New Zealand Doctor - 21 November 2007
Lucy Ratcliffe
Like many medical students who joined the Royal New Zealand Army
Medical Corps, Brian McMahon only meant to sign up for a few
years.
Half a century later, the 78-year-old is still part of the
action as the Brigadier (retired) Colonel Commandant of the RNZAMC,
and is getting ready to celebrate the corps' 100th birthday next
year.
As he jokingly puts it, he is looking forward to catching up
with old comrades and having a "cry into our beer together".
Dr McMahon started his military career in the territorial (part
time) force with the Otago University Medical Company.
Originally, he trained in surgery but after a stint as a GP and
superintendent at Cromwell Hospital was asked to consider becoming
a medical officer for the army.
What was supposed to last three years turned into two decades of
active service for Dr McMahon.
He did a tour of duty in Vietnam as a surgeon and on returning
retrained in preventive medicine and tropical diseases.
Dr McMahon finished up in the regular force in the mid-1980s but
continued on as a medical officer at the Waiouru base where he used
some of his general practice skills.
He's been retired since the mid-1990s but continues serving the
army by acting in an honorary capacity as Colonel Commandant of the
medical unit.
"Being the Colonel Commandant I get to see all the young people.
If I close my eyes they're just the same as the young people I
served with."
Dr McMahon is surprised there is still a bit of a problem
getting enough doctors into the armed forces and is not sure
why.
"There's plenty going on. It's a marvellous life but it's still
not that family orientated. It's a great club to belong to...I
would do it all again."
The centennial celebrations are scheduled for 8 to 13 July next
at Linton, just out of Palmerston North.
A two-day medical conference will mark the beginning of six days
of festivities, including a parade, a ball and church service.
Major Brendan Wood of Burnham Military Camp says there are many GPs
and nurses who have come and gone over the years and the corps
would like to hear from them. For more information, send an email
to: rnzamc.100@nzdf.mil.nz
lratcliffe@nzdoctor.co.nz