Gordon Clunie was a pre-eminent figure in the surgical life of Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific. Born in Fiji, he received his primary school education in Suva and secondary schooling at first in Hamilton New Zealand and later in Edinburgh. He studied medicine at the University of Edinburgh, graduating in 1956 and trained in surgery in Edinburgh and Newcastle-Upon-Tyne. He was awarded Surgical Fellowships of the College of Surgeons of Edinburgh (1963) and England (1964). Sir Michael Woodruff was the leading surgical figure at the Royal Infirmary in Edinburgh at the time and Gordon joined his Department of Surgery as Senior Registrar and Lecturer in 1964. In 1963 the world's first successful kidney transplants took place from a cadaveric donor at the Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston. This success was due in large part to the new immunosuppressive drug combination of prednisone and azathioprine. At that time in Edinburgh Sir Michael Woodruff was developing a different immunosuppressive approach using anti lymphocyte serum. Gordon was in the right place at the right time to participate in these exciting developments. Gordon's next career move, in 1968, was to the University of Queensland's Department of Surgery at the Princess Alexandra Hospital in Brisbane. He was appointed Reader with his prime responsibility to be the Director of the new Dialysis and Renal Transplant Unit. He developed an excellent clinical service and a productive research team publishing many new developments in kidney preservation prior to transplantation. In 1969 he was awarded the FRACS, a tribute to his high standing and leadership in Clinical and Academic Surgery. He was later appointed Professor of Surgery and Deputy Dean in the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Queensland. In 1978 Gordon was appointed the James Stewart Professor of Surgery by the University of Melbourne at the Royal Melbourne Hospital. At the hospital Gordon faced some resistance from established senior surgeons whose busy careers were a mix of part time public hospital practice at the Royal Melbourne and private practice elsewhere in the city. Gordon's priorities from the start of his appointment through to his retirement in 1995 were to develop a strong basic and clinical research program in his department, linking with the Ludwig Institute and major research institutes at the Royal Melbourne. He had a clear vision for the progressive development at the hospital. The redevelopment of Essendon Hospital as an elective surgical facility and the co-location of the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre with the Royal Melbourne Hospital are examples of Gordon's successful advocacy. At the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons, Gordon was recognised as a leader in multiple aspects of College activities. He was a member of the Court of Examiners, Senior Examiner in General Surgery and Chairman of the Court for the final three years of his term. His reputation was such that he was invited to many South East Asian Universities and Surgical Colleges as External Examiner, a practice widely adopted to promote international recognition for their final undergraduate and fellowship examinations. Gordon was an elected member of the Council of the College 1994-2000 where he demonstrated a keen intellect and a great facility to listen to often tortuous contributions of colleagues before providing a concise summary and recommendation for the President. He was the Editor and then Editor in Chief of the *Australian and New Zealand Journal of Surgery* (1983-1996). In this role he soon transformed the journal to one with an enhanced international reputation. Having spent his early childhood years in Fiji it was not surprising that Gordon would be drawn towards contributing to surgical education and training for Fijian medical graduates as well as graduates in the other Pacific Islands and South East Asian countries. At this time the RACS was managing aid programs funded by the Australian and New Zealand Governments. Gordon was a member of the College's International Committee where he demonstrated a clear understanding of the needs and difficulties of delivering appropriate support to these countries with limited medical facilities. Gordon was appointed Project Director for the AusAID funded Fiji School of Medicine Post Graduate Training Project. This was a major undertaking to develop medical specialist training in Fiji for doctors from all the Pacific Island nations. It was an important development since most medical graduates previously sought specialist training in Australia or New Zealand where many chose to remain for the rest of their career. They were trained in the management of First World diseases and were not keen to return to their previous experience of limited diagnostic aids, treatment options and low salaries in their home countries. Providing high quality specialist training treating patients with the disease mix common in Fiji ensured most doctors were now comfortable to remain in the Pacific Islands. This project has been one of the lasting legacies of Gordon's commitment to International Aid, particularly as it was delivered in his country of birth. Gordon enjoyed his RACS activities as Examiner, Councillor, Editor and International Aid administrator. In recognition of these long term substantial contributions to the College he was elected a Member of the Court of Honour and was awarded the Sir Louis Barnett Medal for his "outstanding contributions to education, training and advancement of Surgery". He was also the inaugural recipient of the RACS Surgical Research Award. In his demanding role as Professor and Chairman of the Department of Surgery at the Royal Melbourne Hospital, he led a successful departmental clinical service, won funding for the departmental research activities and engaged in the committees of the Faculty of Medicine to continuously refresh the undergraduate curriculum and teaching. Gordon was very constructive in committee work and was soon recognised for his leadership abilities. At the University of Melbourne he was appointed Assistant Dean (1980-1985), Deputy Dean (1986-1995) and Dean of the Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences (1995-1997). His work for the University was recognised by the award of an MD Honoris Causa. In recognition of his excellent reputation as a clinician and academic with a wide experience of universities, specialist colleges and hospitals, Gordon in his later career was appointed to the Australian Medical Council (1995-1999) with a principal role in the inspection and accreditation of university medical schools and specialist colleges. He was a long term member of the Australian Cancer Network and the Victorian Anti-Cancer Council. Gordon enjoyed a full and meritorious career. In retirement his great pleasure was to enjoy home life with his wife Jess, daughters Louise and Pam and son David. His time with his grandchildren gave him the greatest joy of all.