From being the first on the scene during a problematic birth to organising annual events to raising millions of dollars for charities and community groups, who knew one man could achieve so much? 

And as Ipswich’s first paediatrician, Dr Bob McGregor, has retired after 47 years and the Guardian and Tribune had a chance to chat with the man behind the stethoscope. 

“Well, basically I’m a pretty regular sort of guy. I’ve got a family with Lydia - my greatest achievement I think was getting her to marry me,” he laughed. 

“We’ve got eight children, and all of them are doing well in various professions and callings.

“So, I’m pretty proud of that, that's probably my greatest success is actually raising a family of eight who have done so well in life as adults.”

But there’s more to Dr McGregor’s life story. 

“My career, well, basically I’m trained as a paediatrician,” he said. 

“But from a very early age, I was involved in community at school.”

In his farewell speech on Friday night at Dovetails in Ipswich, Dr McGregor touched on four lines from the poem ‘Ye Wearie Wayfarer’ by Adam Lindsay Gordon which are the driving force behind the man he is today. 

‘Life is mostly froth and bubble,

Two things stand like stone,

Kindness in another’s trouble,

Courage in your own.’

“I guess that's really been the sort of thing that's driven my life,” he said. 

“Not to take myself too seriously just to take the long-term view, avoid opinions and being judgmental and try to look for the good in people. 

“And at the same time, have the courage to accept that one needs to try everything, prepare for failure and see that as experience, not as a visual of oneself.

“That has always been my ethos I guess, and I took it very seriously.”

In helping shape the hospital, the 75-year-old used his ethos to engage the city’s community spirit. 

“I’ve immersed myself in the community for that very reason and I’ve been involved in many, many community projects.”

DR BOB MCGREGOR’S LIFE began in the Western suburbs of Sydney. 

After attending the University of Sydney, Dr McGregor landed his first job in medicine at the Royal Prince Alfred Hospital in Sydney. His next job was at the Royal Alexandra Hospital for Children in the same city. 

He described the medical scene in Sydney as “cutthroat” and decided to relocate to Queensland in 1972.

Two years later, he was given his “ticket,” formally known as his specialist qualification. 

“So, I got set up here and by the time I was 28, I was a paediatrician. 

“Bit young,” he laughed, “but anyway, we got there.”

“After I got my specialist ticket, I was at the Mater Children’s Hospital as a consultant for 11 years and also at Ipswich.”

Balancing himself between the two cities, Dr Bob admitted it was a busy period in his life.

“It was incredibly busy. I would be working around 120 to 130 hours a week.

“We were working 96 hours one week and 124 the next. That was standard. 

“What it did mean though, was that you learnt very quickly.”

In 1983, Dr McGregor resigned from the Mater Children’s Hospital to focus merely on paediatrics in Ipswich at St Andrews Private Hospital, becoming the Head Paediatrician in the city. 

“I always intended to go out on my own, I just needed a few years to consolidate my knowledge.

“There was no paediatrician outside Brisbane or Rockhampton at the time and certainly not one in Ipswich, so I went to the Surgeon Superintendent at the time, earned his respect and he appointed me on the spot.

“I was always the Head Paediatrician because there was no one before me,” he joked. 

Yet medicine was not always on the agenda for Dr McGregor.

“I was going to join the Navy.”

However, as his “eyesight was considered bad”, he next thought about archaeology, then industrial chemistry and dentistry until he finally arrived at medicine.

“Everything sort of fell together and I’ve never regretted the decision to pursue medicine.

“I had no idea though as I always saw myself as being in the Navy.”

“It’s weird isn’t it?”

Medicine may not have been his first choice, but it was the right choice as he said he has found “pure enjoyment” in both his work for the hospital and through community organisations, founding such events as the Ipswich 100 for instance. 

“I just enjoy it,” he said.

“I find my most happiness working within the community. 

“People have this sort of elusive search for happiness but really, it’s there, provided for you when you engage in community work.”

And it’s his community work as well as his specialist medical work with children from throughout the region which led to a notable accolade.

In 2014, he was selected as Queensland’s Senior Australian of the Year.

“Well, that came out of left field, let me tell you,” he laughed. 

“I was involved in a couple of big projects, I did a lot of work for children in abusive circumstances and I also founded and organised an event called the ‘Ipswich 100,’ which we’ve now raised over $1.6 million over the years, which mostly goes towards the Ipswich Hospital.

“But it was partly also because I’ve been involved in a lot of other community stuff around the area too, including the regeneration of the nature trail.

“We cut it all back and planted around five to six thousand trees.

“That’s really something I have been proud of, it’s now called the Lions Way.

“The other thing I did was I brought the special care nursery [at the hospital] up to date. 

“It was just terrible. 

“There was a little room off the theatre, no windows and there was one ancient sort of incubator.”

As there was no care for ‘special care babies’ at the time, Mr McGregor raised $10,000 in the first year by going into service clubs, holding meetings and consulting with groups and he managed to gain accreditation for basic training in paediatrics in the hospital. 

“That was a lot of money back in 1978,” he said.

“You could buy a house in Ipswich then for $7,000,” he laughed. 

“I was really proud of that.” 

However, it wasn’t always smooth sailing for the doctor.

“I’ve had many challenges, you know, challenges help to focus the mind.

“You should never resolve the challenge with failure.

“It’s important to accept the challenge and meet it.”

And he referred to himself as a ‘multi-dimensional’ person.

“I’ve got that ability, well, I believe I have anyway, to potentially inspire people towards a goal.

“I like to bring people with me and lead by example.”

And he has done so for the last 47 years. 

The hospital’s Medical Advisory committee meeting held was held on Tuesday evening. It was Dr McGregor’s final meeting marking the end of an era and the closure of his private practice. He says he can confidently say that the hospital and the patients are in safe hands.

AND OF HIS OWN FUTURE?

“I’m looking forward to spending more time with Lydia,” he said. 

“I’m looking forward to getting more into my hobbies.

“I’m a guitarist, well, I actually met Lydia as a lead guitarist in a band at university, she was in the audience, and that was it,” he laughed.

“But also, woodwork, which I find therapeutic, as well as building model cars.”

And he expects to remain involved in his community.

  His advice to others? 

“The world is your oyster, you have to be prepared to accept a challenge and if you do, all rewards will come your way and then you will be able to pick the pearls every time out of that oyster.

“They’re there for everyone to pick but when you make a choice, learn from your mistakes and do better next time.

“And that’s something that I think is so important for everyone to understand.

“That you are, who you are.

“But you have to make yourself, yourself.

“You have to create your own identity in a way by overcoming obstacles, dealing with them and accepting that life’s not always, ‘froth and bubble’.