View source for John Yu

{{short description|Chinese-Australian paediatrics doctor}}
{{distinguish|John Yoo}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2019}}
{{Infobox medical person
| name = John Yu
| honorific_suffix = {{post-nominals|country=AUS|size=100%|sep=|AC|FRACP|FRSN}}
| image = 
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| birth_name = 
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|df=yes|1934|12|12}}
| birth_place = [[Nanjing|Nanking]], China
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| citizenship = [[Australian nationality law|Australian]]
| education = [[University of Sydney]]
| years_active = 
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| field = [[Paediatrics]]
| work_institutions = [[Royal Alexandra Hospital for Children]]
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|native_name=余森美}}
'''John Samuel Yu''' ({{zh|c=余森美|p=Yú Sēnměi}}; born 12 December 1934) {{post-nominals|country=AUS|AM|AC|FRACP}} is a Chinese-born Australian [[paediatrician]], hospital administrator, and art collector. He was CEO of the [[Royal Alexandra Hospital for Children]] in [[Sydney]] from 1979 until 1997, presiding over its move to [[Westmead, New South Wales|Westmead]]. He was named [[Australian of the Year]] for 1996.

==Early life and education==
John Samuel Yu<ref name=slnsw>{{cite web | title=Details: Dr John Samuel Yu papers and photographs, ca. 1900-2019 | website=[[State Library of New South Wales]] Old Catalogue| url=https://archival-test.sl.nsw.gov.au/Details/archive/110645733 | access-date=24 March 2025| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20250324053328/https://archival-test.sl.nsw.gov.au/Details/archive/110645733 | archive-date= 24 March 2025| url-status=live}}</ref> was born in [[Nanjing|Nanking]] (now Nanjing, [[Jiangsu Province]]), China,<ref name=libaus>{{cite web | title=Yu, John, 1934- - Full record view | website=[[Libraries Australia]] | date=10 July 1997 | url=https://librariesaustralia.nla.gov.au/search/display?dbid=auth&id=35623440 | access-date=24 March 2025| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20241215074643/https://librariesaustralia.nla.gov.au/search/display?dbid=auth&id=35623440| archive-date= 15 Dec 2024| url-status=live}}</ref> on 12 December 1934.<ref name=unsw/> His father was a senior official in [[Chiang Kai-shek]]'s [[National Revolutionary Army]]<ref name=meacham2021/> in what was the [[Republic of China (1912–1949)|Republic of China]], established when the [[Kuomintang]] came to power in 1912 (later moving to [[Taiwan]]). The family was forced to flee China in 1937, when the [[Second Sino-Japanese War|Japan invaded China]], occupying the country until 1945. Yu's mother was a [[Chinese Australian]] whose family had been in Australia since 1867.<ref name=cheng2022>{{cite web | last=Cheng | first=Koma | last2=Law | first2=Ranky | title=Australian Chinese doctor John Yu: 'Acting in the interests of Australia will not diminish Chinese self-identity' | website=[[SBS Radio|SBS Language]] | date=3 May 2022 | url=https://www.sbs.com.au/language/chinese/en/article/australian-chinese-doctor-john-yu-acting-in-the-interests-of-australia-will-not-diminish-chinese-self-identity/fs3vv1750 | access-date=24 March 2025}}</ref> He had to be smuggled out of China at the age of two, hidden in a basket under [[bedclothes]]. He  arrived in [[Sydney]] in 1939 with his mother and sister on a passenger ship from [[Hong Kong]], with the family celebrating his third birthday outside [[Sydney Heads]]. He was carried ashore by [[Earle Page]], who was a friend of his uncle who was briefly [[Prime Minister of Australia]].<ref name=meacham2021>{{cite web | last=Meacham | first=Steve | title=‘I’m a refugee, a boat person’: John Yu’s extraordinary journey | website=[[The Sydney Morning Herald]] | date=22 June 2021 | url=https://www.smh.com.au/culture/art-and-design/i-m-a-refugee-a-boat-person-an-extraordinary-life-20210609-p57zqg.html | access-date=24 March 2025}}</ref> His father fled to Taiwan and took a second wife there, legal at the time, and only made contact with his son after John's mother had died.<ref name=meacham2021/>

