right is FC Courtice, Colin, and on the left is HM Whyte, Malcolm. (The chap in the middle is unidentified on the back inscription-any suggestions welcomed). The photo was taken at the Australian and New Zealand Association for the Advancement of Science (ANZAAS) conference in Brisbane in 1961.
The significance for the King’s community is that both Colin and Malcolm were Kingsmen and our first two Rhodes Scholars. They had careers of the highest scientific significance and contribution to society. Colin led the way, and Malcolm followed the path with equal distinction.
Colin Courtice (1911-1992), King’s 1929, from Bundaberg State High School, did a pre-medicine year at UQ, then went to the University of Sydney to do his medical degree because UQ’s degree had not yet started. He was the Queensland Rhodes Scholar in 1933, and went to New College, Oxford.
Malcolm Whyte, (1920-present), King’s 1938-1944, from Ipswich Grammar School, completed his degree in medicine at UQ (and, like Colin in Sydney, won a University Medal). He was the Queensland Rhodes Scholar in 1947 and went to Balliol College, Oxford.
After the brilliant starts to their academic careers (see photo of King’s College University Distinctions board), both Colin and Malcolm became eminent in the field of physiology and medical science more broadly.
After war service in Britain, Colin returned to Australia in 1948 as the Director of the Kanematsu Institute of Pathology at Sydney Hospital. After war service and Oxford, unsurprisingly, Malcolm returned to Australia and became the Director of Clinical Science at the same hospital institute in Sydney. Subsequently both went to the ANU: Colin in 1958 as the Foundation Professor of Experimental Pathology at the John Curtain School of Medicine (JCSM); and Malcolm in 1966 as the Foundation Professor of Clinical Science also at JCSM.
Colin retired from many national and international medical bodies and became a visiting professor at UNSW in 1976. In 1977, Malcolm moved into socio-behavioural aspects of medicine and continued with positions in government and community service. He lives in Canberra with the distinction of being King’s oldest living Collegian.
Now that is helping each other and staying connected.
Roger Dooley (King’s 1967-1970)
From the Archive
For more information on the lives of these two remarkable fellows consult Men and Masters: A centenary history of King’s College within The University of Queensland (2012) and Google. To hear more from Malcolm, visit https://www.kings.uq.edu.au/malcolm-whyte-ao/.
