OBITUARY
Dr Douglas Johnson
26 July 1938 – 5 November 2025
DOUG Johnson was born on 26 July, 1938, to Gavin and Maude. He grew up in Albert Park with his brother Wal and sister Clare.
The family later moved to Middle Park where Doug kept a boat in the garage and would wheel it across Beaconsfield Parade to the beach. Over the years he graduated from a Mirror Dinghy to a Gwen 12, a Laser, and finally a windsurfer — always happy when he was active.
Doug attended Scotch College from Year 7 to 12, following in his father’s and grandfather’s footsteps. Doug’s daily commute involved two trains and a long walk each way, but it was worth it. He made lifelong friends at Scotch.
Through the Scotch Scouts program, Doug discovered camping and bushwalking. The boys would travel to their destination in the back of an old furniture van. Doug’s first hike was to Lake Tali Karng in Gippsland in snow. He enjoyed numerous walks in Victoria’s High Country and Tasmania during his lifetime.
A highlight of Doug’s youth came when he served as an usher at the 1956 Melbourne Olympics. He proudly carried the medals on a cushion into the MCG — an unforgettable moment.
Doug followed the family tradition into medicine, but he said it was the first aid he learned in Scouts that sparked his interest in the healing process. He studied medicine at Melbourne University, lived at Ormond College, and trained in obstetrics and gynaecology at the Royal Women’s Hospital. A secondment to Port Moresby in Papua New Guinea was a breath of “humid” air — he loved it and later returned there as a specialist obstetrician and lecturer.
But perhaps the biggest change came a little earlier, when he met a bright young medical student named Diana over breakfast in Durham, England, where he was lecturing. They married a year later, and six weeks after the wedding, Doug flew off to take up his new post in PNG, with Di following shortly after.
Their years in Port Moresby were busy and full of purpose. Doug was on call every second night but the work was often exciting. One day he was told that a woman in the Owen Stanley Ranges at Popondetta had an obstructed labour. She had delivered one twin but failed to deliver the second. Doug flew out in a little plane to pick her up and bring her back to Port Moresby where he induced her safely and delivered a sweet little girl —named “Johnson” after him.
Doug trained many future doctors and midwives during his time in PNG, and Tim and Rosie (his first two children), were born there. Dr Jeremy Oats, Doug’s Registrar for a year in Port Moresby, says: “I owe him so much. He was the first major boss I had; he was so supportive. There was no hierarchy with him. I haven’t worked with anyone who looked after others so well. On his nights off I’d ring him for advice and he never minded. We had some very complex cases but I never saw him flustered.”
Doug always looked back on his time in PNG with great fondness.
In 1974, Doug returned to Australia with his English wife, settling in Traralgon. Their third child, Jenny, was born. Doug built a thriving obstetrics and gynaecology practice and was loved by his patients for his reliability, compassion, gentleness and calm. His strong Christian values meant he always put others first.
Doug also played a quiet role in medical history — encouraging one of his infertile patients to enter the early Test Tube Program at the Royal Women’s Hospital. Under Doug’s care, she became the first successful IVF pregnancy in Australia.
After ten years in Traralgon, Doug, Di and family moved to the Mornington Peninsula. During his years practicing on the peninsula, Doug worked at the Hastings Bush Nursing Hospital, the Bays Hospital, Frankston Hospital, Koo Wee Rup Regional Health Services and Rosebud Hospital. He provided care to thousands of women and their babies on the peninsula.
Colleagues say he was always generous and calm. Doug’s former practice partner, Dr Keith Howe, says: “I never saw him flustered and truly never had a conflict in 20 years of close association. The staff all loved him dearly both at the hospital and rooms.”
Dr Jolyon Ford, who joined the practice following Doug’s retirement, says: “Everyone in the rooms has such fond memories of Doug. He always gave unlimited support and was totally committed to his patients, even if that meant working multiple nights in a row.”
Doug was especially proud to be the sole specialist backup to the GP/midwife-led unit in Rosebud. A past manager of the Rosebud Maternity Service recalls Doug’s hard work and tireless commitment to providing an excellent service for women. She says: “In a time when maternity care could be considered formulaic and paternalistic, Doug helped to introduce contemporary attitudes to patient-centred care, where women had more of a say in their birth choices. This included the first water births, standing breech births and birth practices considered to be at the forefront of modern maternity care. Nothing phased him and his calm manner gave those around him the confidence that there was no drama that couldn’t be managed. He is a credit to the peninsula.”
Once the children left home, Di decided it was time for Doug and her to develop a new interest. They bought 12.5 acres at Moorooduc with a vineyard growing very good Pinot Noir and Pinot Gris. Di became an exceptionally keen and talented gardener, with Doug patiently raking here and moving plants there – whatever was required! And together they did create a magnificent garden. Doug and Di opened it for weddings and garden tours — even featuring on TV in Monty Don’s Around the World in 80 Gardens and Burke’s Backyard.
Doug was a founding Balcombe Grammar board member in the very early days of the school’s inception and commencement. Particularly memorable was the wonderful Open Garden morning tea hosted by Doug and Di as the school came out of Covid and sought to reconnect as a community. Doug was also a member of Probus, the Moorooduc Landcare Group and St Peter’s Anglican Church.
Doug was a keen jogger for most of his life. He was a regular at the annual Race Against the Puffing Billy – which combined two of his loves: steam trains and running. At 72 years old he won the Veterans section.
Doug was a warm and inclusive father-in-law and a wonderful grandfather. He was very proud of his nine grandchildren.
Doug’s life was one of purpose and steadfast love. He had a strong Christian faith. He was compassionate and non-judgemental, living his faith without preaching it. Eternally positive, active and interested – he left a lasting impression on everyone he met.
Doug will be deeply missed and loved forever.
A celebration of Doug Johnson’s life will be held at 11am, Tuesday 25 November, at St Peter’s Anglican Church Mornington.
First published in the Mornington News – 18 November 2025
