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health on the island of St Helena off the west coast, and later in Nyasaland (now Malawi) in Central Africa where
he experienced and learned much of tropical and exotic diseases.
In 1952 Gurd was given sabbatical leave to study medicine in the United Kingdom where he studied at the
London School of Tropical Medicine, receiving the Diploma in Tropical Medicine and Health. He also carried out
full-time training at the London Heart Hospital for a time and later completed an advanced course in Medicine at
the Edinburgh College of Physicians where he passed the examinations enabling him to become a Member of the
Royal College of Physicians Edinburgh (MRCPE).
In 1953 he went to Fiji with the British Colonial Medical Service where he took up residence as the only
specialist physician in the country. There he also lectured in medicine at the Fiji Medical School. He carried out
research work into rheumatic heart disease in Fiji and was awarded a Doctorate of Medicine (MD) from University
of Bristol in 1954 for this work. While returning to Fiji from England in 1954 he first came to Australia to visit
Adelaide, where his father was then living.
Gurd was elected to the Fellowship of the Edinburgh College in 1962 when he also became Director of
Medical Services in Fiji, a position that he held until 1970. In 1962 he also became the Inspector-General of South
Pacific Health Services, a position that he held until 1971. In this role he was official medical advisor to the other
English-speaking island territories in the South-West Pacific including Samoa, Tonga, New Hebrides, Gilbert and
Ellice Islands, Nauru and the Cook Islands. He was also a Member of the Legislative Council of Fiji from 1962
until 1970.
After Fiji became independent, Dr Gurd sought a position in Australia and came to Darwin in 1972 to join the
Commonwealth Department of Health. For the first 14 months he was Superintendent of the Darwin Hospital and
then became Director of the Department of Health in the Northern Territory in 1974. He was also appointed to the
Northern Territory Legislative Council in 1974, a position that he held for less than a year as legislative changes
saw the nominated Council abolished at the end of 1974, just prior to Cyclone Tracy.
Upon arrival in Darwin, he had been surprised to learn that Darwin was prone to the occasional cyclone, so he set
about upgrading hospital buildings and preparing an emergency plan with the co–operation of his senior surgeon,
Mr Alan Bromwich. As Director of Health, he played a significant role in the success of the emergency plan at the
Darwin Hospital after Cyclone Tracy and he played an important role in post Cyclone Tracy administration and
in the rehabilitation of Darwin. He was noted on Christmas morning, immediately after the Cyclone, as having
mobilised his fellow administrators in the community to commence emergency assistance, and he was the first
official to advocate the subsequent large-scale evacuation of Darwin.
Gurd remained in the position of Director of Health until Territory self-government in 1978. He was appointed
Secretary of the Northern Territory Department of Health in 1979 and remained in that position until he retired
from the Department in 1981. However, he was recalled that year to the Northern Territory Public Service to take
up the position of Secretary of the Department of Primary Production. He remained in that position until 1983.
Gurd had strong community interests, and in 1981 he became an alderman of the Darwin City Council.
He served as Deputy Lord Mayor from 1983 until his retirement from Council in 1988. He had also served as
President of the Northern Territory Local Government Association from 1986 until 1988.
He was the founder of the Darwin Bougainvillea Festival, one of the objects of which was the beautification
of the city. He was also founder and first president of the Northern Territory Palm and Cycad Society. He was
Honorary Member and Paul Harris Fellow of the Rotary Club in Darwin. He was instrumental in bringing about
the construction of the artificial lake at East Point in Darwin, which was named posthumously after his friend
and colleague, Lord Mayor Alec Fong Lim. He regards his lobbying for the introduction of the law banning
the drinking of alcohol in public places within two kilometres of a licensed establishment as one of his major
contributions to the Territory community.
He was elected a Fellow of the Royal Australian College of Medical Administrators in 1974. He was a leading
figure in the St John Ambulance both locally and at the national level. He was Registrar and member of the
Chancellors Executive, St Johns Ambulance Australia for several years and served prominently in its re-organisation.
He was awarded the Knighthood of St John (KStJ).
In 1960 Dr Gurd was made an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) and in 1969 was made a
Commander of the same Order (CBE). These awards were both for services to health in Fiji. In 1981 he was made
a Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George (CMG) for services to health, particularly Aboriginal
health, in Australia.
Dr Gurd married Betty Jane Kearsley on 12 November 1955. They had one child. He also had three children by
a previous marriage. His wife, Betty, died in 1994. Dr Gurd retired in Darwin, where he enjoyed reading history
and observing birds and nature. In 1996 he moved to Sydney, where he joined members of his family.
Family information; C H Gurd, ‘Reflections on a Life of Medical Practice’, Menzies School of Health Research, 1987 Oration; Oral History
Interview Transcript NTRS 226—TS 678, Northern Territory Archives Service; Who’s Who in Australia, 1991.
GREG COLEMAN, Vol 3.