NEWS FROM THE PAST

One of the few remaining links with the horse and buggy days of medical practice ended with the death of Dr Alexander MacDonald of Alexandra Road, Ascot.

Dr MacDonald serviced the Rosewood-Esk-Helidon district by horse and buggy while in practice at Laidley from 1900 to 1914.

Born in Ontario, Canada, he came to Laidley in 1900 and was the only doctor practising between Ipswich and Toowoomba for many years.

Frequently he has been known to drive his horses 40 miles before breakfast on a medical call.

He was still riding a horse 25 miles a day last week on his property Wooroora, at Ravenshoe.

He married Miss Nina McWhirter, daughter of the late Mr James McWhirter. In World War I he gained the rank of major in the field.

After the war he practised as an eye specialist at the London Eye Hospital and in 1920 returned to establish a practise on Wickham Terrace.

He was still in practice at the time of his sudden illness on Thursday.

He was a member of the Queensland Turf Club and the United Services Club.

Dr MacDonald is survived by his wife and three daughters – Dr Helen Fitzgerald (Sydney), Miss Nina MacDonald (Brisbane) and Dr Jean Brett (Gulargambone, NSW).

Brisbane Telegraph, March 31, 1951