Yu's relatives has lived in Australia since the [[Victorian gold rush]],<ref name=aoty/> and his grandfather was [[John Young Wai]], who established the first [[Chinese Presbyterian Church]] in Sydney.<ref name=slnsw/>

Yu attended [[Fort Street High School]] and the [[University of Sydney]] in Sydney, Australia,<ref>{{Cite news |last=Joel |first=Alexandra |date=4 January 1997 |title=The man who cares for kids |work=[[The Sydney Morning Herald#Good Weekend|Good Weekend]]|pages=23–25 |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/120438850 |access-date=23 July 2020|via=Newspapers.com|url-access=subscription}}</ref><ref name=slnsw/> graduating with [[MB BS]].<ref name=unsw/>

He also earned a Diploma of Child Health from the [[Royal College of Physicians]] in [[London]] at some point.<ref name=acrf2013>{{cite web | title= Annual report for the year ended 31 December 2013| author= [[Australian Cancer Research Foundation]]| date=2014| url=https://www.acrf.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/ACRF-2013-Audited-Accounts-AGM-approved-30Apr14.pdf | access-date=24 March 2025| p=4}}</ref>

==Career ==
Yu started work at the Royal Alexandra Hospital for Children in 1961 (later officially called the New Children's Hospital,<ref>{{Cite news |last=Loane |first=Sally |date=21 October 1995 |title=An Injection of Art |language=en |work=The Sydney Morning Herald |page=Spectrum 8A |url=http://www.newspapers.com/image/120350728/ |access-date=2020-07-23|via=Newspapers.com|url-access=subscription}}</ref> also known as [[The Children's Hospital at Westmead]]), at the age of 27.<ref name=cheng2022/> He was a staff physician at the hospital from 1972 to 1997, and chief executive of the New Children's Hospital at [[Westmead, New South Wales|Westmead]] from 1978 to 1997.<ref name=slnsw/> He was CEO of the Royal Alexandra Hospital for Children at the time of its relocation from inner-city [[Camperdown, New South Wales|Camperdown]] to Westmead in [[western Sydney]] in 1995 and was the driving force behind its relocation.<ref name=aoty/> Being an art lover, Yu's vision was "to create a best practice [[paediatric hospital]] that integrated art, design and high quality medical care for the benefit of young people".<ref name=aoty/>

He was [[chancellor (education)|chancellor]] and member of the council of the [[University of New South Wales]] from 2000 to July 2005.<ref name=unsw>{{cite web | title=Chancellors exhibition | website=UNSW Sites | date=19 March 2025 | url=https://www.unsw.edu.au/planning-assurance/records-archives/university-archives/online-exhibitions/chancellors-exhibition | access-date=24 March 2025}}</ref>

Yu retired in 2014.<ref name=slnsw/>

==Recognition and honours==
Yu was appointed a [[Member of the Order of Australia]] in 1989, "For service to medicine, as a paediatrician and hospital administrator",<ref name=am>{{Cite It's an Honour |ausawardid=883268|date=12 June 1989 |recipient=Dr John Samuel Yu |award=Member of the Order of Australia |postnominal=AM |access-date=23 July 2020 }}</ref> and was promoted to [[Companion of the Order of Australia]] in 2001, "For service to the provision and development of 'state of the art' paediatric care and research, to children's rights, to education, and to the decorative and visual arts".<ref>{{Cite It's an Honour |ausawardid=873997 |date=11 June 2001 |recipient=Dr John Samuel Yu AM |award=Companion of the Order of Australia |postnominal=AC  |access-date=23 July 2020 }}</ref>

He was named [[Australian of the Year]] in 1996,<ref>{{cite book | author=Lewis, Wendy | author-link=Wendy Lewis | title=Australians of the Year | publisher=Pier 9 Press | year=2010 | isbn=978-1-74196-809-5 }}</ref> at which point he said "I am proud of my Chinese heritage but even prouder to be an Australian".<ref name=aoty>{{cite web | title=Dr John Yu AC | website=Australian of the Year | url=https://australianoftheyear.org.au/recipients/dr-john-yu-ac | access-date=24 March 2025}}</ref>

