Keith Doig

Keith Doig
Personal information
Full name Keith McKeddie Doig
Date of birth (1891-12-11)11 December 1891
Place of birth Nathalia
Date of death 3 January 1949(1949-01-03) (aged 57)
Place of death Lorne
Original team(s) Geelong College
Playing career1
Years Club Games (Goals)
1912–1914 University 44 (15)
1 Playing statistics correct to the end of 1914.
Sources: AFL Tables, AustralianFootball.com

Keith McKeddie Doig MC (11 December 1891 – 3 January 1949) was an Australian rules footballer who played with University in the Victorian Football League (VFL).[1]

Doig was born in Nathalia, Victoria and his school education was at Geelong College, where he was dux of the school[2] and captain of both cricket and football. From there he went to Ormond College at the University of Melbourne and it was a mark of respect for him as a schoolboy that his fees at Ormond were paid by the headmaster of Geelong College.

At University he excelled in both sport and academic life. He captained his cricket and football teams from his second year on and was made a University blue for both sports. He made 44 appearances for University over the period 1912–1914.[3]

After his year of residency at the Royal Melbourne Hospital he entered the Australian Army Medical Corps in 1916 and spent his time in France. He was awarded the Military Cross in the 1918 New Year Honours.[4]

On returning to civilian life he set up medical practice in Colac in 1920 and married Miss Lewis Maffra Grant the same year. It was a stimulating practice and he gave it all his vital energy and ability. He continued to be keen on sport, this time in tennis, and he was captain of the winning country week tennis team in 1933.

Death

During World War II, the shortage of medical men in the country areas took toll on his health and he suffered his first heart attack in 1948 and his second fatal one in 1949.[5] He was survived by his widow, and four children, the two eldest following him in the practice of medicine,[6] while his daughter Alison became a mathematician.

References

  1. ^ Holmesby, Russell; Main, Jim (2014). The Encyclopedia of AFL Footballers: every AFL/VFL player since 1897 (10th ed.). Seaford, Victoria: BAS Publishing. ISBN 978-1-921496-32-5.
  2. ^ "Geelong College". The Age. Melbourne. 18 December 1908. p. 8. Retrieved 19 December 2015 – via National Library of Australia.
  3. ^ The University Team, The Leader, (Saturday, 4 May 1912), p.29.
  4. ^ "Keith Doig – Discovering Anzacs". National Archives of Australia. Retrieved 19 May 2015.
  5. ^ Deaths: Doig, The Argus, (Wednesday, 5 January 1949), p. 9.
  6. ^ Doig, W.G., Med J Aust, 1949, 1, 394-5