MERCY Sister Angela Mary Doyle’s work at Mater hospitals in Brisbane was the catalyst behind a Gold Coast businessman’s million-dollar donation.
Terry Jackman, a former Tourism Queens-land chairman who formed Pacific Cinemas in 1989, presented Mater Foundation with the donation to set up a fund in honour of Sr Angela Mary. Sr Angela Mary was administrator of Mat-er hospitals for 22 years and a figure synonymous with Mater. The fund will be used for a position in neonatal nursing at the Mater.
After stepping down from her administrator role at the Mater, Sr Angela Mary served in various executive roles and has remained closely involved with the organisation. She has known Mr Jackman throughout his life and was close friends with Mr Jackman’s mother.
Mater chief executive officer Dr John O’Donnell said the hospital was a leader in the field of neonatology research and cared for more than 2000 seriously ill babies a year.
“The funding will support the role of a senior researcher in neonatal nursing, aptly named the Jackman Chair, to provide a welcome addition to the team and provide leadership and strong collaboration with other research groups both nationally and internationally,” Dr O’Donnell said. “The position will join the successful neonatal research team at Mater Research to help identify the most effective ways of managing sick and pre-term infants and will also be funded by the Australian Catholic University.”
Sr Angela Mary said she was overwhelmed by the donation from Mr Jackman.
“I am humbled and deeply grateful to Terry for this incredible gift to Mater which will go towards funding research and a greater understanding of neonatal care which has the potential to impact not just patients and families at Mater but the wider community,” she said.
