Death of Doctor Maclennan

(Young Argus December 8, 1914)

POPULAR MEDICO’S PASSING

For some months past the health of Dr J. N. E. McLennan has been such as to cause grave anxiety , and the announcement of his passing on Saturday morning was not altogether unexpected. It is some time now since the late doctor was compelled to give up practice personally, and seek medical attention himself; to this end he entered the Kirketon Private Hospital, Darlinghurst, where not withstanding the best attention from several of Sydney’s leading medico’s; he died as stated on Saturday morning. During his illness the late doctor was often seen by his old friend Dr. MacPherson (a former co-practitioner at Young).

The late Dr John Norman Emslie Maclennan, M. B., C. M. (Aberdeen) 1883, Universities Aberdeen and Edinburgh, and Rotunda Hospital, Dublin) was 54 years of age. Prior to taking up his residence at Young he was honorary surgeon of the Royal Prince Alfred Hospital and Children’s Hospital (Sydney), and also Medical Superintendent of the Little Bay General Hospital (Sydney). On the departure of the late Dr. Heeley from Young, he was appointed Government Medical Office at Young and also on the staff of the Burrangong District Hospital, positions he held until his death. He was a resident of Young for about 15 years. Since coming to Young the late doctor married Miss Frederica Armstrong, but their married life was a very brief one, death separating husband and wife, after a few years. The doctor was deeply attached to his wife and as a memorial erected a small Latin cross monument, roughly hewn from the granite quarries of Aberdeen (Scotland).

The late Dr Maclennan will be much missed at Young. He was a friend of all – the poor and needy in particular. He was a man of high attainments in a noble possession and he placed his services at the disposal of all, irrespective of whether he would receive any monetary gain or not. Somewhat eccentric in manner, to those who did not personally know him, he was often times misunderstood, but those intimately associated with him could testify to his sterling character. No call of sickness was ever disregarded, and it became quite the usual thing to see the doctor at all hours of the day and night visiting his various patients. Being also one of the medical staff of the local Friendly Societies Association, he had a large practice amongst members of the various lodges, by whom he was universally esteemed. He did not associate himself with the various institutions of the town, the annual meetings of the Burrangong Hospital being probably the only meetings he attended, and in this institution he was deeply interested. During his illness several doctors have acted as locum tenens, and at present and for some time Dr Kerr has had charge of the practice.

The remains were brought back to Young yesterday morning and conveyed to the Morgue at the Burrangong Hospital, and at ten o’clock were removed to the Church of England portion of the Young cemetery and interred in the same grave as those of his wife. The service at the graveside was conducted by the Rev. S. A. T. Champion. The cortege was a long and representative one, and included members of the resident medical profession, the Hospital Commission, members of Friendly Societies, and many prominent citizens. The funeral arrangements were carried out by Mr. H. R. Blackett.