Professor of Paediatrics in the Department of Child Health at the University of Queensland, known variously as Colonel Pearn, Professor, Doctor, John, JP, and to three as Dad. The recipient of a Trustees' Scholarship, John commenced at Grammar in 1954 ("That was a most wonderful thing — the Trustees' Scholarship, it was very important to me"). Completing Senior in 1957, he studied nine subjects including Music, stroked the First Eight in his Senior Year, and received the A. J. Mason Scholarship for 1958. A Life Member of the BGSOBA since 1976, he has had two sons attend the School.
He graduated through UQ's interpolated medicine-and-science course, taking a year off at the fifth-year stage to complete a Science degree (his interest: blood viscosity in childhood leukaemia — "I invented a little machine that measured the adhesiveness of blood platelets"). He has chaired the committee overseeing that programme for twelve years. He credits role models in Paediatrics, "particularly Dr Felix Arden."
Recognised with an Order of Australia Medal and named a Father of the Year for Queensland, as well as Soldier, Teacher and Author, John names his greatest satisfaction as "having a fulfilled clinical day, especially at the Royal Children's Hospital." He serves ex-officio on many committees and bodies and on the Scout Council of Queensland, and maintains an active role with the Military — a Surgeon during the Vietnam War and, more recently, in Rwanda as one of four specialist reserve officers (official title Physician Intensivist): "As a Doctor, working in a place like Rwanda is a most fulfilling experience… Every Doctor in the three Armed Services was finding excuses to say, 'Take me!'"
On his Grammar masters, John recalls "the meticulousness of Colin 'Buster' Bevan; the integrity, wisdom and broadness of H. V. 'Billy' Byth, a wondrous English teacher and great Latin scholar; the pragmatism and good humour of Ollie Bell; and Hal Gehrmann… the treatment of boys as almost equals." His maxims: life is richest when not compartmentalised; find time to be creative (for him, through writing History); and have a supportive family. Nil Sine Labore.
Source: Old School Ties 1995 Vol 1 No 2. Read the full edition