Renowned epidemiologist Mary-Louise McLaws is being remembered as a voice of reason who helped guide Australia through the COVID-19 pandemic.
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The University of New South Wales professor died on Saturday, aged 70, after revealing in January 2022 she was diagnosed with a brain tumour.
Prof McLaws was a trusted voice who was frequently consulted by journalists for her expertise during the pandemic and looked to by the public for her insights into what to expect.
NSW Premier Chris Minns on Monday remembered Prof McLaws as a truly great Australian.
"From leading the charge to eliminate HIV, contain pandemics and helping stop the spread of swine flu," the premier wrote.
"There are very few health challenges our country faced in Professor McLaws' lifetime, that she did not tackle head on."
Deakin University epidemiology chair Catherine Bennett reflected Prof McLaws left behind a rich legacy from decades of work.
Prof McLaws graduated with a PhD in epidemiology in 1992 after earlier undertaking a bachelor of science and a postgraduate public health degree.
She made significant contributions through her work with the World Health Organization in Asia, set up surveillance systems, did a lot of work in infection control in hospitals and had a big commitment to training, Professor Bennett said.
"There'll be a lot of people that are very shaped and inspired by Mary-Louise and that's fantastic because that contributes to the next generation of researchers," Prof Bennett told AAP.
Prof Bennett and Prof McLaws talked to each other about the challenges of being in the public spotlight through the pandemic.
The epidemiologist was warm, caring and had a wonderful sense of humour, Prof Bennett said.
She was repeatedly recognised for her work and was made an Officer of the Order of Australia in the 2022 Queen's Birthday honours.
The last time Prof Bennett spent precious time with Prof McLaws was in March at a regional rotary conference, where the UNSW professor was presented with yet another award acknowledging her contributions.
The news of Prof McLaws' diagnosis was met with an outpouring of public sympathy and gratitude.
The epidemiologist spoke about how much that meant to her, Prof Bennett said.
"She was able to have that recognition and to feel that personal reward for everything she put in," she said.
"I have no doubt (that) helped her and her family through this 18 months or so.
"It is sad for family, friends and colleagues, but I'm just grateful that we could celebrate her career with her while she was still with us."
Outgoing Victorian chief health officer Brett Sutton, who led the state's public health response to the pandemic, said he - like the public - felt reassured listening to Prof McLaws.
Her gentleness and warmth set her apart, but so too did her unwillingness to shy away from nuance, Prof Sutton said.
"We knew that if she had something to say really stridently, or with some force and vigour, that there was a reason behind it," Prof Sutton told ABC Radio Melbourne.
"She played a huge role in making us feel that we were being stewarded through that far too long a period of crisis in a way that we knew we'd get to the other side."
Infectious diseases physician and Australian National University associate professor Sanjaya Senanayake thanked his dear friend Prof McLaws for guiding Australians through such a torrid time.
VicHealth chief executive Sandro Demaio said Prof McLaws was a generous and kind leader who helped countless Australians through the darkest times of the pandemic, while University of South Australia biostatistics professor Adrian Esterman described Prof McLaws as a voice of reason.
Australian Associated Press
