It is with great sadness that the Australasian College of Phlebology acknowledges the passing of Emeritus Fellow, Dr John E. Frawley AM on the 5 June 2026.

With a distinguished career spanning more than five decades. His work helped shape the development of vascular surgery, venous practice, transplantation, and vascular diagnostic services in Australasia.

Beginning his surgical career in Perth in 1965, Dr Frawley contributed to early experimental kidney transplant surgery and participated in the first kidney transplant performed in Western Australia in 1967. His subsequent training and appointments in Brisbane and the United Kingdom exposed him to leading developments in venous surgery, arterial reconstructive surgery, and doppler diagnostic techniques.

Following his appointment as a specialist vascular and transplant surgeon at Prince Henry and Prince of Wales Hospitals in Sydney, Dr Frawley established the first Vascular Diagnostic Laboratory in Australia and founded a vein sclerotherapy clinic at Prince of Wales Hospital. He later served for 22 years as Chairman and Head of the Department of Vascular and Transplant Surgery at Prince of Wales Hospital, while also holding appointments at St Vincent’s Private Hospital, Sydney Adventist Hospital, Hornsby Ku-ring-gai Hospital, Concord Hospital, and Sydney Children’s Hospital.

Dr Frawley made original contributions to vascular and transplantation surgery, central venous pressure monitoring, and surgical technique, both nationally and internationally. In 2006, he was honoured with investiture in the Order of Australia for service to medicine in vascular and transplantation surgery, particularly as a pioneer in paediatric kidney transplantation.

The College also recognised Dr Frawley with a Lifetime Achievement Award for his introduction and postgraduate teaching of vascular ultrasound in Australasia, an area in which his influence has had a lasting impact on generations of clinicians.

We extend our sincere condolences to Dr Frawley’s family, friends, colleagues, former students, and all who were privileged to know and work with him.