Obituaries Australia

With tragic suddenness Dr. Roy Le Page Muecke, Medical Superintendent of the Perth Hospital, died early yesterday morning, after a brief illness. Aged 37, he was widely known and by the medical profession generally he was recognised as an authority on the surgery and medicine of the chest. He had recently been appointed State Tuberculosis Officer. Tribute to his work was paid yesterday by the Minister for Lands (Mr. Panton), who was associated with him for eight years as Minister for Health, and by the president of the British Medical Association (Dr. S. E. Craig).

A South Australian, the late Dr. Muecke graduated in medicine at the Adelaide University and came to Perth in June, 1933, as resident medical officer at the Perth Hospital. A year later he went to England to do post-graduate training in chest ailments. On returning to Australia early in 1937 he was appointed medical registrar at the Perth Hospital. Two months later the post of medical superintendent became vacant and Dr. Muecke was appointed. He later married a daughter of the late Mr. T. A. L. Davy, a State Attorney-General, who died suddenly while in office. There are two young children of the marriage. A brother of the late Dr. Muecke arrived by air from Adelaide last night to attend the funeral, which will take place this morning.

B.MA. Presdent's Tribute.
"He was probably the best authority in this State on chest work. He had proved most skilful both in its surgery and medicine and I do not how we shall get on without him," was the tribute of Dr. S. B. Craig, president of the West Australian branch of the British Medical Association. "Dr. Muecke had just been appointed State Tuberculosis Officer, a recognition of his worth in this work. Not only has the State and the medical profession lost a brilliant member but those who have been associated with him have lost a great personal friend. His personal charm and professional skill made him a great force for good in his chosen work."

Dr. Craig said that Dr. Muecke had endeavoured to enlist at the outbreak of war but his services to the community were considered too valuable to permit his release. In the last four years Dr. Muecke had worked strenuously and unceasingly under considerable strain to meet the extra demands made on medical men.

Minister Shocked
The Minister for Lands (Mr. A. H. Panton) said that the news of the death of Dr. Muecke had been a great shock to him. He had been associated with Dr. Muecke while a member of the Perth Hospital Board and even more closely during the eight years he was Minister for Health. During this period, he many times sought Dr. Muecke's advice on medical matters, and this was always available and invariably sound. Dr. Munecke was keenly interested in tuberculosis and the necessity for improved hospitalisation for the sick; in fact, he had played a very important part in the planning of the new Perth Hospital. Mr. Panton said tliat Dr. Muecke's death was a distinct loss to the State and especially to the Perth Hospital and he felt that he had lost a great personal friend.