John Franklin KnightAM (12 December 1927 – 27 November 2022), known professionally as Dr James Wright, was an Australian medical professional who was notable for his books, television and radio appearances, and regular newspaper and magazine columns. He was also sometimes nicknamed "the Merry Medic".[1]
Wright was known for his ability to demystify complex medical issues for a nationwide audience. He took TV camera crews into hospital medical theatres and neonatal intensive care clinic. He taught the nation about emerging diseases such as HIV/AIDS and Hepatitis C, whilst destigmatising prejudices and hysteria surrounding these diseases.[2]
Wright was born on 12 December 1927 in Brisbane, Queensland.[1] When he was six months old his family moved to Sydney. He was raised on Fox Valley Road in Wahroonga, a northern Sydney suburb. His father was a Seventh-day Adventist minister. He had a "very strict, disciplinarian upbringing. (He) used to get a hiding pretty regularly".[1] As with most Seventh-Day Adventism members, his family were strict vegetarians. His mother lived to 100 and his father to 90.[1] He was educated at North Sydney Boys High School.[3] After graduating, he originally wanted to pursue a career in journalism, before deciding to become a doctor and studying medicine at the University of Sydney.[2]
Personal lifeEdit
Wright was a committed Seventh-day Adventist. He was a vegetarian, did not smoke or drink alcohol and exercised daily. In 1955 he married Noreen Westlake.[1][4]
Wright made a fortune in the millions of dollars through property investments, mainly on the Queensland Gold Coast.[1] In the early 2000s Wright was swindled out of A$57 million by a friend, New Zealander Derek Turner.[5][6] "Turner had been his neighbour for 10 to 15 years and was a trusted acquaintance", Wright said.[7] He also owned a motel and a funeral director's company for forty years, also a printing company.[1]
Wright had surgery for throat cancer and in February 2017 surgery for bowel cancer.[8]
Medical careerEdit
Wright studied medicine at the University of Sydney and first practised as a general practitioner (GP) in Tottenham, a small town in the Central West very close to the geographic centre of New South Wales.[9] As the only GP within a radius of 160km, he took on several duties including as obstetrician, surgeon, counsellor, dispensing pharmacist and vet.[2]
Media careerEdit
Television and radio mediaEdit
Wright, whilst running his private practice, started his media career, as the local correspondent for the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, where his stories were sent to the ABC by Morse code.[1]
On television he appeared on The Mike Walsh Show and continued when that series was replaced by The Midday Show, where he became resident doctor during the tenure of both Ray Martin and Kerri-Anne Kennerley, spanning a period of 25 years, starting from the black and white era through to the transmission of colour.[4]
Wright appeared on radio at 2GB and 2UE where he had his own radio show for almost 18 years.[4]
In 1971, Wright and his wife Noreen established the charity Medi-Aid. It grew from an idea in Wright's teenage years to a national foundation that provides aged care accommodation for more than 700 elderly people.[10] The foundation has several villages in Sydney, and one on the Gold Coast in Queensland.[1] Its prime aim is to provide housing for the older community across all socio-economic levels.
DeathEdit
Wright died on 27 November 2022, at the age of 94.[2]
"Special organs and the skeletal structure". ISBN9781876010959 (v. 5)
Understanding tummy troubles : the recognition and treatment of peptic ulcers, and other common disorders of the stomach and intestinal system. James Wright, Golden Press, 1984. 72 p. : ill ISBN0730200132
Everything a teenage boy should know. John F. Knight, Signs Publishing Co., First published 1973, revised 1980 and 1983. : ill. ISBN0959996494, ISBN0949809519
Everything a teenage girl should know. John F. Knight, Signs Publishing Co., First published 1973, revised 1980 and 1982. : ill. ISBN0959996486, ISBN0949809527
So you're a teenager : vital facts for girls. James Wright, Signs Publishing Co., 2003, 192 p. : ill. ISBN1876010665
So you're a teenager : vital facts for boys. James Wright, Signs Publishing Co., 2001, 192 p. : col. ill. ISBN1876010266, ISBN1876010363
Dr. Wright's fabulous fitness book. James Wright, Horwitz Grahame, c1987. 173 p. ISBN0725520116
Alternative medicine James Wright, Golden Press, 1982. 280 p. : ill ; ISBN0855583789
Women's problems. James Wright, Golden Press, 1981. 175 p. : ill. ISBN0855587776
Baby & childhood illnesses. James Wright, Golden Press, 1981. 278 p. : ill. ISBN0855587938
A medical guide to good health.James Wright, Medi-Aid Centre Foundation, 1978. 303 p. ISBN0959528008
Successful slimming, incorporating "The great Australian diet' Golden Press, 1981. 215 p. ISBN0855587857
ReferencesEdit
^ abcdefghiThompson, Peter (12 September 2005). . Talking Heads. ABC (Australia). Archived from the original (transcript) on 8 January 2014.
