Alfred Jefferis Turner Explained

Alfred Jefferis Turner
Birth Date:3 October 1861
Birth Place:Canton, China
Death Place:Brisbane, Australia
Occupation:Pediatrician, entomologist
Spouse:Hilda Constance Roehricht
Parents:Frederick Storrs-Turner, Sophia Mary Harmer

Alfred Jefferis Turner (3 October 1861, in Canton – 29 December 1947, in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia) was a pediatrician and amateur entomologist. He was the son of missionary Frederick Storrs-Turner. He introduced the use of diphtheria antitoxin to Australia in 1895. He resided in Dauphin Terrace, Highgate Hill, Brisbane,[1] [2] and was known by the nickname "Gentle Annie".[3]

The Jefferis Turner Centre for mothercraft was opened in 1952 as part of the Queensland Government's Maternal and Child Welfare program. In 1986, its role was changed to provide short term respite care for intellectually disabled children. It is located in the heritage building Fairy Knoll in Ipswich.

Medical career

Turner studied medicine at University College London graduating with first class honours. He emigrated to Australia in 1888 and the next year became first medical officer of the Royal Children's Hospital, Brisbane (then known as the Hospital for Sick Children).

Turner's clinical research and influence helped to reduce the number of children's deaths in Queensland. He contributed in the areas of diphtheria antitoxin, hookworm-induced anaemia, lead poisoning, children's milk supply quality improvement, health education for expectant and nursing mothers and antenatal clinic establishment in Queensland.

Turner played a pivotal role in combating the bubonic plague epidemic of 1900 and in making the notification of tuberculosis compulsory in 1904. Due to his mild manner and love of children, he acquired the nickname of "Gentle Annie".[4]

Entomological activity

Turner was an amateur entomologist who specialised in Lepidoptera and left a collection of over 50,000 moth specimens to the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research, Canberra.[5]

Notes and References

  1. News: Family Notices. 30 December 1947. 3462. Queensland, Australia. 8. National Library of Australia. The Courier-mail. 28 July 2017. 19 May 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220519235105/https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/49652840. live.
  2. News: Family Notices. 30 December 1947. The Courier-mail. 3 August 2017. 3462. Queensland, Australia. 8. National Library of Australia. 19 May 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220519235105/https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/49652840. live.
  3. Web site: Turner, Alfred Jefferis (1861–1947). 1990. Australian Dictionary of Biography. Australian National University. Thearle. M. John. 29 July 2017. 29 July 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170729060646/http://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/turner-alfred-jefferis-8883. live.
  4. News: "They called him "Gentle Annie". 30 December 1947. The Courier-Mail. 3 August 2017. 2. National Library of Australia. 3 August 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170803045951/http://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/49652802. live.
  5. News: "Gentle Annie" Museum Gift. 16 February 1949. The Courier-Mail. 3 August 2017. 5. National Library of Australia. 3 August 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170803050149/http://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/49928184. live.