Fiona Coote

Fiona Coote became Australia's most famous heart transplant recipient when she underwent surgery on 8 April, 1984. At the time, Coote was the youngest recipient in Australia, and the first female. While Ms Coote was the fourth transplant recipient in Australia, she was in fact only the second to survive for a significant period.

The procedure was performed by notable Chinese-Australian cardiothoracic surgeon, Dr Victor Chang and was successfully carried out when Coote was 14 years of age. The urgent transplant was due to complications of viral-induced tonsilitis, that significantly weakened her heart. The surgery was performed at St Vincent's Hospital, Sydney. When she later began rejecting the first heart, Coote was forced to endure a second transplant, which took place in 1986. She has enjoyed good health since.

Growing up on family farm, Galen, 8 kilometers from Manilla, in northern New South Wales. Coote attended a private Catholic school near Tamworth.

As a result of her fame, Coote was approached to appear in the Australian soap, Neighbours. Despite beginning rehearsals, Coote ultimately decided acting was not for her. Chanel Ten publicly blamed the back down on illness but Coote later attributed it to the associated pressure to participate in interviews and publicity for the show.

Coote later went on to work in promotions for Willow Valley, a cereal manufacturer, and Dairy Farmers. She also worked for the charitable organizations the Victor Chang Foundation and the Starlight Foundation.

In her twenties, Coote made the decision to not have any children but she did go on to marry in 2006.

2001 saw release of a rose named in honour of Ms Coote. Called 'Fiona's Wish', it is a a hybrid tea (bush rose) and the bi-coloured blooms are cherry red, edged with gold reverse.