The oldest son of Albert Veit Birrell and Christina Matheson, Alec Birrell was born in Laen (near Donald, Victoria) and was educated at Geelong College where he was a prominent member of the school football team.[2]
He proceeded to study medicine at the University of Melbourne[3] and during his student years Birrell was promoted from the seconds to play one VFL match for University against South Melbourne in the first round of the 1911 VFL season.[4]
After graduating as a doctor in 1914, he served with the 20th Light Horse and British Royal Army Medical Corps in World War I.[5] Upon his return to Australia, Birrell practiced in Nathalia for several years.[6] Birrell was also Vice President of the Nathalia Football Club in 1923.[7]
Birrell later brought into a medical practice in Cheltenham, Victoria in 1927.[8]
In 1920, he married Mary Adela Lane[9] and they had three children together. He died in the Repatriation Hospital in Heidelberg on 11 May 1948.[10]
References
^Holmesby, Russell; Main, Jim (2002). The Encyclopedia of AFL Footballers: every AFL/VFL player since 1897 (4th ed.). Melbourne, Victoria: Crown Content. p. 47. ISBN1-74095-001-1.