Dr Francis (Frank) John Harvey OAM
4 September 1931 – 2 May 2022
Resident 1949-1954

We make a living by what we get.  We make a life by what we give. 
Winston Churchill

The College received the sad news that Dr Frank Harvey had died on 2 May 2022 at the age of 90. As a long-time generous supporter of St John’s philanthropic endeavours, Dr Harvey, with his wife Dr Pat Harvey, were responsible for supporting students through the Pat and Frank Harvey Scholarship which was established in 2014. 

Dr Harvey remembered his own good fortune at having received several scholarships while he was a resident - including the Dunne Scholarship, the John and Margaret Ellwood Scholarship and the Alexander Gunning Watson and Ellen Maud Watson Scholarship. He therefore felt it was important to be able to give back to College residents. The family have supported scholarships for medical and other students at the University, and for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander residents.

Dr Harvey was descended from families who had received a Crown Land grant in rural NSW. He was aware in later life that this land was the traditional land of the Aboriginal people of the area (the Wiradjuri nation). Dr Harvey wanted to be able to contribute to enhancing opportunities for Aboriginal people, including in rural areas. In keeping with this, the Pat and Frank Harvey Indigenous Scholarship supports Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander residents undertaking an undergraduate or postgraduate qualification at the University of Sydney. 

Dr Harvey was a resident of the College from 1949 until 1954. He has continued his association with the College - for which he held great fondness - right through to the final months of his life. 

Dr Harvey received his MBBS (Hons) from the University of Sydney and went on to become a highly respected orthopaedic surgeon, becoming president of the Australian Orthopaedic Association. Dr Harvey was one of a small group of surgeons who established the speciality of hand surgery in Australia. He was awarded an OAM for his contributions to medicine.

A Requiem Mass was held for Dr Harvey on 9 May at St Mary’s Catholic Church, North Sydney.  He leaves behind his wife of 67 years, Patricia Mary Harvey (née Houen), six children, twenty grandchildren and six great grandchildren. We remember his generosity, optimism, energy and humour. In the words of remembrance from his family: 

“Frank was blessed with good health, and a long and fortunate life.”