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Personal Disclaimer:
To be perfectly honest, I find these sorts of resume summaries a bit
embarrassing because, when strung
together, the list seems to make me
look more accomplished than I really am. I am and feel terribly
ordinary.
However I need to have stuff summarized on
one page. I am truthfully uncomfortable however having all
this information in the public domain and have been tempted many times to
remove it from the website.
I wince whenever I think about it being out there.
Nevertheless there are many,
many times
now that various organizations and individuals need easy access this brief bio,
so
to save time for my secretaries and myself it has remained here on this website. That has
indeed already saved us dozens of hours of work so, as an
uncomfortable necessity, it will stay
here.
But please don't take it too seriously.
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Fathering |
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Medical
Practice |
Medical
Research |
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Teaching |
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Resume-CV |
Football
Coaching
Manual |
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Family |
Part A: Summary
Dr
Bruce Robinson is Professor Medicine & a consultant Lung Specialist at
the University of WA unit at Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital.
Medical
Research:
Co-leads a large research team studying cancer immunology and
asbestos diseases. He has received a number of prestigious awards,
including the international Wagner Medal, the Research Medal of the
Thoracic Society of Australia and NZ, the AMA award and the Premier's
Science Award. The team have made many discoveries, including the first
blood test for mesothelioma and have conducted many world-first
treatments, including Australia's first cancer gene therapy trial. Has
published over 160 peer reviewed papers, over 30 book chapters and 2
medical books. He regularly speaks at major international meetings & has
made numerous media appearances relating to science. He is the
co-founder and Director of the National Centre for Asbestos Related
Diseases [www.ncard.org],
a pioneering Australian national co-operative whose goal is to cure or
prevent asbestos cancers [the only such asbestos research co-operative
in the world]. He also chairs the State Health Research Advisory Council
[www.shrac.health.wa.gov.au]
and has
over 30
years of experience caring for patients with lung diseases, especially
asbestos-induced diseases.
Some NHMRC Reviewers comments:
'The
applicants are leaders in their field both nationally and
internationally'.
'Professor Robinson’s team are clearly international leaders in the
field of mesothelioma research’.
Parenting:
Author of
3 widely read books on parenting ['Daughters
and their Dads',
'Fathering
from the Fast Lane'
and 'The
Blue Book of Tips for Fathers and Father Figures']
[www.macsis.com.au]
and the
DVD 'What Kids Really Need from their Dads'. Has lectured on
parenting in 5 countries to over 12,000 people in live audiences and he has appeared in over
200 TV, radio,
newspaper & magazine articles. He has received an award for this work
from the Men's Advisory Network and also a Family Service Award. He
co-founded and directs The Fathering Project [www.thefatheringproject.org,
a University-based group aimed at reducing substance abuse, crime, poor
school attitudes, bullying, depression and other adolescent problems by
trying to fix 'the missing link' i.e. encouraging positive input from
fathers or father figures.
Some previous feedback:
'This book is brilliant. It is the best book I have ever read on
daughters and their dads'. W Marsh, Fatherhood Foundation
'That was the best talk I have ever heard, on any subject. Thank you'.
J. Alvarez. Surgeon.
'This
dynamic DVD and program will provide parents and teachers with an
outstanding resource to assist and encourage fathers to positively
engage in their children’s lives'. Colin Pettit, President, Primary
Principals Assoc.
International Disaster Relief and Medical Skills Training:
Provided medical relief services following the 2005 tsunami in Aceh and
following the earthquakes in 2009 (Sumatra) and 2010 (Haiti). He
co-developed and taught in disaster-preparedness and health training
programs in Indonesia. Undertakes regular volunteer village and hospital
training/medical work in Indonesia. Co-founded and directs the
International Skills and Training Institute in Health [www.istih.org],
a philanthropic organization which provides medical and health training
within the Asian region including services and training in emergency and
disaster situations.
Some
feedback from Banda Aceh ISTIH Disaster Team Training Program
participants:
‘A well
organized, very professional course’. ‘Good teaching style with a
friendly approach’. ‘Participants gained a high level of knowledge and
experience’. ‘Participants gained a better understanding of how to
manage a team, of the objective requirements of a disaster triage system
and of the debriefing process’
Medical
student teaching:
35 year experience in teaching medical students, including new programs
in communication skills [‘how to break bad news to patients'] and in
medical research. Initiated teaching weekends and medical teacher
development days. Winner of 3 UWA Medical School Teacher-of-the-Year
awards.
