Dame Jean Macnamara's 121st Birthday

Today’s Doodle, illustrated by Sydney-based guest artist Thomas Campi, celebrates Australian doctor and medical scientist Dame Jean Macnamara on her 121st birthday. Dr. Macnamara applied her tireless work ethic to better understand and treat various forms of paralysis including polio, and her work contributed to the development of a successful polio vaccine in 1955.

Annie Jean Macnamara was born in Beechworth, Victoria, Australia on this day in 1899, and as a teenager during World World I felt a strengthened resolve “to be of some use in the world.” Standing just 152cm tall, the forthright Dr. Macnamara proved to be a force to be reckoned with. 

Dr. Macnamara graduated from medical school in 1925, the same year a polio epidemic struck the capital city of Melbourne. As a consultant and medical officer to the Poliomyelitis Committee of Victoria, she turned her focus to treating and researching the potentially fatal virus, a particular risk for children.

In collaboration with the future Nobel Prize winner Sir Macfarlane Burnet, she discovered in 1931 that there was more than one strain of the poliovirus, a pivotal step towards the development of an effective vaccine nearly 25 years later.

Dr. Macnamara continued to work with sufferers of the disease—especially children—for the rest of her life, developing new methods of treatment and rehabilitation.

For her invaluable commitment to children’s lives, she was appointed Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire (DBE) in 1935. During her lifetime, Dr. Macnamara's research also played a major role in the introduction of myxomatosis to control rabbit plagues, minimising environmental damage across Australia. 

Happy birthday, Dame Jean Macnamara!

Guest Artist Q&A with Thomas Campi

Today’s Doodle was illustrated by Sydney-based guest artist Thomas Campi. Below, he shares his thoughts behind the making of this Doodle:

Q: Why was this topic meaningful to you personally? 

A: There are two main reasons. Dame Macnamara was an important figure in the scientific field and history of Australia. As an Italian immigrant who recently became a citizen, I feel honoured to celebrate such an important woman in this country. The second reason is more personal—my cousin has struggled with Polio all his life, so I feel a lot of appreciation and gratitude to people like Dame Jean Macnamara.

Q: What were your first thoughts when you were approached about the project?

A: Honestly, my first reaction was, "Google's people asking me to work for them? I need to check this email and names to be sure it's all real!" After that moment, I was simply very excited. I've been seeing Google Doodles for a long time, and I've always thought it was a cool project, and all the images I've seen so far are just wonderful. Now I can be part of this, and it's a nice feeling for an artist.
 

Q: Did you draw inspiration from anything in particular for this Doodle? 

A: I did a lot of research. First I read about Dame Macnamara—her life and her studies. I wanted to know not just who she was, but what she meant in the medical field. I then started to look for photographic references about her, but also that specific time, hospitals, medical equipment, clothing, hairstyle, and of course about people with polio. All these materials were an inspiration filtered through my final intention, which was giving hope to people and passion for research, with a hint of surrealism and Magritte-ish concept.
 

Q: What message do you hope people take away from your Doodle?

A: Hope. There's always hope—at least that is how I see life. Without pain, there is no happiness. It's a difficult balance sometimes, but it's worth it. The best way to describe it is through a Japanese philosophical concept "wabi-sabi," which means “perfection is in the imperfection.”

Early concepts and sketches of the Doodle

Learn more about Dame Jean Macnamara, the Australian doctor and scientist who dedicated her life to the research and treatment of poliomyelitis, on Google Arts & Culture.