Calls to honour Adelaide doctor Michael Yung with state funeral

South Australians touched by the work of Adelaide doctor Michael Yung have called for a state funeral while the family asks for donations to a foundation in lieu of flowers.

Dr Michael Yung (R) with son Ronan 1996. Picture: Facebook

An emotional outcry from a chorus of South Australians touched by the work of one of the state’s top doctors has seen calls for a state funeral and a new cardiac unit established in his name.

On Monday, the state was sent into shock after top Adelaide pediatrician Dr Michael Yung was allegedly attacked in a horror home invasion at his Gilberton home.

On Tuesday night, SA Police announced he had died and a man and a woman were charged with his murder.

Dr Yung, 61, was the former head of the Women’s and Children’s Hospital’s pediatric intensive care unit – and parents, patients, colleagues and prominent South Australians have paid tribute to the man who dedicated his life to saving others.

Dr Michael Yung was the victim of an allegedly unprovoked break-in and assault at his James St, Gilberton home.

Dr Yung was also a strong campaigner for a pediatrician cardiac surgery unit for the Women’s and Children’s Hospital.

Currently, Adelaide babies are sent to Melbourne each year for lifesaving cardiac surgery.

His death has reignited calls for a cardiac surgery unit at the WCH.

“A great man with the vision to want the best for our children. A WCH cardiac surgery unit was his dream. We can look after our own that way,” an online tribute said.

“Hopefully his memory will be honoured with a cardiac unit in his name,” another comment said.

Calls for a state funeral come after Premier Peter Malinauskas paid tribute to a man he said “dedicated his life to helping others”.

“Dr Michael Yung was a great South Australian who dedicated his life to helping children in their hour of need, when they were their sickest,” he said.

“My thoughts are with Dr Yung’s family, friends and colleagues.”

In lieu of flowers, the family has asked for donations to a foundation set up by Dr Yung.

Dr Yung was married to Kathryn Browne-Yung – an eminent health policy expert – who mysteriously died in her sleep in March 2020.

She trained as a pediatric nurse in England before migrating to Australia where she met Michael.

She had a lifelong interest in social justice issues and had ambitions of establishing a scholarship to help Aboriginal medical students.

After her death, Dr Yung established the Kathryn Browne-Yung Scholarship Fund to continue her vision.

The purpose of the Kathryn Browne-Yung Scholarship fund is to provide an annual scholarship to first-year Aboriginal medical students to enable them to concentrate on their studies.

The foundation has been active with a bike ride from Melbourne to Adelaide in March 2022 and quiz nights in 2022 and 2023 to raise funds for the cause.