Some medical student comments from UWA Faculty of Medicine:
‘Prof
Robinson is one of the most inspiring teachers I have ever had’. ‘I
don’t have many role models but Bruce has become one of them’. ‘
His
dedication to his patients and his ability to communicate his genuine
compassion to them also sets a good example for medical students'.
'Prof
Robinson is not only an excellent doctor but a true teacher, and
deserves recognition as such. He is reminder of why we chose medicine as
a career’.
Other
interests
Football
Twice
selected in All-Australian intervarsity team. Played for UWA and Swan Districts. UWA varsity coach for 6 years – won 3 Championships,
including a record of 52 consecutive matches undefeated. Author of a
football coaching manual.
Personal
Apart from family, other interests include cricket, hiking, windsurfing,
foreign languages,
wine tasting, travel, photography and physics.
Awards:
1. Medical Research
Research Medal
of the Thoracic Society of Australia & New Zealand, 2008 for research
leadership in Australia
Wagner
Medal
of the International Mesothelioma Interest Group. 2004, for leading
world research into asbestos cancers.
Premier's Science Award, 2004, for achievement and
leadership in science.
Young Investigator Award of the Thoracic Society of
Australia, 1986, for the best research by an investigator under 35yo.
Eric G Saint Award, 1996, for contributions to research
into asbestos-related diseases.
2. Parenting and humanitarian service
Australian Medical Association Award,
2010, for outstanding contributions to a variety of fields of medicine,
including in humanitarian services in the region & in asbestos
diseases
Ernst and Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award (Service - WA), 2011,
an award shared with Prof Michael Henderson for the work of ISTIH in
providing medical training and services in the region.
Men's
Advisory Network Recognition Certificate.
2010. for dedication to getting fathers involved in their
children's lives.
Family
Service Award,
2004,
for contributions to family life for the book Fathering from the
Fast Lane' & fathering seminars
3. Teaching
Teacher
of the Year
award,
1990; the University of Western Australia School of Medicine
Excellence in Teaching award, 1997; the University of
Western Australia Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry
Teacher of the Year award, 1999; the University of Western
Australia School of Medicine
Media:
Radio: Interviews, panels, talkback radio etc on the
following stations: ABC Perth, ABC Sydney, ABC Melbourne, ABC Brisbane,
ABC Hobart, ABC Darwin, ABC Canberra, ABC Central Coast, ABC Toowoomba,
ABC Radio South West
2UE Sydney, 4BC Brisbane, 2CC Canberra, 4WC Toowoomba, 5AA Adelaide, 2DU
Dubbo, 2AY Albury, 2GLF Sydney, 2RE Taree, 2GZ Orange Life Matters (ABC
- several occasions), ABC Family Matters (Panel Member - 6 weeks),
Conversation of the Nation (Tas)
Television: interviews, features etc: ABC TV (James
O'Loghlin), 10 (Bert Newton), 7 (Denise Drysdale), NZTV (Morning Show),
7 (Evening News), 10 (Evening News), 7 (Today Tonight) + others
Newspapers and Magazines: articles, interviews, features
etc: Australian, Sydney Morning Herald, Age, West Australian, Sunday
Telegraph, Brisbane Courier Mail, Sunday Times, Daily Telegraph,
Queensland Times, Gold Coast Bulletin, Western Suburbs Weekly, Post
Newspapers, My Child, HBF Magazine, Sunday Times Magazine, Australian
Association for Pastoral Care Education Magazine, Weekend Courier,
Sunday Mail, Herald Sun + others.
Part
B: More details
Personal Details
Bruce William Stanley Robinson
DOB.
2 June 1950, Perth, Western Australia
Professor of Medicine,
School of Medicine and Pharmacology
Consultant Respiratory Physician, Dept of Respiratory Medicine
Director,
National Research Centre for Asbestos-Related Diseases
4th Floor, G-block,
Sir Charles
Gairdner Hospital, Nedlands,
Perth, 6009,
Australia.
