William Roy Rogerson was born on 3 July 1923 in Melbourne. His father was William Henry Joseph Rogerson, a mechanical engineer and his mother, Stella Amelia née Wilson, was the daughter of a grocer. He qualified from the University of Melbourne in 1947. He was resident medical officer at the Alfred Hospital in Melbourne for three years, and did a further two years at the Austin Hospital as RMO and another two as medical administrator at Melbourne University. He then came to England to specialise in surgery, working as a registrar at Bromley in Kent from 1954 to 1956. During this time he worked with Hugh Trumble, R S Lawson, H A Phillips and C C Cookson. On returning to Australia he practised in Victoria. He had married Roberta M Moore in 1951 and they had a son and daughter. He enjoyed sailing, playing the piano and organ, and practical electronics. He died, after a very long illness, on 11 August 2001, survived by his wife and family.