Gunther, J. T. (John Thomas), 1910-

Dr John Gunther worked with the Australian administration in Papua New Guinea as Director of the Dept. of Public Health (1949-1957) and Assistant Administrator (1957-1966). In 1966 he became the University of Papua New Guinea's first Vice-Chancellor.

Sir John Thomas Gunther, medical practitioner, public servant and vice-chancellor, was educated at King's School, Parramatta, studied medicine at the University of Sydney, and upon graduation worked in the Solomon Islands and Papua New Guinea, 1935-1938, as a medical officer with Levers Pacific Plantations Ltd. Gunther joined the Royal Australian Air Force Medical Branch in June 1941 and, from September 1942, was involved in malaria control in Papua. During this time he obtained diplomas in tropical medicine and public health from the University of Sydney and in December 1944 he took command of the Tropical Health Field Unit in New Guinea. Dr Gunther was Director of Public Health in the Territory of Papua New Guinea from 1946 until 1957. Professor Hank Nelson observed that the post-war construction of health services in PNG under Gunther's direction was a major achievement of the Australian administration. Refugee doctors were recruited from Europe. Expatriate and indigenous medical assistants were trained. A system of aid-posts, sub-district and district hospitals, supported by medical patrols, was established, together with maternity and child health clinics and mobile units. Systematic vaccination, malaria and tuberculosis were implemented. Gunther approved the start of the Highlands labour scheme in 1950, organised medical services after the Mt Lamington eruption in 1951, and directed the initial response to the kuru disease. He was appointed Assistant Administrator in 1957 and was government leader in the Legislative Council. In 1966 he was appointed foundation Vice-Chancellor of the University of PNG and retired in 1972. (From H.N. Nelson "Gunther, Sir John Thomas", Australian Dictionary of Biography, Vol.7, pp.467-8.).