Tel 61 8 9346 2098/2005 Fax: 61 8 9346 2816
E-mail:
bwsrobin@cyllene.uwa.edu.au
Web:
http://www.brucerobinson.com.au
Educational
Qualifications:
MBBS MD FRACP FRCP DTM&H FCCP
Matriculation 1967 Perth, Western Australia (5 distinctions), MBBS 1974 University of Western Australia,
DTM&H 1976 University of Liverpool (School of Tropical Medicine),
MRCP 1977 Royal College of Physicians (United Kingdom),
FRACP 1981 Royal Australasian College of Physicians,
FCCP 1987 American College of Chest Physicians ,
MD 1987 University of Western Australia,
FRCP 1995 Royal College of Physicians (UK)
AREAS OF ACTIVITY
/WORK
[= "dont just feel bad about
stuff, do something"
or,
as labelled by someone
recently,
DISASTERS,
DADS AND
DOCTORS WHO CARE"]
1.
DISASTERS
I guess there are 2 types of disasters I have studied or worked with:
- slow/industrial [eg. asbestos]
- sudden/natural [eg tsunamis]
1. 1 ASBESTOS DISEASES RESEARCH
Personal comment:
I have always loved, and still do, the experience of working as a doctor. I am grateful that our educational system allowed a boy from
Bassendean to get to University and not have to spend my whole life working in
the sorts of factories that I used to spend my summer holidays working
in. There
is something rich about clinical medicine, like talking to patients
about their lives and their most vulnerable feelings - I find every
person (well almost every person) really interesting, so that aspect of
medicine suits me.
But my fundamental insatiable curiosity meant that just practising my profession
would never be enough for me, so I started a research career in the USA in the
early 80s. That resulted in a career that combined clinical respiratory medicine
with research
and that has suited me well.
We have, over the past 20 years, focussed principally on
asbestos-related diseases and tumour immunology. The rate of asbestos cancer in WA (the highest in the world) has been
described as ‘the greatest industrial disaster in history’. We feel we
have an obligation to apply the technology we have developed to this
disease to help develop new diagnostic and treatment methods. But the
sufferers and their families are so brave and inspiring that it is very
easy to get motivated.
We hope we will be able offer victims of this disease the best of care
and also change the attitude of others to this problem from a negative
one (‘disaster’ etc) to a positive one (‘hope for victims’).
But I have
to confess something certain - everything listed below is due to a fantastic team of talented and
dedicated scientists and clinicians, not just due to me at all - my
contribution has only ever been as one player in these teams.
·
international leadership position in the field of asbestos-induced
cancer, as evidenced by the receipt of the
Wagner Medal
in 2004 - presented by the International Mesothelioma Interest Group to
'the individual whom they vote as having made the greatest contribution
to mesothelioma research internationally'
·
won the Research Medal of the Thoracic Society of
Australia & New Zealand, 2008. This medal is given 'in recognition of
outstanding contributions to the advancement of knowledge in respiratory
medicine or science carried out primarily in Australia or New Zealand,
and recognizes an individual who has demonstrated sustained excellence
in their field of research'.
·
won the
Premier's Science Award, 2004 (presented to the individual judged to
be the person in the opinion of the Premier’s Science Council has the
greatest achievements and leadership in science).
·
recipient of other research awards, including the
Eric G Saint Award,1996
(for contributions to research into asbestos-related diseases),the
Gordon Ada Invited Lecture 2004 (for contributions to the
field of tumor immunology)
and the Young
Investigator Award of the Thoracic Society, 1986 (for 'the most
outstanding scientific work by an investigator under 36).
·
published
the world’s first blood test for the diagnosis, monitoring and early
detection of mesothelioma, a discovery of such importance that became
the lead story on the BBC in the UK and other media
·
the first
cancer immuno-gene therapy trial using vaccinia-cytokine vectors +
7 other
world-first tumour therapies
·
cloned
over 20 novel tumour antigens in the search for a vaccine that might
prevent asbestos-induced cancer
·
a number of
other major discoveries regarding how the body’s immune system fights
against cancer which have formed the basis of many grants, papers and
clinical trials. Many of these are listed elsewhere on this site
(http://www.brucerobinson.com.au/tumor_immunology_research.htm)
·
chaired
the National Health and Medical Research Council of Australia’s National
Asbestos Working Party
·
inaugural
Director of the NHMRC's National Research Centre for Asbestos Related
Diseases.
