Person
Cochrane, Harold Clyde (1910 - 2010)
- Born
- 13 April 1910
Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia - Died
- 7 March 2010
Forest Hill, Victoria, Australia - Occupation
- Biochemist and Medical researcher
Summary
Harold Cochrane worked in research and development at the Commonwealth Serum Laboratories 1928-1970 and was chief assistant to Val Bazeley in the 1940s when they initiated the production of penicillin. The family tribute on his passing noted: "Harold was a humble man who was one of Australia's Penicillin pioneers. The family thank Strathdon Community for wonderful care they gave to him, and continue to give to Valda [his iwfe of 71 years]."
Details
His story is captured in: Suzy Baldwin (editor), Ünsung heroes and Heroines of Australia" Greenhouse, Eloowd, Victoria, 1988. ISBN 0864361599. Stories submitted to a panel of the Australian Bicentennial Authority, popularly known as the 200 Greatest Stories Never Told Programme.
John Mathews notes: "The lead biochemist, Harold Cochrane, who was charged by Bazeley with the job of extract-ing the penicillin from the liquid, has left a graphic description of those first few months andyears in his personal memoir. See H. Cochrane, Penicillin: The Australian Story, unpublishedmemoir, 1990 (ISBN 0646034936, National Library of Australia reference No. Nq338.47615329230994 C663)"
Related entries
Colleague
Published resources
Books
- Brogan, Alfred H., Committed to Saving Lives: a history of the Commonwealth Serum Laboratories (South Yarra, Victoria: Hyland House, 1990), 301 pp. Details
Journal Articles
- Mathews, John A., 'The Birth of the Biotechnology Era: Penicillin in Australia 1943-80', Prometheus: Critical studies in innovation, 26 (4) (2008), 317-33, https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/epdf/10.1080/08109020802459306?needAccess=true. Details
Resources
- 'Cochrane, H C', Trove, National Library of Australia, 2009, https://nla.gov.au/nla.party-579304. Details
McCarthy, G.J.
Created: 20 October 1993, Last modified: 27 May 2026
- Foundation Supporter - Committee to Review Australian Studies in Tertiary Education