Frederick Bryce Macaulay Phillips was born on 4th December 1936 in Ascot Vale. His early education was at Ascot Vale West Primary School, Hyde Street Central in Footscray, and Frankston High School, before Melbourne University, graduating MB BS in 1960.
Bryce spent two years as an RMO at Prince Henry’s Hospital, followed by two years as a Senior Demonstrator at Melbourne University Anatomy School and a further two years as a Lecturer in Anatomy. In 1967 he entered General Practice in Bulleen, where he continued for the next forty-one years until retirement in 2008.
Bryce joined the RACGP in 1968, becoming a Life Member in the mid-1990s. He became a member of the Victorian Branch of BMA immediately upon graduation, transitioning to Victorian Branch of the AMA in 1962. He was elected as the Eastern Suburban Representative on Victorian AMA State Council in 1972 continuing for the next twenty years. He served on the State Executive council from 1975 to 1981. He was President of the Victorian Branch in 1980.
Major preoccupations of the Branch that year concerned delineation of privileges in hospitals, medical manpower, confidentiality of medical records, and the development of services for doctors with illnesses, particularly mental health issues. This led to formation of the ‘Sick Doctors Program’ and subsequently, the Doctors Health Advisory Service.
Bryce was a Victorian representative to AMA Federal Assemblies from 1973 to 1975, then one of the two Victorian Representatives on Federal Council AMA from 1976 to 1981. He was Federal AMA Treasurer 1982 to 1984, Vice President 1985 to 1987, and President 1988 to 1990. In recognition of his exemplary service, he was elected a Fellow of the AMA in 1981, awarded the AMA Gold Medal in 1994 and AO in 1997.
Bryce was an Australian representative on the Confederation of Medical Associations in Asia and Oceania (CMAAO) from 1985 to 1990. He was an Australian member on Council of the World Medical Association from 1988 to1990.
From 1989 to 1994 Bryce was a member of the Australian National Council on AIDS, which led to a GP training review that he chaired in 1996. He was a member of the Medical Board of Victoria from 1991 to 2005. During this time, he chaired a Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Review in 1994, and a review of the National Road Trauma Advisory Council in 1995. He was a Commissioner of the Health Insurance Commission from 1996 to 2005.
Having been a National Serviceman during his University years, he continued with the Melbourne University Regiment Armoured Half Squadron until medical commitments precluded further participation. He became involved in LEGACY in 2008, elected President from 2011 to 2013, and Balwyn RSL Vice-president in 2015.
In retirement years he has been actively involved with U3A, Banyule, receiving their Significant Service award in 2022.
Last updated: 11 January 2025.
Principal source: Personal communication and AMA archives.
Draft by Allan Mawdsley.