He has been awarded several [[honorary degree]]s, including Hon. [[Doctor of Medicine|MD]] (USyd), Hon. [[DLitt]] ([[University of Western Sydney]]), and Hon. [[DSc]] (UNSW).<ref name=unsw/>

In 2004, artist [[Ah Xian]] created a [[celadon]] (glazed ceramic) bust of Yu, which is held by the [[National Portrait Gallery (Australia)|National Portrait Gallery]] in [[Canberra]]. Art philanthropist [[Marilyn Darling]] funded the project.<ref>{{cite web | title=Dr John Yu, 2004 | website=National Portrait Gallery collection | date=3 February 2025 | url=https://www.portrait.gov.au/portraits/2004.186/dr-john-yu | access-date=24 March 2025}}</ref>

In 2007, a portrait of Yu and his partner George Soutter by [[Xu Wang (artist)|Xu Wang]] was a finalist for the 2007 [[Archibald Prize]].<ref name=archibald1/>

In 2019 he was elected a Fellow of the [[Royal Society of New South Wales]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=Fellows of the Royal Society of NSW (Y)|url=https://www.royalsoc.org.au/images/fellows-pages/RSN-Y-Fellows.html|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210402023542/https://www.royalsoc.org.au/images/fellows-pages/RSN-Y-Fellows.html|archive-date=2021-04-02|access-date=2021-07-02|website=Royal Society of New South Wales}}</ref>

He was made a fellow of the [[Royal Society of New South Wales]] (FRSN) in 2019.<ref name=rsnsw>{{cite web | title=Fellows | website=The Royal Society of NSW | date=17 January 2025 | url=https://www.royalsoc.org.au/about-us/excellence/list-of-fellows/ | access-date=24 March 2025}}</ref> He was also a [[Fellow of the Royal Australasian College of Physicians]] (FRACP); of the [[Royal Australasian College of Medical Administrators]] (FRACMA); and of the [[Australian Academy of the Humanities]].<ref name=unsw/><ref name=rsnsw/>

Yu was designated a [[National Living Treasure (Australia)|National Living Treasure]] of Australia<ref name=npg/> in 2012.<ref>{{cite web | title=Australia's National Living Treasures, they surprised us too | website=Mamamia | date=5 March 2012 | url=https://www.mamamia.com.au/national-living-treasures/ | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190512052214/https://www.mamamia.com.au/national-living-treasures/ | archive-date=12 May 2019 | url-status=live | access-date=24 March 2025}}</ref>

In November 2022 he was invited to give the inaugural [[Wang Gungwu Lecture]] at the [[National Foundation for Australia-China Relations]].<ref>{{cite web | title=Spotlight Series: Dr John Yu AC | website=National Foundation for Australia-China Relations | date=3 November 2022 | url=https://www.australiachinafoundation.org.au/news/spotlight-series-dr-john-yu-ac | access-date=24 March 2025}}</ref>

==Art==
Yu's interest in art began as a child and while a student in Sydney, when he developed an interest in 18th century English ceramics. He later started taking an interest in East and Southeast Asian ceramics, and more specifically in decorative arts and textiles in the mid-1970s, after seeing an [[ikat]] textile for sale in a Sydney gallery. He believes that art is necessary for a healthy society, and created such an environment at Westmead Hospital.<ref name=campbell2023>{{cite web | title=Collector and donor| first=Siobhan |last=Campbell | website=[[The Australian Museum]] | date=1 May 2023 | url=https://australian.museum/learn/cultures/international-collection/indonesia/john-yu-biography/ | access-date=24 March 2025}}</ref>

From 2004, he was chair of VisAsia (the Australian Institute of Asian Culture and Visual Arts), which promotes the appreciation of Asian visual arts and culture.<ref name=npg/> He and his partner accumulated a large collection of [[Southeast Asian arts|south-east Asian art]]. In 2014, some of their collection of Balinese textiles were exhibited in Australia and Indonesia. In 2021, 260 objects from their collection featured in an exhibition called ''Upacara: Ceremonial art from Southeast Asia'' at [[Mosman Art Gallery]] in Sydney.<ref name=meacham2021/>

