Nudgee Stories

Story Added : October 2007

A Tribute to the Delahunty Dynasty

Jas Delahunty

Once upon a time many years ago, James Delahunty's father, Jas J Delahunty, decided to follow a pharmacy career. To be precise it was in the depression era, 1932 to be exact when prescriptions were delivered personally and on foot. Jas J,as he was known to all who frequented his establishment, averaged 40 to 50 prescriptions a day which prompted a lot of walking.

His founding premises were on the corner of Wharf and Queen Street. The building was shared with a barber shop and racquet stringer. Many older Old Boys may remember the location.  

By the age of 14, James Jnr or ‘Della’ was certain he was destined to join the family firm but he knew he would have to earn his spurs starting at the bottom and working his way up. The bottom for even a keen youth was delivering medicines and washing bottles as Jas J believed that earning entry into the firm and the profession was best achieved by learning through doing. (Those were the days when medicines were mixed at the pharmacy and decanted into bottles. A ‘dumb waiter’ pulley system lowered them from the upstairs dispensary to the ground I floor).  It was an early testing period, but the young James loved it.

He completed his Bachelor of Pharmacy at the University of Queensland in 1966, and at the age of 21 took the Pharmaceutical Oath. Then followed a traineeships at the Mater Public Hospital Pharmacy and Henry Evans Chemist in Roma St and then a
three-month contract as a locum in New Guinea after which his father Jas, employed him as a pharmacist.

By this time Jas had become a partner in the T&G Day & Night Pharmacy and it was while working there that James Jnr met his future wife, pharmacist Carmel.

Carmel, James and Bridget right

They met at a staff Christmas party where, the story goes, amongst other things, he impressed her with his dancing skills.

Married in 1978 James and Carmel have four children, Daniel, Brendan, Bridget and Seamus. All are university educated and have entered the business worlds of commerce, real estate, and pharmacy. Bridget, the pharmacist, gives the family three generations in this career.

James and Carmel have achieved high qualifications in their field. Both are Members of the Pharmaceutical Society of Australia and the Pharmacy Guild.  Both are Fellows of the Australian College of Pharmacy Practice and Management. Carmel is presently on the Advisory Board of Pharmacy at QUT and a Member of the Australian College of Natural Medicine Council and a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors. Good service no doubt makes a business, but also contributing to the success is James's own glowing reputation. He is well-known as a professional businessman and community-minded resident and has friends from many walks of life.

A short conversation with James Delahunty about his family's 75 year history will make it obvious that his story is more about where they are going rather than where they have been. He says, “History is interesting but the future I is much more exciting”.

The very reason they have survived, the good times, the bad times and all the in-between times is the "have a go" mentality that this larger than life character embodies. Well done, James and the Delahunty clan.