In Memory of Raymond Newcombe
In Loving Memory of Dr Raymond Leonard George Newcombe OAM
Ray passed away peacefully after a long and courageous battle following a thalamic stroke.
Dr Raymond Leonard George Newcombe was born in 1936 in Brisbane. Ray was a dedicated student in his junior years. He received a Masonic bursary to attend the Brisbane Boys Grammar School (Churchie) on the results of the State Scholarship Examination 1949 and 1951, before being awarded an Open Scholarship in 1953. Ray went on to study medicine at the University of Queensland and his University prizes included a British Medical Association award assessed across medical students throughout the British Commonwealth. Illustrating his deep capability in anatomy, he was awarded the A.E. Douglas Surgical Anatomy Prize for his work, ‘The Hand’.
Ray graduated with a Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor in 1959. After his junior training at the Mater Hospital in Brisbane, he studied neurosurgery at Queen Square, National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery in London under the distinguished neurosurgeon Professor Valentine Logue, the son of Lionel Logue who served as the speech therapist for King George VI.
Ray was a member of Her Majesty's Forces, serving as a medical officer with the Royal Australian Army Medical Corps from 1960 to 1963, in the UK on secondment to the Royal Army Medical Corps, serving with the Queen's Royal Rifle Regiment from 1964-1967 and attained the rank of Major in 1968. On returning to Australia, Ray served as a Reservist with the Army Health Service from 1974-1985.
Ray became a Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh in 1970. He attained his Doctor of Surgery in 1974, along with admission as a Fellow of the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons. Shortly after, Ray moved to Canberra with his wife Carolyn, establishing the neurosurgical service at the Canberra and Woden Valley Hospitals, and acting as Head of Neurosurgery at Canberra Hospital. He worked to establish the Southcare Rescue Helicopter service for the ACT and South Coast region.
He served as President of the Neurosurgical Society of Australasia (1994 - 1996) and Chaired the NHMRC guidelines Football Injuries of the Head and Neck (1994) and Boxing Injuries (1994). This work was pivotal in de-powering the scrum to avoid neck fractures, and in better recognising the impact of brain injuries in athletes.
Ray was a remarkable surgeon, known for his compassion and empathy. Embodying the wealth of gratitude towards Ray, one card from a patient stated, “I had forgotten what it was like not to have pain as a constant companion. You have made a different life for me and I look forward to, not only running my property, but my whole life with a different outlook.”
Later in his career, Ray received his qualification in pain medicine from the Australian and New Zealand College of Anaesthetists. In 2002, he was recognised with an Order of Australia for service to the medical profession and to the community particularly through the executive of the Neurosurgical Society of Australasia.
Ray graduated with a Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor in 1959. After his junior training at the Mater Hospital in Brisbane, he studied neurosurgery at Queen Square, National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery in London under the distinguished neurosurgeon Professor Valentine Logue, the son of Lionel Logue who served as the speech therapist for King George VI.
Ray was a member of Her Majesty's Forces, serving as a medical officer with the Royal Australian Army Medical Corps from 1960 to 1963, in the UK on secondment to the Royal Army Medical Corps, serving with the Queen's Royal Rifle Regiment from 1964-1967 and attained the rank of Major in 1968. On returning to Australia, Ray served as a Reservist with the Army Health Service from 1974-1985.
Ray became a Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh in 1970. He attained his Doctor of Surgery in 1974, along with admission as a Fellow of the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons. Shortly after, Ray moved to Canberra with his wife Carolyn, establishing the neurosurgical service at the Canberra and Woden Valley Hospitals, and acting as Head of Neurosurgery at Canberra Hospital. He worked to establish the Southcare Rescue Helicopter service for the ACT and South Coast region.
He served as President of the Neurosurgical Society of Australasia (1994 - 1996) and Chaired the NHMRC guidelines Football Injuries of the Head and Neck (1994) and Boxing Injuries (1994). This work was pivotal in de-powering the scrum to avoid neck fractures, and in better recognising the impact of brain injuries in athletes.
Ray was a remarkable surgeon, known for his compassion and empathy. Embodying the wealth of gratitude towards Ray, one card from a patient stated, “I had forgotten what it was like not to have pain as a constant companion. You have made a different life for me and I look forward to, not only running my property, but my whole life with a different outlook.”
Later in his career, Ray received his qualification in pain medicine from the Australian and New Zealand College of Anaesthetists. In 2002, he was recognised with an Order of Australia for service to the medical profession and to the community particularly through the executive of the Neurosurgical Society of Australasia.
He will be deeply missed by family, friends and colleagues and is survived by his daughters Diana, Camilla, Virginia and Rowena, and five grandchildren.
A celebration of Ray’s life will be held at:
Christ Church Lavender Bay,
Corner of Lavender and Walker Streets,
Lavender Bay NSW 2026
Christ Church Lavender Bay,
Corner of Lavender and Walker Streets,
Lavender Bay NSW 2026
Wednesday, 24 June 2026 at 2:00pm
Ray was a supporter of neurosurgical research and contributed significantly to work to avoid and reduce the impacts of brain injury in sports. His family invites you to consider a donation to the NRF in his honour, supporting vital research and continuing his legacy.
Ray was a supporter of neurosurgical research and contributed significantly to work to avoid and reduce the impacts of brain injury in sports. His family invites you to consider a donation to the NRF in his honour, supporting vital research and continuing his legacy.
Raised
$0
$0
Goal
$1,000
$1,000
