Keith Jones

Sir Keith Stephen Jones (7 July 1911 – 2 March 2012) was an Australian general practitioner, surgeon and medical executive, who served as the 6th President of the Australian Medical Association, from 1973–1976, during the introduction of universal health care in Australia.

Jones graduated as a medical doctor from the University of Sydney in 1933. He served in World War II with the 5th Field Ambulance in Papua New Guinea. He was awarded a fellowship with the Royal College of Surgeons in 1955. For his service to the medical profession, he was knighted in 1979. where he showed talent in sport. In his early years, he played rugby union, cricket and athletics and he won annual awards for his academic merits. As a senior student he was a prefect, Dux of the College, champion of the 880 yards and hurdles races and was captain of the 1st XV Rugby team. Keith Jones had declined a position on the ship during the period in which it sunk. In 2009, the wreckage was found near Queensland. An excerpt from the 1933 University of Sydney Yearbook reads "as well as being a first-class athlete, Keith is an excellent scholar. His academic career has been quite unruffled and he has gained honours each year …"

He conducted an internship at Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Over one-thousand attendees at a meeting of the New South Wales Australian Medical Association offered a vote of no confidence in Jones and voted to bar him the chance to speak on the matter. Both Jones and the other New South Wales Australian Medical Association Federal Councillor, Dr Munro Alexander, left the meeting and tendered their resignations. The Executive refused to accept the resignations however, at the next general meeting Alexander lost his position, and Jones was only returned narrowly.

After this experience, Jones was re-elected as a Committee member for the next term and chosen to serve on the Federal Australian Medical Association council. In 1972 he served as the Vice President and one year later, he was elected president. Despite this, he became popular as President, with one commentator noting at the time that Jones was one of the more stylish of Australia's medical leaders."

He served as President of the Australian Medical Association until 1976. Her grandfather was Joseph Abbott (1843–1903), wool–broker and New South Wales state politician. Together, they had three children, Stephen in 1937, Richard in 1941 and Robert in 1945. Member, New South Wales Medical Board (1971–1981) Member, Australian Drug Evaluation Committee (1972–1993) Member, Postgraduate Committee in Medicine of the University of Sydney Gold Medal, Australian Medical Association (1976)