John Yu facts for kids

John Samuel Yu (Chinese: 余森美; pinyin: Yú Sēnměi; born 12 December 1934) is a famous Australian paediatrician. A paediatrician is a doctor who specializes in treating children. He was also a hospital leader and a collector of art.

Dr. Yu was the chief executive officer (CEO) of the Royal Alexandra Hospital for Children in Sydney. He led the hospital from 1979 to 1997. During his time, he oversaw the hospital's big move to a new location in Westmead. In 1996, he was honored as the Australian of the Year.

Early Life and Education

Where John Yu Was Born

John Samuel Yu was born in Nanking, China, on December 12, 1934. His father was an important official in the army of the Republic of China. This government was formed when the Kuomintang party came to power in 1912.

Fleeing China

In 1937, Japan invaded China, starting the Second Sino-Japanese War. Because of this war, John's family had to leave China. When he was just two years old, John was secretly taken out of China. He was hidden in a basket under some blankets.

His mother was a Chinese Australian, meaning her family had lived in Australia since 1867. In 1939, John, his mother, and his sister arrived in Sydney. They traveled on a passenger ship from Hong Kong. His father later moved to Taiwan.

Family History in Australia

John Yu's relatives had lived in Australia since the time of the Victorian gold rush. His grandfather, John Young Wai, started the first Chinese Presbyterian Church in Sydney.

John Yu's Schooling

John Yu went to Fort Street High School in Sydney. He then studied at the University of Sydney. He earned his medical degrees there. Later, he also received a special diploma in child health from the Royal College of Physicians in London.

Career Highlights

Starting at the Children's Hospital

John Yu began working at the Royal Alexandra Hospital for Children in 1961. He was 27 years old at the time. This hospital is now known as The Children's Hospital at Westmead. From 1972 to 1997, he was a staff physician there.

Leading the Hospital's Move

From 1978 to 1997, Dr. Yu was the chief executive of the New Children's Hospital. He was the main person behind moving the hospital from Camperdown to Westmead in western Sydney in 1995.

Dr. Yu loved art, and he had a special idea for the new hospital. He wanted to create a top-notch paediatric hospital that included art and good design. His goal was to combine art with excellent medical care for young people.

Other Important Roles

From 2000 to 2005, Dr. Yu was the chancellor of the University of New South Wales. A chancellor is a high-ranking leader in a university. He retired from his work in 2014.

Recognition and Honours

Awards for Service

John Yu has received many important awards for his work. In 1989, he was made a Member of the Order of Australia. This award was for his service to medicine as a children's doctor and hospital leader.

In 2001, he was given an even higher honor. He was promoted to Companion of the Order of Australia. This was for his great work in developing excellent children's healthcare and research. It also recognized his efforts for children's rights, education, and the arts.

Australian of the Year

In 1996, John Yu was named Australian of the Year. When he received this award, he said, "I am proud of my Chinese heritage but even prouder to be an Australian."

Honorary Degrees and Fellowships

He has also received several special university degrees called honorary degrees. These include degrees from the University of Sydney, the University of Western Sydney, and the University of New South Wales.

In 2019, he was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society of New South Wales. He is also a Fellow of other important medical and humanities organizations.

National Living Treasure

In 2012, John Yu was named a National Living Treasure of Australia. This title is given to people who have made a huge contribution to the country.

Portraits and Lectures

In 2004, an artist named Ah Xian created a ceramic sculpture of Dr. Yu. This artwork is now kept at the National Portrait Gallery in Canberra. In 2007, a painting of Dr. Yu and his partner was a finalist for the Archibald Prize. In November 2022, he was invited to give the first Wang Gungwu Lecture.

Art and Culture

A Passion for Art

John Yu's interest in art started when he was a child. He became interested in 18th-century English ceramics. Later, in the 1970s, he began to focus on art from East and Southeast Asia. He believes that art is very important for a healthy society. This is why he made sure to include art in the design of Westmead Hospital.

Promoting Asian Art

From 2004, Dr. Yu was the chair of VisAsia. This group helps people learn about and appreciate Asian art and culture. He and his partner collected a large amount of Southeast Asian art. Some of their collection of Balinese textiles has been shown in exhibitions in Australia and Indonesia. In 2021, 260 items from their collection were part of an exhibition in Sydney.

He has also given donations to The Australian Museum in Sydney.

Other Activities

Community Involvement

John Yu has been involved in many different organizations. From 2005 to at least 2013, he was a trustee for the Australian Cancer Research Foundation. He also led or was a member of boards for groups like Musica Viva and the Starlight Foundation. He was on the board of the Art Gallery of New South Wales from 1997 to 2006.

Speaking Up for Others

He has also spoken out in support of refugees. He once mentioned that he himself was like a "boat person" when he arrived in Australia. In October 2023, Dr. Yu was one of 25 Australians of the Year who signed a letter. This letter supported the "Yes" vote in the Indigenous Voice referendum.

Published Works

Dr. Yu has written several books and many articles. These works cover topics like children's medicine, hospital management, and the decorative arts.

Personal Life

John Yu's life partner was George Soutter (1934–2011). George Soutter was also a respected paediatrician and an artist. He was born in Zimbabwe and studied medicine in South Africa and London. He moved to Australia in the 1960s and met John Yu at the Royal Alexandra Hospital.