He has also been a donor to [[The Australian Museum]] in Sydney.<ref name=campbell2023/>

==Other activities==
From 2005 until at least 2013, Yu was a trustee of the [[Australian Cancer Research Foundation]].<ref name=acrf2013/> He chaired or was a member of many other management boards and charitable organisations, including [[Musica Viva]], [[Starlight Foundation]], and the [[Art Gallery of New South Wales]] from 1997 to 2006, when he was made a Life Governor of the gallery. He chaired the [[Australia-China Council]] of the [[Department of Foreign Affairs (Australia)|Department of Foreign Affairs]] from 2001 to 2006.<ref name=npg>{{cite web | title=John Yu AC, b. 1934 | website=National Portrait Gallery people | date=2018 | url=https://www.portrait.gov.au/people/john-yu-1934 | access-date=24 March 2025}}</ref><ref name=unsw/>

He has spoken up for refugees, pointing out that he was a "boat person", or irregular maritime arrival in Australia.<ref name=meacham2021/>

On 10 October 2023, Yu was one of 25 Australians of the Year who signed an [[open letter]] supporting the Yes vote in the [[2023 Australian Indigenous Voice referendum|Indigenous Voice referendum]], initiated by psychiatrist [[Patrick McGorry]].<ref>{{cite web | last=Butler | first=Josh | title=Australian of the Year winners sign open letter saying no vote in voice referendum would be a ‘shameful dead end’ | website=[[The Guardian]] | date=11 October 2023 | url=https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2023/oct/11/indigenous-voice-to-parliament-referendum-australians-of-the-year-open-letter | access-date=11 October 2023}}</ref><ref name=letter>{{cite web | last=Winter | first=Velvet | title=Voice referendum live updates: Australians of the Year Yes vote letter in full | website=[[ABC News (Australia)]] | date=10 October 2023 | url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-10-11/live-updates-voice-referendum-latest-news-october-11/102958838 | access-date=11 October 2023}}</ref>

Yu has published several books and many papers on paediatrics, hospital management, and the [[decorative arts]].<ref name=npg/>

==Personal life==
Yu's life partner was eminent paediatrician and printmaker George Soutter<ref name=meacham2021/><ref name=campbell2023/><ref name=archibald1>{{cite web | title= John Yu and George Soutter by Xu Wang | website=[[Art Gallery of NSW]] | url=https://www.artgallery.nsw.gov.au/prizes/archibald/2007/28491/ | access-date=24 March 2025}}</ref> (1934–2011). Soutter was born in [[Gwelo]], [[Southern Rhodesia]] (now Gweru, Zimbabwe), and in 1959 graduated in medicine from the [[University of Cape Town]], in South Africa, before undertaking further studies in [[London]]. After migrating to Australia in the 1960s, he met Yu at the Royal Alexandra Hospital.<ref>{{cite web | title=Artistic paediatrician cared for disabled | website=[[The Sydney Morning Herald]]|first= John |last=Yu | date=9 August 2011 | url=https://www.smh.com.au/national/artistic-paediatrician-cared-for-disabled-20110809-1ikre.html | access-date=24 March 2025}}</ref>

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

{{s-start}}
{{s-aca}}
{{s-bef |before = Sir [[Anthony Mason (judge)|Anthony Mason]] }}
{{s-ttl |title = [[Chancellor (education)|Chancellor]] of the [[University of New South Wales]] |years = 2000–2005 }}
{{s-aft |after=[[David Gonski]] }}
{{s-end}}
{{University of New South Wales Chancellors}}
{{Australians of the Year}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Yu, John}}
[[Category:1934 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Australian paediatricians]]
[[Category:Australian chief executives]]
[[Category:Companions of the Order of Australia]]
[[Category:Fellows of the Royal Australasian College of Physicians]]
[[Category:Fellows of the Royal Society of New South Wales]]
[[Category:Australian of the Year Award winners]]
[[Category:Chinese emigrants to Australia]]
[[Category:Chancellors of the University of New South Wales]]
[[Category:University of Sydney alumni]]
[[Category:People educated at Fort Street High School]]