Perth Children’s Hospital senior pharmacist Allan Jones.
Author | Carmelle Wilkinson
Hailed a hero at the WA Health Excellence Awards, 81-year-old Perth pharmacist Allan Jones is the first to bashfully deny the prestigious title.
“Oh, I’m not a hero,’’ he laughs.
“I don’t think of myself as a hero, I’m just doing my job.
“The real heroes are the parents and carers who come into the hospital’s pharmacy and get medication for their sick child.
“Despite the challenges they face, their ability to laugh and smile and just be nice to others during what is understandably a difficult time just blows me away. They are the true heroes.”
A warm and familiar face to all those who present at the pharmacy counter, Allan has been dispensing medication for Perth’s most vulnerable and ill children at Perth Children’s Hospital (formerly Princess Margaret Hospital) for 47 years.
With no signs of slowing down or retiring just yet, the senior pharmacist was recognised for his 55 years of service to the WA health industry at the WA Health Excellence Awards late last year.
Nominated by parents, colleagues, and patients for the positive impact he’s had in the lives of many WA children and their families, Allan said one of the reasons why he’s stayed in the job for all these years was the immense warmth and acceptance shown from all those who walk through his pharmacy doors.
Allan (pictured here with 7 News presenter Susannah Carr) was acknowledged for his outstanding contribution to the WA health industry.
“I’ve known some of these families for many years and have seen their children grow from babies to young teens,’’ he said.
“A lot of our patients are children with chronic illnesses, who have been coming to get medication since the day they were born. I’ve watched them grow up and have followed their progress over the years.”
Allan pictured with some PCH families who nominated him for the WA Health Hero Award.
Looking back over his 55-year career, Allan recalls a conversation his parents had with a neighbour for sparking his interest in pharmacy.
“When I was growing up, our neighbour was a pharmacist, and he owned a community pharmacy in Applecross. I remember one day my parents were telling him I wasn’t sure what I wanted to study when I left school and he suggested pharmacy,’’ he said.
“Soon after, I started my pharmacy degree at Perth Technical College. This was in the 1960s before it changed to the Western Australia Institute of Technology (WAIT).
“Now known as Curtin, the campus has changed a great deal since the days I used to roam. For a start, back when it was WAIT, there was only two schools, pharmacy and business.
“I’d have to walk through thick bushland and dirt tracks to get to my classes.”
Allan said a recent visit to campus with one his grandsons (who is currently studying at Curtin) brought back fond memories.
“My class was actually the first class to attend a lecture at WAIT,’’ he said.
“In my cohort there were about 25 males and just five females.
“Oh, I enjoyed my time at Curtin. I loved the camaraderie between my peers, and I had some fantastic lecturers.”
Allan (middle row, far left) and peers in their 1966 graduation photo.
Following graduation, Allan said he worked at a pharmacy in Northbridge and then Piccadilly Arcade in the CBD before landing his dream job as senior pharmacist at Princess Margaret Hospital.
“While I enjoyed the work in those first few years, I started to get tired of the retail rat race so to speak,’’ he said.
“At Piccadilly pharmacy in particular there weren’t any medical surgeries around, so I didn’t get a chance to dispense medication.
“The most prescriptions I received were for the contraceptive pill.
“Come lunch time, the pharmacy was buzzing with office ladies buying their make-up and shampoo.”
Allan said it was while carrying out relief work at Sir Charles Gardiner Hospital after leaving Piccadilly Pharmacy, that he noticed an advertisement for a job at Princess Margaret Hospital.
“I called the chief pharmacist to express my interest, and he told me to come in the next day for a chat on my lunch break,’’ he said.
“Following our talk, he simply asked when could I start? Back then there was no formal interview panels you see.
“I’ve seen so much change in the industry over the years, the main being obviously changes in medication such as the increased sophistication of drugs and treatment using antibodies.”
Allan said while he still worked Monday to Friday full time, the days of working weekends and being on call from 6pm-8am were now behind him.
Allan has worked at Perth Children’s Hospital (formally Princess Margaret) for 47 years and has no intentions of retiring just yet.
“About 10 years ago I decided to slow down, if you call it that,’’ he laughed.
“Now I reserve my weekends for family, friends and reading.
“I still very much enjoy working and I don’t have any plans of retirement just yet.
“I haven’t got to that stage where I wake up and think, oh my gosh I have to go to work.”
As for anyone wanting to follow a career in pharmacy, Allan has some words of encouragement.
“Do it. You won’t regret it. I haven’t,’’ he said.
We caught up with Allan to discover his secret to a long and fulfilling career, all is revealed below.
Author | Carmelle Wilkinson
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