Jean Fergus McFarlane

Well loved and widely respected for her professionalism, Jean McFarlane was a credit to the medical profession and to Queensland women in general. She was: • a graduate of Queensland University, MBBS (Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery); and later did post graduate studies to achieve qualifications: • MFCM (Member of the Faculty of Community Medicine); • MRCP (Membership of the Royal College of Physicians); and • FRACMA (Fellow of The Royal Australasian College of Medical Administrators). Jean became a lecturer at Queensland University in Anatomy and later joined the Queensland Department of health, where she rose to become: • Deputy Director of Maternal and Child Welfare; and later • Director of Maternal and Child Welfare; • Director of Queensland Child Health, • Chairman and Member of the Queensland Health Education Council and • Secretary of the Queensland Maternal and Infant Mortality Committees. As Director, Jean was responsible for expanding the influence and capabilities of the Maternal and Child Welfare services. She was very proud of the modern facility she designed and had constructed for the department in St Pauls Terrace where she was able to provide live-in facilities for young mothers enabling them to be with their children during treatment. Of real concern to Jean during this period was the high mortality rate of indigenous children that she found was around 10 times that of non-indigenous. During this period she was a regular guest on radio and TV, becoming a well-known, sometimes controversial figure on the Queensland landscape. After nearly 30 years with Queensland Health, Jean decided to try her hand in private practice and, for a couple of years, worked with her friend and confidant, Lady Cilento who had a strong interest in Maternal and Child Welfare as well as research into vitamin regimes to assist the body’s immune system. Jean then established surgeries in Chermside, Wickham Terrace, Beenleigh, Mt Warren Park, Auchenflower and, at one stage had 4 surgeries operating simultaneously - driving daily between each surgery. She was a relentless worker but rarely reduced her involvement – even when unwell. For some years Jeanette worked for some time as her receptionist and driver, ensuring that Jean made it to each surgery in a timely manner. I don’t know who was more exhausted!! Her passion during this period was the identification and treatment of what later became known as Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. She wrote a number of articles on this debilitating illness and developed treatments that were very successful in treating the condition; which she believed was viral. She has since been proven correct. At the same time as Jean started private practice, she decided to follow her love of horses. She relocated to rural properties where she raised and trained (she was a licenced trainer) a number of horses. At one stage she had over 60 horses on her property. Possibly the best known was a horse called “He’s a Haze”. This horse won a number of races but had a single problem – it could not go round curves!! So all its races had to be dead straight – such as the “straight six” at Flemington in Melbourne where it was quite successful. Her days in the racing world were severely curtailed after her friend and fellow trainer, Vic Rail, died of the Hendra virus. Jean always felt as if she should have been able to save him but, as we now know, that was impossible. Jean was a very giving person who felt the need to help and nourish her fellow human beings. She gave extensive support to her family and friends who benefited greatly from her expertise and advice. Generous to a fault, she stubbornly refused to see anything but the good side of everyone she knew. Perhaps that is why her practice grew to over 3500 patients. All of them came to know Jean as a straight-talking, caring doctor who regarded their health and welfare as paramount. Who didn’t get ‘the lecture’ on caring for themselves? We will miss this dynamic, proud and loveable lady who had so much effect on our lives and our hearts – where she will always reside. She is now at peace in God’s loving hands.