Timothy John Cotter Memorial Grant
Dr Timothy Cotter, a 1940s photograph reimaged through AI
Dr. Timothy John Patrick Cotter (1900-1972), medical practitioner and pathologist, was born on 13 October 1900 at Richmond, Melbourne, first surviving child and elder son of Timothy Cotter, railway employee, and his wife Margaret Mary, née Crowley, both Irish born. Educated at Xavier College, Kew (1915-18), young Tim entered the University of Melbourne (M.B., B.S., 1924) and in 1926 commenced practice in a partnership at Ripponlea. On 19 January 1927 he married Lesley Beatrix Hennessy at St Patrick's Catholic Cathedral, Melbourne; they were to have one son and were later divorced.
Attracted by the opportunity to study bacteriology, he joined the laboratories of the Commonwealth Department of Health, under J. H. L. Cumpston. In 1933 Cotter was transferred to the department's branch at Townsville, Queensland, as pathologist-in-charge, to investigate tropical diseases and fevers. Next year he went to Ingham to examine a disease which had caused serious illness and some deaths among canecutters in the sugar industry. Assisted by Gordon Morrissey, a local doctor, and William Sawers from the School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, Sydney, Cotter found spiral-shaped organisms resembling those responsible for Weil's disease in the urine of some patients and succeeded in isolating the leptospira. The leptospirosis was carried by rats whose numbers were increasing rapidly in the havens provided by cane-fields. Discovery of the disease had serious economic consequences for the sugar industry. Because baits were not effective as a method of controlling the rats, the cane had to be burnt. But burnt cane incurred a penalty of one shilling per ton (at a time when the canecutter's rate of pay was only five shillings per ton). In addition, the manufacture of sugar from burnt cane was more difficult and it was also necessary to ensure that stale cane was not supplied. After prolonged negotiations involving a review of industrial awards, the burnt-cane solution was accepted and the suppression of the disease was ensured.
With Cumpston's support, in May 1936 Cotter was appointed medical superintendent of Innisfail Hospital. Following an aircraft crash near Mundoo aerodrome in 1938, an 18-year-old passenger was brought to the hospital with forty-seven fractures; after nine months she was able to leave without a blemish due to Cotter's skilful surgery. Late the same year, when a serious typhoid outbreak occurred, he obtained newly-released sulphur drugs and used them for the first time in North Queensland. On 21 May 1940 he resigned from the hospital to take up a private practice at Innisfail. He was appointed M.B.E. in 1956. From 1958 until 1972 he was a government-nominated member of the local hospitals board. In 1972 Cotter retired to Brisbane.
Established in 2026 in memory of Dr. Timothy Cotter by his family, to support post graduate students and Early Career Researchers studying public health and tropical medicine.
This grant is subject to the provisions of the James Cook University Coursework Scholarships, Bursaries and Grants Policy.
| Student Type | HDR’s and ECR’s in the field of Public Health. |
|---|---|
| Area of Study | Public Health |
| Value | $5,000 |
| Duration | Once off payment |
| Applications Open | 28 May 2026 |
| Applications Close | 9 July 2026 - Midday |
Timothy John Cotter Memorial Grant in Public Health and Tropical Medicine is open for you to apply if you:
- Are completing a Research Masters or PhD at JCU or have finished your PhD within the last 5 years (Early Career Researcher). JCU academic and professional staff are welcome to apply, if they have finished their PhD within the last 5 years (or equivalent accounting for career disruption).
- Current field of research is Public Health, with preference for research in Tropical Health or Tropical Medicine.
-
$5,000 lumpsum into JCU student/staff research account.
Approved use for funds:
- Conference related expensive – registration, travel, or presentations,
- Publication fees,
- Travel related to field work or data collection,
- Laboratory consumables, tests, or equipment,
- Subscriptions or access to records fees, and
- Other research expenses.
Note: Project winner will be announced at the Rick Speare Oration.
Applications must be submitted on the official application form no later than the date set by the Selection Committee for the year in which the award is to be made. Applicants must submit with the official form, where appropriate:
- A written statement of no more than 2 pages outlining:
- Your research and research project,
- Linkages to Public Health, Tropical Health and/or Tropical Medicine
- Summary of how you’d use the funds, and
- If you are an ECR – please include the year you completed your PhD.
- Any other information you’d like to share with the Selection Committee (e.g. co-collaborators, other funding, etc.).
- Please also attach as appendices:
- A copy of your JCU academic record.
- A copy of your curriculum vitae.
- Letter from supervisor outline support for this application (Masters and PhD applicants only).
- Use of funds/budget.
