The Truant from Medicine - Eminent neurologist turned winemaker shares his story for first time

The Truant from Medicine

How a decent young doctor was seduced to the dark side 

Ivan M. Donaldson

Random House NZ -  17 October 2014 - RRP $39.99

Trade paperback

 

“I have often found in life that the hardest part about doing something is making the decision to do it... I would have to work like stink in order to achieve my goal (of becoming a doctor), but I was now determined that I was going to get there! It was 18 months later that the school principal whispered an apology for advising me not to sit School Certificate. The occasion was the final school assembly, where he pinned the school’s Dux medal on my chest.” – Ivan Donaldson, The Truant from Medicine

As a teenager Ivan Donaldson was a decidedly average student with an above average dream. After attaining a mediocre School Certificate result, he was spurred on by a chance remark from his ‘true love’ at a school dance and decided to become a doctor. He went on to become one of New Zealand’s most eminent neurologists, named as a Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit for his services to neurology in the 2013 New Year’s Honours.

So what persuaded a promising young doctor to take a walk on the ‘dark side’, pursuing a second career as a wine-maker? His delightful memoir, The Truant from Medicine charts his love affair with wine and winemaking, which began in 1966 when his then girlfriend Chris – now his wife of 46 years – gave him a copy of Hugh Johnson’s classic book Wine as a Christmas present. As he read, a spark fired in the talented and ambitious young doctor’s mind, one that kindled a life-long passion for wine and wine-making.

Ivan Donaldson rose quickly through the medical ranks, completing his neurological studies in the early 1970s in London, where he, Chris and their growing family lived for several years. Every summer, lured by all the European vineyards, the young Donaldson family would head off to France in their rickety old campervan to tour the vineyards; holidays which allowed Ivan and Chris to indulge their passion for wine and gave them goals for their amateur wine-making. Doubtless, such holidays also sowed seeds in the minds of their young sons, who, when they were older, would play a significant role in the Donaldson wine-making ‘empire.’

Winemaking became an even more serious endeavour when the Donaldsons returned to New Zealand in the late 1970s and, along with a group of Christchurch doctors, planted out Mountainview vineyard in Halswell. And things became very serious indeed when, in 1984, Ivan and Chris bought a parcel of land in the Waipara Valley and established Pegasus Bay Wines. Somehow, in between building a thriving vineyard, and wine business, Ivan Donaldson managed to carve out an impressive medical career.

In 1977, he became the first dedicated clinical neurologist at Christchurch Hospital, where he helped establish departments for clinical neurology and neurophysiology. He was head of the neurology department at Christchurch Hospital and is a past-president of the Neurological Society of New Zealand. He has been widely published in medical journals; his most significant work is the internationally regarded Marsdens’ Book of Movement Disorders (2012). He is also a wine writer and wine judge, and oversees viticulture and wine styles at Pegasus Bay.

Pegasus Bay is now one of New Zealand’s most high-profile, boutique wineries, still owned and run by the Donaldson family and making fine wines that are internationally awarded and recognised. Pegasus Bay Wines are best known for their superb Pinot Noirs, Chardonnays and Rieslings, all grown using sustainable methods. Not only have Pegasus Bay wines won many awards, but the family also runs an award-winning winery restaurant which over the years has attracted many top international and local chefs; located in the Waipara valley, north of Christchurch, it is surrounded by glorious gardens.

The Truant from Medicine is a lively and engaging memoir, which tells the fascinating story of how Ivan Donaldson managed to integrate the two great loves of his life: wine and medicine.

About the author:

Ivan Donaldson (left) is a former Professor of Neurology at the University of Otago School of Medicine, Christchurch. His successful career in neurology has been paralleled by a life devoted to winemaking, and the business he and his wife Chris created out of their passion for wine is now a successful family company, in which three of the Donaldsons’ four sons are actively involved. Ivan has been on the Board of the New Zealand Brain Research Institute since 2004 and established Friends of the New Zealand Brain Research Institute to raise funds for neurological research. The author’s royalties will be donated to The New Zealand Neurological Research Institute.