Graham Gordon
{{Short description|New Zealand surgeon}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2014}}
Graham Rothwell Gordon (10 December 1927 – 29 February 2004) was a New Zealand general practitioner and surgeon.
Biography
Gordon was born in Stratford in 1927, the third son of doctors William Patteson Pollock Gordon and Doris Clifton Gordon (née Jolly) who ran a medical practice and the small Marire private hospital in Stratford.{{cite web|url=http://journal.nzma.org.nz/journal/117-1195/924/ |title=Graham Rothwell Gordon |date=4 June 2004 |publisher=New Zealand Medical Association |accessdate=18 April 2014 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140419020328/http://journal.nzma.org.nz/journal/117-1195/924/ |archivedate=19 April 2014 |df=dmy-all }}{{DNZB|title=Gordon, Clifton Doris |first= Linda |last= Bryder |id=4g14|accessdate=18 April 2014}} His older brother was Peter Gordon.{{cite news | title=Doctor's retirement ends Stratford medical dynasty | date=17 March 1999 | work=The Daily News | page=6 | first=Phil | last=Hamilton}} He was educated at Nelson College from 1941 to 1944Nelson College Old Boys' Register, 1856–2006, 6th edition (CD-ROM) and the University of Otago, from where he graduated MB ChB in 1951.{{cite web |url=http://shadowsoftime.co.nz/university10.html |title=NZ university graduates 1870–1961: G |date= |website= |publisher= |accessdate=18 April 2014}} He then trained and worked as a surgeon in the United Kingdom, returning to the family practice in Stratford in October 1957.
Gordon was a part-time visiting surgeon at Stratford Hospital from 1957 until 1991 when the theatre closed. He was also committed to the local emergency services, serving as a police surgeon for over 30 years and a St John Ambulance officer. He was an honorary surgeon with the Stratford Volunteer Fire Brigade, establishing the first rural GP first-response road trauma service in New Zealand, and was active in helicopter search and rescue work.
An executive member of the Taranaki division of the New Zealand Medical Association (NZMA) for 19 years, Gordon held the office of secretary and then president. He served as NZMA council chairman from 1977 to 1988, and NZMA president from 1990 to 1991. He was elected a fellow of the NZMA in 1981. In 2000 he received a Stratford District citizen's award.{{cite news | title= Stratford stalwarts get community recognition | date=26 July 2000 | work=The Daily News | page=4 | first=Glenn | last=McLean}}
In 1999, Gordon sold his medical practice but retained his involvement in local health issues and patient care until shortly before his death in 2004. He was buried at Kopuatama Cemetery.{{cite web |url=http://www.stratford.govt.nz/council/facilities/cemeteries/cemetery-search?cemetery=all&lastname=gordon&firstname=graham+rothwell |title=Cemetery search |date= |website= |publisher=Stratford District Council |accessdate=18 April 2014}}