Applications submitted without the relevant documentation will not be considered.
The applicant authorises the Selection Committee to make such enquires as to the applicant's good character and suitability to receive the grant, which includes authorisation for the Selection Committee to examine the applicant's academic record, and seek opinions from relevant members of the staff of this University or any other academic institution.
Your application is checked for completeness and eligibility, and you will receive an email confirmation it has been received. After the closing date it will be individually assessed and put forward to a selection committee who will rank your application against others who have applied. Applicants may be required to attend an interview as part of the selection process.
Introduction
Established in 2026 in memory of Dr. Timothy Cotter by his family, to support post graduate students and Early Career Researchers studying public health and tropical medicine.
This grant is subject to the provisions of James Cook University’s Coursework Scholarships, Bursaries and Grants Policy.
Value and Payment of the Grant
$5,000 lumpsum into JCU student/staff research account.
Approved use for funds:
- Conference related expensive – registration, travel, or presentations,
- Publication fees,
- Travel related to field work or data collection,
- Laboratory consumables, tests, or equipment,
- Subscriptions or access to records fees, and
- Other research expenses.
Note: Project winner will be announced at the Rick Speare Oration.
Eligibility Criteria
Timothy John Cotter Memorial Grant in Public Health and Tropical Medicine is open for you to apply if you:
- Completing a Research Masters or PhD at JCU or have finished your PhD within the last 5 years (Early Career Researcher). JCU academic and professional staff are welcome to apply, if they have finished their PhD within the last 5 years (or equivalent accounting for career disruption).
- Current field of research is Public Health, with preference for research in Tropical Health or Tropical Medicine.
Selection Criteria
The Selection Committee shall, in the exercise of its absolute discretion, afford consideration to the following criteria:
- Planned use of the funds,
- Why the proposed project or research is important,
- Linkages to Public Health, Tropical Health or Tropical Medicine,
- Academic Record: list of qualifications, GPAs, grants, and prizes received and/or
- Research Outputs: list of any publications or other research outputs
Application Procedures
Applications must be submitted on the official application form no later than the date set by the Selection Committee for the year in which the award is to be made. Applicants must submit with the official form, where appropriate:
- A written statement of no more than 2 pages outlining:
- Your research and research project,
- Linkages to Public Health, Tropical Health and/or Tropical Medicine
- Summary of how you’d use the funds, and
- If you are an ECR – please include the year you completed your PhD.
- Any other information you’d like to share with the Selection Committee (e.g. co-collaborators, other funding, etc.).
- Please also attach as appendices:
- A copy of your JCU academic record.
- A copy of your curriculum vitae.
- Letter from supervisor outline support for this application (Masters and PhD applicants only).
- Use of funds/budget.
Applications submitted without the relevant documentation will not be considered.
The applicant authorises the Selection Committee to make such enquires as to the applicant's good character and suitability to receive the grant, which includes authorisation for the Selection Committee to examine the applicant's academic record, and seek opinions from relevant members of the staff of this University or any other academic institution.
Selection Process
The award of the grant shall be made in the absolute discretion of the Selection Committee, which shall comprise:
- Head, Public Health and Tropical Medicine (Chair) or nominee,
- Associate Dean of Research Education (College of Medicine and Dentistry) or nominee, and
- Another member as nominated by Chair.
Note: Any member of the Selection Committee that is a supervisor of applicants will be required to declare a conflict of interest and nominate another JCU representative to participate on the Selection Committee.
The Selection Committee reserves the right:
Not to award a grant in any year if, in the opinion of the Selection Committee, there is no candidate of sufficient merit to warrant an award or split the available funds if this is feasible.
The Selection Committee may require applicants to undertake an interview as part of their application.
The Selection Committee will determine all matters relating to the selection of the grant awardee.
Conditions of the Grant:
- Recipient is to provide a report on the use of funds and update on your research within 12 months of receiving the funding. This will be provided to the donor and Head, Public Health and Tropical Medicine. Template will be provided to you.
- Recipient may be required to provide a presentation the following year at the Rick Speare Oration about project undertaking and findings.
- Recipients are allowed to reapply annually.
- A student may lodge a request for review of decision in accordance with the provisions of the Student Complaints Policy and Procedures.
Administration of the Grant
The Grant shall be administered by Scholarships Office of the University, on behalf of the Selection Committee.
The funds of the grant shall be held in an account in the name of the University and shall be administered by the Scholarship Office.
Where an award provides some benefit to the recipient from a body external to the University, or an obligation upon a body external to the University, the University, its servants, and agents, shall not be liable for that benefit or obligation.
Please refer to Glossary of Terms