Forensic pioneer John Tonge. PIC: David Kapernick Source: The Courier-Mail
THE man who helped transform the nation's forensic research and overhaul Queensland's road safety has died, aged 96.
Dr John Tonge, respected internationally for advancements to forensic pathology and research, helped police, coroners and authorities with hundreds of investigations in his dedicated career.
Director of the State Laboratory of Microbiology and Pathology from 1947 until his retirement in 1979, he also strongly campaigned for road safety.
In the 1960s he called for a "little fearless legislation", campaigning for mandatory seatbelts, the introduction of blood alcohol limits, breath tests and crash helmets for motorcyclists in Queensland.
Dr Tonge was also acknowledged for the introduction of aviation pathology, protocols for autopsies in sudden infant death syndrome and the introduction of counselling services for bereaved parents.
Born on May 17, 1916, he was a graduate of the University of Sydney and conducted his first autopsy on July 31, 1946.
Dr Tonge estimated he and his team performed 40,000 more by his retirement in 1979.
He was made a Companion of the British Empire in 1980.
After his fight for better morgue facilities in Queensland, the Institute of Forensic Pathology was opened in 1961.
Daughter Margaret Ward said her father was an "absolute stickler" for respect for people in life or death and expected the same from police and colleagues.
She said her father worked as a part-time lecturer at UQ for 30 years.
"He was a very dedicated public servant but often he did not let bureaucracy get in his way," Mrs Ward said. "He was known for his forthright memos in the health department."
In 1992, the new mortuary at Queensland Health Forensic and Scientific Services was named in his honour.
Mrs Ward said he dedicated 30 years to helping disabled daughter Mena have a good life until her death in 2009.
Forensic and Scientific Services senior director Greg Shaw said Dr Tonge also established Queensland's first facility for tubercle bacillus culture and helped found the Royal College of Pathologists of Australasia. He was president from 1959-61.
"While the news of Dr Tonge's death is a moment for sadness and reflection, it is also an opportunity to celebrate the achievements of a great medical scientist, pathologist, doctor and humanitarian," Mr Shaw said.
Dr Lee Butterworth, who interviewed Dr Tonge in 2010 for a chapter of her thesis, said he was a very humble man.
"I said to him you should do your biography and he said: 'No, who would want to read about me?'."
"But the things he achieved are just enormous."
His son Stephen said Dr Tonge, who dedicated his life to forensic medicine after leaving the army in 1946, had donated his body to UQ.
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