The Royal Children’s Hospital (RCH) honours the life and legacy of Edward ‘Durham’ Smith AO, who passed away peacefully on 21 August 2025, aged 103.

Durham was a pioneer in paediatric surgery and a deeply respected figure across the RCH community. His contributions spanned decades, including thousands of life-changing operations for children, as well as significant leadership roles, such as President of the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons (RACS) from 1987 to 1989.

Durham’s career was characterised by compassion and an unwavering commitment to enhancing surgical care for children.

He received numerous awards for his contributions to surgery, including the RCH Gold Medal in 1988 and the Officer of the Order of Australia (AO) for his services to paediatric surgery at the RCH, just to name a few.

We join Durham’s family, friends and colleagues in remembering a remarkable life of excellence and care.

You can read more about Durham’s career on the RCH website.