Thursday, 2 October 2008

Prominent members of UWA’s medical fraternity have paid tribute to the people who inspired and helped shape their careers by setting up two perpetual scholarships.

The two new scholarships honour the efforts of medical pioneers Professor Mary Lockett, Foundation Professor of Pharmacology; and Professor Neville Stanley, Foundation Professor of Microbiology.

The scholarships have been set up thanks to the extraordinary generosity of donors Dr John Harriott, Professor John Pearman, his wife Rosemary and their children Timothy and Fiona.

Dr John Harriott was greatly influenced by Professor Mary Lockett and decided to honour her by setting up a Bachelor of Medical Science scholarship in her name. Dr Harriott’s passion for education and research is strong and he likes to encourage others to undertake medical research. The John Harriott Bachelor of Medical Science Scholarship in honour of Professor Mary Lockett is a wonderful way to make this happen.

Dr Harriott has been associated with UWA for many years, and it’s not the fi rst time he has made a generous contribution to the University.

After winning a prize in pharmacology in 1967, John would have liked to have undertaken a Bachelor of Medical Science degree. However, financial constraints prevented him from doing so. Nevertheless, he retained his interest and entered anaesthesia training. He later taught pharmacology to anaesthesia trainees and postgraduate dental students for 20 years. John also served for more than 10 years on
a drug research committee at Royal Perth Hospital. “I regard these as the most satisfying aspects of my career, and credit must go to Professor Lockett for my developing these interests,” he says.

Family members of the late Mary Lockett are delighted to discover that their aunt had such an impact and played a leading role in the development of pharmacology. Peter Eggleston, Mary’s nephew, completed his BA at UWA in 1975, majoring in geography; and his daughter, Rebecca Jane Eggleston, completed her BA in history and
English in 2002. Rebecca now lives in Chicago, working in Urban Planning and Development. Following the family tradition of studying at UWA, another of Mary Lockett’s great nieces, Julia Lockett, is currently studying medicine. Alexander Lockett, Julia’s brother, completed his UWA Civil Engineering degree in 2003 and now works
in London.

The University thanks Dr Harriott for his generosity and commends him on investing in the future leaders of medical research. The first scholarship will be awarded in 2011, coinciding with Mary Lockett’s 100th birthday.

Thirty years ago, Professor John Pearman, a retired medical professor, was the recipient of a P. F. Sobotka UWA Medical School scholarship. Professor Pearman says this scholarship opened many doors, and he and his family intend to return the favour with interest. The generous donation from the Pearman family will establish the John
and Rosemary Pearman Bachelor of Medical Science Scholarship in honour of Professor Neville Stanley. The perpetual scholarship is recognition of the valued friendship and high esteem that John holds for Professor Stanley.

Professor Pearman is the former Head of Microbiology and Infectious Diseases at Royal Perth Hospital. He was the clinical microbiologist on laboratory duty when the RPH microbiology laboratory grew helicobacter pylori from a gastric biopsy sent by UWA Nobel Laureates Professor Barry Marshall and Professor Robin Warren. “I was in the laboratory when we fi rst grew the organism!” Professor Pearman recalls. This scholarship in microbiology, a field in which the late Professor Neville Stanley and Professor John Pearman were so actively involved, is expected to be a highly sought after award.

(If you would like to know more about the Foundation Professors’
Bachelor of Medical Science Scholarship Program, please phone Ms
Fabienne Vonarburg on +61 8 6488 4211).

Media references

Ms Fabienne Vonarburg
Telephone (+61 8) 6488 4211

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