Tributes to Olivia's brother Hugh Newton-John
Dr. Hugh Francis Newton-John July 3 1939 - May 7 2019
Son of Brinley and Irene Newton-John (nee Born). Brother of Rona and Olivia Newton-John. Half-Brother of Sarah and Toby Newton-John.
Photo: Olivia Newton-John, Instagram
My dear, sweet, gentle, clever, brother Hugh passed away May 7, 2019, in Melbourne, Australia after many years of decline. I love him so and will miss him terribly.
Love & light, Olivia
By Olivia Newton-John, on Instagram
Vale - Dr. Hugh Newton-John
Sadly, Hugh Newton-John died recently after a long battle with debility and decline. Hugh was a well-respected infectious diseases clinician at Fairfield Infectious Diseases Hospital in Melbourne during the 1970s and 80s where his lively personality, sharp intellect and amazing ability to reassess complex infectious diseases was highly regarded.
Hugh was an innovator, an astute clinician and a wonderful teacher and mentor to generations of medical students, residents and ID trainees.
Hugh was also a talented musician and artist who shared his gifts with many friends, colleagues and associates throughout his entire life.
As a clinician-investigator Hugh led many key research projects, particularly among patients requiring care in the hospital’s intensive care unit. These included the optimal means of managing tetanus, helping identify the link between recent Campylobacter gastroenteritis and the subsequent development of Guillain-Barre syndrome and improving the ventilation methods for polio patients who required long-term ventilation, as well as developing new approaches to preventing airway obstruction among patients with chronic upper airway weakness.
He was a keen photographer and enjoyed recording patient stories about their illnesses and how they managed. Many of the classic clinical infectious diseases photos and audio recordings that now form part of the massive Fairfield Collection, owe their origins and meticulous cataloguing to Hugh’s efforts - many have now been included in the key Australian ID textbook “Infectious Diseases: a clinical approach; third edition” (Eds: Yung, Spelman, Street, et al.).
Recent years have not been kind to Hugh, but although he is now at peace, his memory and legacy will live on among those who worked and trained with him and the many patients who benefited from his fabulous care.
Submitted by Lindsay Grayson, Anne Mijch, Jenny Hoy and Suzanne Crowe
Ed After posting this tribute comments came in from past patients of Hugh, who had benefited from his incredible medical work. One wrote: “Dear Olivia, sorry to hear the sad news about Hugh. Your brother saved my brother’s life at Fairfield when he was four and our family will always be thankful to him. Sending hugs, RIP Dr Newton John.”
A second one recalled: “Also bless your brother for his work with Guillian Barre Syndrome. My son was diagnosed at 6yrs old. He lost the ability to walk, talk, feed himself and was almost on a ventilator. He made a full recovery and will be 26 in August.”
NEWTON-JOHN Hugh Francis 3 July 1939 - 7 May 2019
Hugh passed away peacefully at Olivet, Ringwood, a place of exceptional loving care.
A fine musician and a brilliant Physician, Hugh was well loved and will be remembered by all, with fondness.
All who knew and loved Hugh, who shared with him music or medicine, are welcome to attend the funeral. A Service of Thanksgiving for the life of Dr Hugh Francis Newton-John will be held in Holy Trinity Anglican Church, cnr High and Pakington Sts Kew on THURSDAY (May 16, 2019) commencing at 2.00 p.m. A Private Cremation will follow.