The life of Dr Margaret Baikie was far from ordinary. She was born in Beijing on 22 December 1929 as the daughter of Professor Gordon King (later Sir Gordon King), then a missionary doctor and medical school professor, so devoted to his students that during the times of civil unrest in China that he continued to keep in contact with students scattered in the countryside, and after the war ensured that London recognised the quality of their medical education.

Margaret's mother had to flee twice, with only her children, and these early experiences of being a refugee in several different circumstances, the upheavals caused by frequent moving under stress, and the plight of separated distressed families, surely marked her for life and gave shape to her profound compassion for all persons in need.

As hostilities subsided but still in difficult times, Margaret Baikie went on to study medicine in Hong Kong. She was a brilliant student, and a little later in Perth, excelled as a junior hospital doctor. She went to Glasgow to undertake medical research in which she collaborated with her future husband, Albert Baikie, and together they made internationally renowned discoveries concerning genetic aspects of leukaemia.

Albert Baikie became an accepted international authority in this field, and was appointed in 1967 as the Foundation Professor of Medicine, University of Tasmania. It quickly became apparent that his gracious and beautiful wife, herself a renowned haematologist, was his unfailing support as he worked prodigiously, maybe knowing that his time would be short he died at 50 in October 1975, leaving Margaret with two young children.  

Thereafter Dr Baikie increased her involvement in haematology, and (in recognition of her excellence) she was elected as President of the Australian Haematology Society - a prestigious position. She directed the haematology department at Royal Hobart Hospital in a manner which was stamped not only by efficiency but by an extraordinary capacity to nurture her colleagues as well as her patients.

She was a mentor most valued to those in need of her wisdom. She continued her involvement in medical research and was a senior investigator in an internationally recognised study of lymphoma, leukaemia and related conditions in the Tasmanian community. While still involved in clinical matters and administration, Dr Baikie found time also to foster the development of Lifeline - and was for some time its Chair. She led the Tasmanian Cancer Council for some years and was involved many other community-based groups.

Her retirement from the Royal Hobart Hospital released her for even more community involvement whilst assisting almost daily in the nurturing of her grandchildren.  She focussed on assisting refugee families arriving in Hobart often in parlous circumstances. She worked extensively to reunite family members, negotiating with ministries and embassies to extract children from camps in Africa to rejoin mothers already in Hobart. In addition, she has spent countless hours escorting newly arrived and often traumatised refugees to hospitals or doctors, and skilfully, in her usual gracious style, brokered several satisfactory outcomes for the families who came to trust her. 

In June 2009, she was recognised nationally as an Officer of the Order of Australia (OA) for service to the Hobart refugee resettlement program and to medicine.

Margaret Baikie was, in sum, a woman driven always by concern and compassion for another in need, going far beyond the call of duty, applying her skills and influence in whatever circumstances she found herself.  Her values were deeply rooted, and fidelity was her hallmark. She enriched the Tasmanian community in particular but she was committed to the good of all humanity.

She will be remembered as a brilliant medical scientist, a compassionate doctor, an exemplary medical administrator, a treasured colleague, a wise counsellor, a solace to the vulnerable in our society and a blessing to all she encountered.  Above all she will be remembered as a person of singular beauty, the heart of her family, and a beloved and constant friend.