Douglas Malcolm Ritchie, known as 'Doug', was head of the orthopaedic unit at Queen Victoria Hospital, Melbourne and then at Monash Medical Centre in Clayton. He was born in Melbourne, the son of Douglas Stuart Ritchie, a solicitor who had fought in France during the First World War, and Dorothy Reta Ritchie née Phillips, the daughter of a schoolteacher. His paternal grandfather, Thomas Ritchie, emigrated to Australia and established an iron foundry in Fitzroy. Ritchie was educated at Malvern Grammar School and then Scotch College. He went on to study medicine at Melbourne University. After qualifying in 1954, he spent a year at Prince Henry's Hospital, Melbourne and a year at Melbourne University's anatomy school, before going to the UK for training in orthopaedic surgery. He trained at the Rowley Bristow Orthopaedic Hospital in Pyrford, Surrey under Alan Apley, at Birmingham Accident Hospital under William Gissane, and at other hospitals in London. In 1960, he gained his fellowship of the Royal College of Surgeons of England and of Edinburgh; two years later he was made a fellow of the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons. He returned to Melbourne, where he was appointed as a consultant surgeon at the Royal Melbourne Hospital and the Royal Children's Hospital. In 1969, he became head of the orthopaedic unit at Queen Victoria Hospital and in the same year went to Indonesia to teach orthopaedic surgery. In 1992, he moved to Monash Medical Centre in Clayton, also as head of orthopaedics. He also maintained a large private practice throughout his career and, after retiring from operating, set up a private medico-legal practice. Ritchie was a council member of the Australian Orthopaedic Association and chairman of the Victorian branch. He was also a captain in the Citizen Military Force, the Australian Army Reserve. He was married to Wendy (née Alsop) and with her developed a series of beautiful gardens in all their homes, including at their large property at Red Hill South, Melbourne. Ritchie was also interested in sailing (he was a member of Point Leo Boat Club), travel, opera, theatre, movies and music. He was a passionate golfer. During his last few years he was affected by Parkinson's disease and prostate cancer. Douglas Malcolm Ritchie died on 23 June 2009. He was 79. He was survived by Wendy, their three children (Peter, Susan and Anne) and eight grandchildren.