^ abcdefDavid Knox (29 November 2002). "Vale:John F. Knight aka "Dr. James. Wright"". TV Tonight.
^ abcd"About Dr James Wright". docwright.com.au. Retrieved 26 November 2012.
^"Celebrity doctor ripped off by scamster". The Age. Australian Associated Press. 18 February 2006. Retrieved 26 November 2012.
^. A Current Affair. Nine MSN. 26 August 2011. Archived from the original on 30 March 2015. Retrieved 26 November 2012.
^"Merry medic down $50m but looking up". The Sydney Morning Herald. 21 February 2006. Retrieved 26 November 2012.
^Deare, Steven (10 February 2017). "Dr James Wright, or Dr John Knight, recovering from surgery". Northern District Times. Retrieved 12 February 2017.
^"Centre of Australia, States and Territories-NSW". Geoscience Australia. 23 November 2010. Retrieved 27 November 2012.
^Kennard, Robert (15 June 2011). . Northern-District Times. Archived from the original (Archived by the WayBack Machine) on 11 September 2011. Retrieved 26 November 2012.
^. AUSTRALIAN HONOURS SEARCH FACILITY. Archived from the original (Archived by the Wayback Machine) on 26 October 2017. Retrieved 4 December 2022.
^. Australian of the Year. Archived from the original on 27 March 2022. Retrieved 4 December 2022.
External linksEdit
Official website
August 26, 2023
james, wright, doctor, john, franklin, knight, december, 1927, november, 2022, known, professionally, james, wright, australian, medical, professional, notable, books, television, radio, appearances, regular, newspaper, magazine, columns, also, sometimes, nick. John Franklin Knight AM 12 December 1927 27 November 2022 known professionally as Dr James Wright was an Australian medical professional who was notable for his books television and radio appearances and regular newspaper and magazine columns He was also sometimes nicknamed the Merry Medic 1 James WrightAMBornJohn Franklin Knight 1927 12 12 12 December 1927Brisbane Queensland AustraliaDied27 November 2022 2022 11 27 aged 94 EducationUniversity of SydneyOccupationsMedical doctormedia personalityauthorWright was known for his ability to demystify complex medical issues for a nationwide audience He took TV camera crews into hospital medical theatres and neonatal intensive care clinic He taught the nation about emerging diseases such as HIV AIDS and Hepatitis C whilst destigmatising prejudices and hysteria surrounding these diseases 2 Contents 1 Early life 2 Personal life 3 Medical career 4 Media career 4 1 Television and radio media 4 2 Printed media 5 Medi Aid Centre Foundation 6 Death 7 Awards 8 Bibliography 9 References 10 External linksEarly life EditWright was born on 12 December 1927 in Brisbane Queensland 1 When he was six months old his family moved to Sydney He was raised on Fox Valley Road in Wahroonga a northern Sydney suburb His father was a Seventh day Adventist minister He had a very strict disciplinarian upbringing He used to get a hiding pretty regularly 1 As with most Seventh Day Adventism members his family were strict vegetarians His mother lived to 100 and his father to 90 1 He was educated at North Sydney Boys High School 3 After graduating he originally wanted to pursue a career in journalism before deciding to become a doctor and studying medicine at the University of Sydney 2 Personal life EditWright was a committed Seventh day Adventist He was a vegetarian did not smoke or drink alcohol and exercised daily In 1955 he married Noreen Westlake 1 4 Wright made a fortune in the millions of dollars through property investments mainly on the Queensland Gold Coast 1 In the early 2000s Wright was swindled out of A 57 million by a friend New Zealander Derek Turner 5 6 Turner had been his neighbour for 10 to 15 years and was a trusted acquaintance Wright said 7 He also owned a motel and a funeral director s company for forty years also a printing company 1 Wright had surgery for throat cancer and in February 2017 surgery for bowel cancer 8 Medical career EditWright studied medicine at the University of Sydney and first practised as a general practitioner GP in Tottenham a small town in the Central West very close to the geographic centre of New South Wales 9 As the only GP within a radius of 160km he took on several duties including as obstetrician surgeon counsellor dispensing pharmacist and vet 2 Media career EditTelevision and radio media Edit Wright whilst running his private practice started his media career as the local correspondent for the Australian Broadcasting Corporation where his stories were sent to the ABC by Morse code 1 On television he appeared on The Mike Walsh Show and continued when that series was replaced by The Midday Show where he became resident doctor during the tenure of both Ray Martin and Kerri Anne Kennerley spanning a period of 25 years