Community
5 December, 2025
Dr Menzies to ease into retirement
AFTER running the Robinson Street Clinic for over 40 years, Dr John Menzies OAM has made the decision to begin easing into retirement.
Dr Menzies OAM began working full time in Camperdown around February-March in 1978, having started working in Camperdown in 1977 during a brief gap between working at the Geelong Hospital and the Women’s Hospital in Melbourne.
He said he’ll be easing into retirement by going into part-time work at the clinic.
“I’ve still got good health and it’s a natural progression,” Dr Menzies OAM said.
“I want to spend more time with my wife, see my grandkids play cricket and go to school concerts and other things they’ve said I haven’t done for the last 50 years.
“My wife and I like the outdoors and planting trees.
“We have family and we’d like to play a bigger part in their lives.
“I have family in Melbourne, Adelaide, Wagga Wagga and France – nieces, nephews, godchildren and grandchildren.”
Fellow clinic doctor Robin O’Neill will be taking on Dr Menzies OAM’s patients as he winds back, saying he made the decision to take the clinic.
“Dr Menzies OAM has been working for decades serving the local community, he has been running the Robinson Street Clinic for over 40 years,” Dr O’Neill said.
“He’s coming to that point in his career where he wants to wind down and spend more time with his family – which is well deserved
“I don’t know if I’ll ever fill in Dr Menzies’ shoes – Dr Menzies OAM’s skill and experience in surgery, anaesthetics, obstetrics and primary care is astonishing.
“I’ll be focused on preventative medicine as studies show strong primary care with continuity of care is linked to longer life expectancies, lower mortality and better health outcomes – I want to continue to ensure this is the case in this region.”
Dr O’Neill said he loves the Camperdown area, having completed his specialist training in general practice at the Camperdown Clinic on Scott Street.
“I migrated to Australia in 2018, after completing my medical training in Ireland,” he said.
“I worked in Monash Health for four years and was working in the Emergency Department through the Coronavirus pandemic.
“I have immensely enjoyed working with my colleagues Dr Ash (Singh), Dr Edith (Masih) and Dr Tim (Noone) at the Scott St Clinic.
“Both clinics will continue to work together in maintaining the hospital service where we have inpatients, a day theatre, urgent care and obstetric service.
“We are all committed to doing our best to maintain this service to the community.”
Dr Menzies said it will be bittersweet to be stepping back.
“Having been here a long time, you make many friendships – both with patients and with people you’ve worked with,” he said.
“It’s been a daily routine for nearly 50 years, so I’ll miss that, but I’ve got a lot of things I’d like to do.
“I’m looking forward to trying to improve my music as well.
“Camperdown’s a very happy place to be.”