Lieutenant-Colonel Ian Murray Mackerras and Major Mabel Josephine (‘Jo’) Mackerras significantly contributed to medical entomology and parasitology during World War II. They served in the Australian Army Medical Corps and were instrumental in advancing medical research in Yeerongpilly.
A Legacy of Scientific Excellence in Yeerongpilly
Ian and Jo Mackerras were a husband-and-wife team of medical researchers renowned for their work in parasitology and entomology. They played pivotal roles at the Queensland Institute of Medical Research (QIMR). Ian was the founding director focusing on zoonoses, diseases transmitted from animals to humans. Jo was a senior parasitologist who made major strides in understanding the rat lungworm’s life cycle linked to eosinophilic meningitis in the Pacific.
Photo Credit: The Australian Society for Parasitology Inc.
The Mackerras duo conducted extensive research on Australian Simuliidae (blackflies), blowfly infestation, and the role of cockroaches in transmitting salmonella. They co-authored 17 joint publications. They also produced over 80 individual papers, cementing their status as leading medical entomologists.
Early Life and Education: A Partnership Forged in Science
Born in Balclutha, New Zealand, Ian Mackerras moved to Sydney. He served in the Australian Imperial Force (AIF) during World War I. After the war, he studied at the University of Sydney, earning degrees in science and medicine.
Photo Credit: The Australian Society for Parasitology Inc.
Jo Mackerras (née Bancroft) was born in Deception Bay and was influenced by her father, a medical practitioner with a passion for parasitology. She graduated from the University of Queensland and later obtained a Master of Science. The couple met while studying medicine at the University of Sydney. They married in 1924.
War Service and Scientific Breakthroughs
During World War II, both enlisted in the Australian Army Medical Corps. Ian served as a pathologist in the Middle East before becoming Director of Entomology at Land Headquarters. Jo joined the corps in 1942, eventually becoming a major and leading efforts against malaria among Australian troops in the South-West Pacific.
One of their key contributions was malaria prevention. Ian collaborated with Hugh Ward and Bill Keogh to establish Cairns’s Land Headquarters Medical Research Unit (LHQMRU). Jo led the Entomology Section, where infected mosquitoes were bred to test antimalarial drugs. This work significantly reduced malaria infection rates among soldiers.
Photo Credit: Entolomological Society of Queensland
Post-War Contributions: Building a Scientific Legacy
Returning to Yeerongpilly after the war, the Mackerras couple continued their research at QIMR. Ian’s focus on cattle tick research helped address tick fever and parasitic infections in Australian wildlife. They also studied the role of cockroaches in spreading salmonella among children, publishing influential findings.
After retiring from QIMR in 1961, they remained active in research as CSIRO fellows. Ian edited The Insects of Australia, a key publication. Jo continued her entomological study, particularly on cockroaches.
Photo Credit: Wikimedia Commons
Honours and Recognition
The couple received awards for their work and contributions in the field of science. Ian was awarded the Clarke Medal (1950) and the Mueller Medal (1961). He also became a Fellow of the Australian Academy of Science. Jo received the Clarke Medal (1965) and became a Fellow of the Australian Society of Parasitology (1966). Despite their wartime contributions, neither received military awards.
Remembering the Mackerras Legacy
Ian passed away in 1980, and Jo in 1971. Their legacy endures through their scientific contributions, which continue to influence medical research. As Yeerongpilly commemorates ANZAC Day on 25 April, the community also remembers the Mackerras legacy.
Published 8-Apr-2025
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