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John Douglas Newman Yelland MBBS Qld. FRCS FRACS
JOCN-90.QXD
12/9/00 11:52 AM
Page 101
Journal of Clinical Neuroscience (2001) 8(1), 101 © 2001 Harcourt Publishers Ltd DOI: 10.1054/jocn.2000.0836, available online at http://www.idealibrary.com on
Obituary
John Douglas Newman Yelland MBBS Qld. FRCS FRACS Born 11/08/28 at Roma in Central Queensland John Yelland received his primary school education in state schools in country Queensland. His secondary education was at All Souls Anglican School, Charters Towers where he was house captain and Dux of the school in 1945. He was awarded an open scholarship to the University of Queensland where he studied medicine and graduated in 1951. Following residency at the then Brisbane General Hospital (subsequently Royal Brisbane Hospital) he decided to pursue a surgical career. At that time such a course meant travel to the UK to obtain the FRCS and gain operative surgical experience. John took this in his stride and was awarded the Hallet Prize for highest marks in the Primary, FRCS (Eng). While studying for the final FRCS (Eng) he met and courted Dr Margaret Chitty, an SHO in paediatrics. They were married soon after John’s success in the final FRCS. This was a wonderful marriage with both partners supporting each other and providing a stable loving home for their five children and several grandchildren. On returning to Brisbane in 1957 John joined Kenneth G. Jamieson who had established the Unit in 1956. During the early years there was a very large workload of operative neurosurgery for trauma mainly due to road trauma. Jamieson and Yelland published their results of operation for traumatic intracranial haematomas and these results, particularly for extradural haematoma, remain a gold standard some 30 plus years on. John was a dexterous highly competent surgeon and an excellent clinician. Not only did he know how to operate but also when to operate. During surgery he seemed to possess an innate sense of when to be bold, when to be cautious and when to retire gracefully. Almost invariably he made the correct decision for his patient. He embraced the operating microscope and microsurgical techniques early in his career. When his colleague Kenneth G. Jamieson died prematurely aged 51 in 1976 John became head of department and filled this position admirably until his retirement in 1995. Although he ran a successful private practice, hospital service with all of its frustrations and modest remuneration remained the cornerstone of his career. He was Chairman of the Medical Staff Association at Royal Brisbane Hospital in 1985–1986. John became a Fellow of the RACS in 1961 and subsequently gave great service to this college. He was Chairman of the State Committee 1970–1972, honoured guest at its annual scientific
meeting in 1995 and a member of the Court of Examiners of the RACS from 1976–1986. A long serving member of the Neurosurgical Society of Australasia, he was awarded the Jamieson Medal in 1992. He also gave distinguished service to the Medical Defence Society of Queensland being a Council member, President and Secretary. His tremendous intellect was valued to such an extent that the Council of the Society awarded him its Medal of Honour for distinguished service in 1995. John’s personality was not flamboyant. Although he had an excellent mastery of the English language he preferred to express his opinion and decisions by writing rather than speaking. His case notes, written with a Mont Blanc fountain pen, were concise, highly relevant to the problem and always legible. Many surgical trainees will aspire to this clinical acumen, intellect and absolute integrity. Countless patients and relatives will remember his caring and compassion. Acute myocardial infarction caused his sudden unexpected death on 1st September 2000 whilst on holiday in Wales with his wife Margaret. Gordon Stuart
101
12/9/00 11:52 AM
Page 101
Journal of Clinical Neuroscience (2001) 8(1), 101 © 2001 Harcourt Publishers Ltd DOI: 10.1054/jocn.2000.0836, available online at http://www.idealibrary.com on
Obituary
John Douglas Newman Yelland MBBS Qld. FRCS FRACS Born 11/08/28 at Roma in Central Queensland John Yelland received his primary school education in state schools in country Queensland. His secondary education was at All Souls Anglican School, Charters Towers where he was house captain and Dux of the school in 1945. He was awarded an open scholarship to the University of Queensland where he studied medicine and graduated in 1951. Following residency at the then Brisbane General Hospital (subsequently Royal Brisbane Hospital) he decided to pursue a surgical career. At that time such a course meant travel to the UK to obtain the FRCS and gain operative surgical experience. John took this in his stride and was awarded the Hallet Prize for highest marks in the Primary, FRCS (Eng). While studying for the final FRCS (Eng) he met and courted Dr Margaret Chitty, an SHO in paediatrics. They were married soon after John’s success in the final FRCS. This was a wonderful marriage with both partners supporting each other and providing a stable loving home for their five children and several grandchildren. On returning to Brisbane in 1957 John joined Kenneth G. Jamieson who had established the Unit in 1956. During the early years there was a very large workload of operative neurosurgery for trauma mainly due to road trauma. Jamieson and Yelland published their results of operation for traumatic intracranial haematomas and these results, particularly for extradural haematoma, remain a gold standard some 30 plus years on. John was a dexterous highly competent surgeon and an excellent clinician. Not only did he know how to operate but also when to operate. During surgery he seemed to possess an innate sense of when to be bold, when to be cautious and when to retire gracefully. Almost invariably he made the correct decision for his patient. He embraced the operating microscope and microsurgical techniques early in his career. When his colleague Kenneth G. Jamieson died prematurely aged 51 in 1976 John became head of department and filled this position admirably until his retirement in 1995. Although he ran a successful private practice, hospital service with all of its frustrations and modest remuneration remained the cornerstone of his career. He was Chairman of the Medical Staff Association at Royal Brisbane Hospital in 1985–1986. John became a Fellow of the RACS in 1961 and subsequently gave great service to this college. He was Chairman of the State Committee 1970–1972, honoured guest at its annual scientific
meeting in 1995 and a member of the Court of Examiners of the RACS from 1976–1986. A long serving member of the Neurosurgical Society of Australasia, he was awarded the Jamieson Medal in 1992. He also gave distinguished service to the Medical Defence Society of Queensland being a Council member, President and Secretary. His tremendous intellect was valued to such an extent that the Council of the Society awarded him its Medal of Honour for distinguished service in 1995. John’s personality was not flamboyant. Although he had an excellent mastery of the English language he preferred to express his opinion and decisions by writing rather than speaking. His case notes, written with a Mont Blanc fountain pen, were concise, highly relevant to the problem and always legible. Many surgical trainees will aspire to this clinical acumen, intellect and absolute integrity. Countless patients and relatives will remember his caring and compassion. Acute myocardial infarction caused his sudden unexpected death on 1st September 2000 whilst on holiday in Wales with his wife Margaret. Gordon Stuart
101