Geelong surgeon Greg Mitchell remembered

A Geelong surgeon who died after a cancer battle has been remembered as a wonderful man who cared deeply for his patients.

A GEELONG surgeon has been remembered as a wonderful man who cared deeply for his patients.

Greg Mitchell worked as a surgeon in Geelong for about 30 years, and practised across Barwon Health and private hospitals in the region.

His wife of 44 years, Bronwen, said Mr Mitchell was raised in Melbourne and came to Geelong in 1989 to look after the practice of another surgeon who had become ill.

Mr Mitchell stayed in Geelong since.

Mrs Mitchell said in the early 1990s Mr Mitchell and a radiologist colleague set up BreastScreen in Geelong and from that time his major work was breast surgery.

He stopped seeing patients in late 2018 due to his health.

Mr Mitchell, a father of two and grandfather of five, died last weekend aged 69 after a battle with cancer.

“He was clever, he was quite witty, he was a wonderful father, an adoring and adored grandfather, and a great husband,” Mrs Mitchell said.

Surgeon Greg Mitchell. Picture: supplied

“He was a very caring surgeon and doctor to his patients, he cared very much about them.”

Mrs Mitchell said her husband enjoyed hiking near their holiday house in Apollo Bay, fishing, woodwork, and travelling.

“He was a very keen Melbourne supporter so he was very, very thrilled to see the grand final this year,” she said.

Barwon Health acting chief executive Amanda Cameron said Mr Mitchell was an influential pioneer in the modern era of his breast surgery sub-specialisation and he was known for providing kind and compassionate care to breast cancer patients.

“Greg will be remembered by his colleagues as a skilful surgeon, but also a highly respected teacher and mentor,” she said.

“Barwon Health offers deep sympathies to Greg’s loved ones who provided such loving support to him throughout his journey.”

Mr Mitchell’s funeral will be held at 1.30pm on December 22 at Christ Church on the corner of Moorabool and McKillop Streets.

It will also be livestreamed.

For more details, visit: www.funeralguide.net/obituaries/3438

Originally published as Geelong surgeon Greg Mitchell remembered