Dr Kenneth John Little

(1938 – 2015)

Kenneth Little was born in Sydney on 31 January 1938. His secondary education was at Homebush Boys’ High School, and he studied medicine at the University of Sydney, graduating in 1961.
After his early postgraduate years at the Sydney Hospital, Ken became a resident at the Royal Hospital for Women in Paddington. He obtained a registrar post at St George Hospital in Kogarah. His interest in the speciality of obstetrics and gynaecology led him to seek a postgraduate position and he travelled to the UK, where he worked for two years at Bedford Hospital and Hammersmith Hospital in London. He obtained the MRCOG in 1969, and then returned to Australia to commence practice in Canberra. Ken worked in Canberra for his entire specialist career, until his retirement in 2000.

Those who knew and worked with Ken Little respected his keen intellect, even temperament and his ability to adapt to new ideas and techniques with ease. He never spoke ill of anyone, nor was he one to criticise. Even in high-stress areas, such as the labour ward and operating theatre, Ken never raised his voice and always appeared calm and in control. For these reasons, Ken received loyalty and respect from all who worked with him. Many midwives and theatre nurses came to Ken as patients, and this is testament to his skill and compassion. To his many colleagues in Canberra, Ken was the ‘go to’ person in an emergency and his opinions were respected and always soundly based.

Outside of medicine, Ken had many and varied interests. He loved golf, bridge, and classical music. He appreciated good food, fine wine and good company. Ken’s death, after ten years of debilitating illness, saddened many of his friends and colleagues.

The comment of our colleague Dr Anne Hosking, a well-known Canberra obstetrician and former colleague of Ken, sums up his legacy: ‘Ken had a good mind, he was a good doctor, he was a good friend but, most importantly, he was a good man.’

Ken Little died on 16 January 2015. He is survived by his wife, Helen, and their daughters Jacquie and Penny.