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Mary-Louise Mclaws, AO

Published on: June 2023

Record: HANSARD-1323879322-132360

Mary-Louise Mclaws, AO

Ms FELICITY WILSON (North Shore) (17:17:21):

I pay tribute to one of Australia's outstanding epidemiologists who was instrumental in the fight against COVID-19, Mosman local Mary-Louise McLaws. The University of New South Wales epidemiologist and World Health Organization adviser was a calm, wise and informed voice at a time when there were many unknowns about the COVID-19 pandemic. Mary-Louise has long been admired by her colleagues nationally and globally for her influential work on infection control with the World Health Organization. In recognition of her work during the pandemic, she was also appointed an Officer of the Order of Australia in the Queen's Birthday Honours in 2022 for her distinguished service to medical research, particularly to epidemiology and infection prevention, to tertiary education and to health administration. Tragically, early last year Mary-Louise was diagnosed with a brain tumour. She has been bravely fighting this insidious disease and has undertaken significant treatments. I pass my thoughts and the thoughts of members of this place to her family and friends who are standing by Mary-Louise as she continues her brave fight. I thank Mary-Louise for all her work in keeping our community safe during a time of great uncertainty.

TEMPORARY SPEAKER (Mr Clayton Barr):

We join in thanking Professor McLaws. I thank the member for North Shore.