
He switched careers in 1953, commencing his medical studies at the University of Sydney at the age of 29. At university, he was often referred to as “Senator” Macken, as he was a mature-aged undergraduate representative on the university senate.
For 50 years, Jim was married to Marie, who died from ovarian cancer 4 months before Jim died from cardiac and renal failure on 19 January 2010. Jim is survived by his children Philip, Peter, John, Marea, James and Rosie.