History of Mooroopna Medical Centre

1920s
Dr Annie Bennett commenced practise in Mooroopna in 1928. She was one of the first female medical graduates from the University of Melbourne and came to Mooroopna at the request of her cousin, Dr J.W.Florance. Her very successful practice was largely obstetrics, surgery and radiology and ended with her untimely death in 1940.
1940s
Her home and practice at 15 McLennan Street was purchased by Dr Duncan Mackellar who continued the mainly surgical and obstetrical practice until his death in 1972. He was an honorary surgeon to the Mooroopna Hospital and, together with a Shepparton colleague, established the world’s first direct blood transfusion service during the Second World War. This period saw the arrival of medical and surgical specialists and the development of general practice as we know it today.
1960s
Dr John Mackellar joined his father in 1968 and entered into partnership with Dr Reginald Patrao in the present facility at 87 McLennan Street in 1973.
The partnership, which became known as the Mooroopna Medical Centre, soon changed to an association of four doctors (with Dr John Dyson and Dr Phillip Osmond) and had branch practices at Tatura, Murchison and Stanhope.
1980s
This arrangement proved unwieldy and consolidated into an association of three when Dr David Ball joined with John Mackellar in 1980 and Dr Alan Watson followed in 1986.
After 14 years, Dr Watson left for Adelaide.
2000s
His place was taken by Dr Nameer Abdullah in 2001. Dr May Younis briefly joined the practice in 2002-3 and Dr Neil Rajanayagam in 2004.