June Halliday

June Halliday AM is a biochemist and researcher of liver disease and iron metabolism. She is a pioneer in the use of serum ferritin and liver iron concentration as diagnostic aids for studying haemochromatosis.

Early life

June Wanda Halliday (was born June von Alpen) in 1930 in Brisbane, Queensland.[1] She attended Somerville House girl’s school from 1937–46 and was School Captain. She studied her BSc at the University of Queensland from 1947,[2] graduating with Honours in 1949. One of her early mentors was Ian Mackerras, the first director of the Queensland Institute of Medical Research.[3][4] She undertook vacation research work with fellow student Marion Gillies, under the oversight of Dr MacKerras’ wife, parasitologist and researcher Dr Josephine MacKerras.[5] She married microbiologist William Halliday in August 1952. She won a Fulbright grant to study overseas and from 1952-1955 undertook research toward a PhD at the University of Wisconsin. Her thesis was on biochemistry and bacteriology. Her husband also undertook his doctorate while in the U.S.[6] Upon graduation, she took up a position with the Middlesex Hospital London as a Postdoctoral Research Fellow in the Courtnauld Institute of Biochemistry.[5]

Career

Halliday returned to Australia in 1956 and lectured in biochemistry with the Department of Pathology of the University of Queensland, researching lead poisoning and haematological problems. University policy at the time would not permit her to work full-time after the birth of her first child.[5] The University relaxed that position in time, and she returned to part-time lecturing and research. In 1967 she moved to the Department of Medicine as an NHMRC Senior Research Officer and remained with this Department until 1990. She became Professor and Head of the Liver Unit of the Queensland Institute of Medical Research in 1990.[5] Halliday retired in 1996.

Later life

Halliday was honoured with an Order of Australia Medal (A.M.) for services to medical research in 1990.

A Festschrift celebrating her career with the Queensland Institute of Medical Research was prepared in 1996.[1]

She was Secretary/Treasurer of the International Association for the Study of the Liver and President of the Gastroenterological Society of Queensland.

Personal life

Halliday married fellow student William J. Halliday of Melbourne in 1952.[7] They had three children.

References
  1. Powell, Lawrie (1996). "A tribute to June Halliday". Journal of Gastroenterology and Hepatology. 11 (9): 878–879. doi:10.1111/j.1440-1746.1996.tb00096.x.
  2. "WOMEN". Courier-Mail (Brisbane, Qld. : 1933 - 1954). 5 March 1947. p. 1. Retrieved 23 August 2018.
  3. "BEAUTY plus BRAINS". Sunday Mail (Brisbane, Qld. : 1926 - 1954). 29 January 1950. p. 7. Retrieved 23 August 2018.
  4. "Over a lifetime | 70 years of medical research". Issuu. Retrieved 24 August 2018.
  5. "June Halliday AM, biochemist". pandora.nla.gov.au. Archived from the original on 23 December 2011. Retrieved 23 August 2018.
  6. "Going to U.S. after marriage". Brisbane Telegraph (Qld. : 1948 - 1954). 19 July 1952. p. 9. Retrieved 23 August 2018.
  7. "Bride and groom will research in U.S." Courier-Mail (Brisbane, Qld. : 1933 - 1954). 2 August 1952. p. 5. Retrieved 23 August 2018.
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