Dr Bertuch died on Thursday last week after a long battle with Motor Neurone Disease (MND).

In lieu of flower, donations in memory of Graeme can be made to Motor Neurone Disease Victoria.

Ararat has lost a long-term medico.

After matriculating from Nunawading High School in 1965 he studied medicine at Monash University, where he graduated in 1971.

Graeme was a talented sportsman.

He was an excellent tennis player and his six foot, six inch frame made him an ideal footballer.

He starred in a grand final for East Burwood Football Club in 1966 and was pursued by the Hawthorn Football Club but opted out in favour of his medical studies.

During his time at Nunawading High School and Mt Pleasant Methodist Church her became acquainted with Susan Shepherd and they relationship quickly grew.

They were married in 1970.

Graeme and Sue spent the early years of their married life living in Caulfield and once Graeme graduated he and sue shifted to Warrnambool and Graeme took up residency at Warrnambool hospital.

During their time at Warrnambool, Graeme took up  flying and obtained his pilot’s licence.

After living and working in the United Kingdom and Melbourne, Graeme and Sue then relocated to Ararat where he joined the Ararat Medical Centre in 1976.

Graeme then spent the next 38 years of his life as a doctor in the Ararat region.

During his time as a partner at the Ararat Medical Centre, Graeme implemented a general practitioner recruitment program and headed a committee that oversaw the medical centre’s redevelopment in 2011.

This made the clinic a one stop medical facility which was an innovative approach in rural medicine.

The Ararat Medical Centre has subsequently received awards as the best clinic in Victoria and then Australia in 2015.

Graeme’s contribution to the community included 12 years on the Ararat Hospital Board and a role as the medical officer for Health for Ararat.

He also served a a locum for the Royal Flying Doctors Service in 1994-95.

In 1991, Graeme commenced as the visiting medical officer for Willaura after the retirement of the town’s doctor.

He continued this association with Willaura for the next 22 years.

He enjoyed being a country doctor and especially the interaction with people in the community and treating several generations of residents.

in 2014, Graeme received a Health Lifetime Achievement Award from East Grampians Health Service.

in 2016 he was awarded a an Order of Australia Medal for his service to medicine and the community.

Graeme was also a highly regarded viticulturist and winemaker.

After Graeme and Sue’s marriage ended in the mid 1990s, Graeme subsequently partnered with Carolyn Thomas and they married in 2000.