Margate doctor retires aged 90 after remarkable career

A bayside doctor who has seen remarkable changes in his life has finally decided to hang up his stethoscope today, three months shy of his 91st birthday.

Dr Peter Marendy, 90, who is retiring today (March 31). Picture: John Gass

Thirty-five years after most Australians retire, Margate doctor Peter Marendy has finally decided it is time to hang up his stethoscope and ease back from his astonishing workload.

Remarkably, Dr Marendy will formally stop seeing patients Friday, March 31, at the age of 90 — just three months short of his 91st birthday.

It is believed Dr Marendy is one of the oldest practising doctors in Australia.

Darwin doctor Albert Foreman was last year still working six days a week at the age of 91.

In 2020, there were 1985 registered doctors aged over 75 and 1222 over 80 years old, medical journal Avant said.

Dr Marendy still lives in the house behind a Margate surgery he bought in 1965 from the previous doctor, Clarrie Grimmett. He also works at Family Medical Practice in Redcliffe.

Dr Peter Marendy, 90, who is retiring today (March 31). Picture: John Gass

He has seen remarkable transformations in his very long career.

When he began practising on the bayside, Redcliffe Hospital had just opened and had only two beds in its maternity unit.

“The operating theatre is now the mortuary,’’ he wryly pointed out.

“I was working seven days a week and on call day and night.

“I think I’ve done more than 15,000 anaesthetics (procedures).’’

Dr Marendy, who was awarded an OAM for services to medicine several years ago, was born in Innisfail and grew up in Townsville.

But in those days there was only one medical school in Queensland, at the St Lucia campus of the University of Queensland, so he had to move to Brisbane.

His first job was at Princess Alexandra Hospital, where he learned the ropes of anaesthesia.

He went on to become deputy superintendent at Ipswich Hospital before the chief anaesthesiologist at Redcliffe Hospital took him under his wing.

“I’ve always regarded all my patients as my friends,’’ Dr Marendy said.

“I think you also need to give back to the community.

Dr Peter Marendy at his Margate medical practice. Picture: John Gass

“I was (Redcliffe) Rotary club president and got a Paul Harris fellowship, set up the Probus club in Redcliffe and set up the Redcliffe and District Medical Association (he is now a life member).’’

Dr Marendy, whose relatives originally hailed from Venice, Italy, said his wife had been extraordinarily supportive during his long career, never once complaining about the heroic hours he was required to work in previous years.

There has been precious little time for hobbies outside work and his volunteering, but he loved photography and had a large darkroom at one stage.

“I decided it was time, because how many 90-year-olds get to 100?’’ he said.

Dr Marendy, who has four children, has one grandson bearing his name who has just begun his first year studying medicine.