starting from the black and white era through to the transmission of colour 4 Wright appeared on radio at 2GB and 2UE where he had his own radio show for almost 18 years 4 Printed media Edit Wright had newspaper columns including in the Herald Sun Melbourne the Sunday Telegraph Sydney the Sunday Mail Adelaide and Perth the Brisbane Sunday Mail the Sunday Territorian and the Sunday Tasmanian 2 Wright also had regular column in magazines including Woman s Weekly Women s Day Dolly and Cleo 2 Medi Aid Centre Foundation EditIn 1971 Wright and his wife Noreen established the charity Medi Aid It grew from an idea in Wright s teenage years to a national foundation that provides aged care accommodation for more than 700 elderly people 10 The foundation has several villages in Sydney and one on the Gold Coast in Queensland 1 Its prime aim is to provide housing for the older community across all socio economic levels Death EditWright died on 27 November 2022 at the age of 94 2 Awards EditIn 1998 Wright was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia AM for his media outreach and the work of his foundation 11 In 2003 he was one of the three finalists in the Australian of the Year awards 4 Wright was awarded as the 2017 New South Wales Senior Australian of the Year 12 Bibliography EditDr Wright s family medical guide James Wright Sydney Golden Press 1985 566 p ISBN 0855581972 Family medical care a five volume illustrated series covering all aspects of health care James Wright Signs 2007 ISBN 9781876010966 set Parenting ISBN 9781876010911 v 1 Parenting ISBN 9781876010928 v 2 Major systems of the body and emergencies ISBN 9781876010935 v 3 Marvels of the human frame ISBN 9781876010942 v 4 Special organs and the skeletal structure ISBN 9781876010959 v 5 Understanding tummy troubles the recognition and treatment of peptic ulcers and other common disorders of the stomach and intestinal system James Wright Golden Press 1984 72 p ill ISBN 0730200132 Everything a teenage boy should know John F Knight Signs Publishing Co First published 1973 revised 1980 and 1983 ill ISBN 0959996494 ISBN 0949809519 Everything a teenage girl should know John F Knight Signs Publishing Co First published 1973 revised 1980 and 1982 ill ISBN 0959996486 ISBN 0949809527 So you re a teenager vital facts for girls James Wright Signs Publishing Co 2003 192 p ill ISBN 1876010665 So you re a teenager vital facts for boys James Wright Signs Publishing Co 2001 192 p col ill ISBN 1876010266 ISBN 1876010363 Dr Wright s fabulous fitness book James Wright Horwitz Grahame c1987 173 p ISBN 0725520116 Alternative medicine James Wright Golden Press 1982 280 p ill ISBN 0855583789 Women s problems James Wright Golden Press 1981 175 p ill ISBN 0855587776 Baby amp childhood illnesses James Wright Golden Press 1981 278 p ill ISBN 0855587938 A medical guide to good health James Wright Medi Aid Centre Foundation 1978 303 p ISBN 0959528008 Successful slimming incorporating The great Australian diet Golden Press 1981 215 p ISBN 0855587857References Edit a b c d e f g h i Thompson Peter 12 September 2005 Dr James Wright Talking Heads ABC Australia Archived from the original transcript on 8 January 2014 a b c d e f David Knox 29 November 2002 Vale John F Knight aka Dr James Wright TV Tonight NSBHS Leaving Certificate 1945 a b c d About Dr James Wright docwright com au Retrieved 26 November 2012 Celebrity doctor ripped off by scamster The Age Australian Associated Press 18 February 2006 Retrieved 26 November 2012 Celebrity doctor battle A Current Affair Nine MSN 26 August 2011 Archived from the original on 30 March 2015 Retrieved 26 November 2012 Merry medic down 50m but looking up The Sydney Morning Herald 21 February 2006 Retrieved 26 November 2012 Deare Steven 10 February 2017 Dr James Wright or Dr John Knight recovering from surgery Northern District Times Retrieved 12 February 2017 Centre of Australia States and Territories NSW Geoscience Australia 23 November 2010 Retrieved 27 November 2012 Kennard Robert 15 June 2011 John Knight celebrates Dr James Wright s legacy Northern District Times Archived from the original Archived by the WayBack Machine on 11 September 2011 Retrieved 26 November 2012 Name Dr John Franklin KNIGHT Award Member of the Order of Australia AUSTRALIAN HONOURS SEARCH FACILITY Archived from the original Archived by the Wayback Machine on 26 October 2017 Retrieved 4 December 2022 Dr John Knight AM NSW STATE RECIPIENT SENIOR AUSTRALIAN OF THE YEAR 2017 Australian of the Year Archived from the original on 27 March 2022 Retrieved 4 December 2022 External links EditOfficial website Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title James Wright doctor amp oldid 1148376264, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