·
co-founded
the Perth Mesothelioma Centre
·
co-founded
the International Mesothelioma Interest Group (the main international
clinical and scientific collaborative body that brings together
clinicians, scientists, epidemiologists etc to meet biannually)
·
established the Tumour Immunology Group at the Uni of WA Dept of
Medicine at the SCGH with the major research focus being
asbestos-induced cancer
·
founding
member of the collaborative group which initiated the WA Institute for
Medical Research
·
trained 24
PhD or BSc(Hons) students, 6 of whom have won Young Investigator Awards
for the research they have undertaken in our group
·
succeeded
in attracting the International Mesothelioma Conference to Perth in
December 2003 (this was the first time the meeting has ever been held
outside Europe and the USA).
·
high level
of productivity/in the field eg. over 160 scientific papers, 25 chapters
in major books in the field , 2 books.
·
our
leadership position in the this field is evidenced by having invited
review articles published recently in the most prestigious journals in
the world (eg New England Journal of Medicine, Nature Cancer Reviews &
Lancet),
·
over $12
million in NHMRC competitive, peer-reviewed funding
·
invited
speaker at >40 major international meetings
·
collaborations with colleagues in London, San Francisco, Seattle,
Minneapolis, San Diego, Charleston, Boston, Bethesda, Philadelphia, New
York and many sites in Australia.
·
Practised
as a chest physician for nearly 30 years in Australia, England and the
USA, much of that time involved in caring for victims of asbestos.
·
research
work featured in media, eg. ABC TV’s Catalyst program, Four Corners, a
Current Affair, the BBC, TV news programs and numerous radio and
newspaper articles.
Comments
(anonymous) provided by the National Health and Medical Research Council Peer Review Assessments of
this medical research.
-
‘‘The applicants are leaders in their
field both nationally and internationally’
-
'Productivity
from Professor Robinson’s group is outstanding. The award of the
Wagner medal in 2004 is a wonderful achievement and success of
younger investigators in the group is also highly commendable and is
testament to the team’s capabilities in training the next generation
of mesothelioma researchers. Professor
Robinson’s team are clearly international leaders in the field of
mesothelioma research’
[other comments re our research]
1.2 RESPONDING TO
NATURAL DISASTERS
Personal comment:
In late 2005 I was on family holiday down on the south coast and each
day I would listen to the reports
on the radio about the mounting death toll after the Indian Ocean
tsunami. When the toll reached 60,000 I remember
sitting on my campbed weeping as I thought about all of those kids who
would have no parents anymore. I phoned and
volunteered there and then [I thought I might be useful because I had a
Tropical Medicine degree and a fair bit of experience in developing
countries]. I had to quickly learn to speak bahasa Indonesian [because I
was to go with a purely Indonesian team] and then I joined the team.
I flew to various locations in Aceh and worked in tents helping whomever
came along. I didnt feel that I was achieving wonderful things medically, but was
just happy to roll my
sleeves up and try to help. And as emotionally hard as the experience
was, and it was raw and hard, I made lifelong friends
from that team of Indonesians.
That experience also provided the basis for a new & potentially
very effective training institute that we established soon afterwards
[ISTIH],
plus many return visits to work and train young doctors in Indonesia.
-
served in a Tsunami Medical
Relief Team in Aceh, Indonesia in Feb/March & July 2005 (http://www.brucerobinson.com.au/Tsunami.html).
This team, from Obor Berkat Indonesia,was entirely Indonesian and
recently won a prestigious award from the President of Indonesia for
their work in post-tsunami Aceh.
-
completed 8 trips (so far) to
Indonesia delivering medical care, providing training in respiratory medicine
& bronchoscopy skills and training in disaster preparedness in Banda Aceh, Meulaboh and
Jakarta
-
served in other developing
countries eg Papua New Guinea
-
co-initiated the International
Skills and Training Institute in Health [ISTIH] - see below
2.
DADS
ENCOURAGEMENT OF FATHERS AND FATHER-FIGURES TO GET MORE INVOLVED IN
CHILDREN'S LIVES.
Personal
comment:
I have struggled as a father myself with busyness, tiredness and
travel. It is those struggles, plus the experience of talking with men
who are dying of cancer and who wish they had spent more time with their
kids, that got me started in this area. The writing of my first book,
Fathering from the Fast Lane, was honestly a bit of an accident so the
fact that it became a best-seller was bit embarrassing at first. If I
had been a fantastic dad it would have been easier, but I am not.
During that process however I realised that the dads who most
needed to know how to be a good dad were the very dads who were least
likely to read such a book or to attend parenting seminars. So we
[UWA and ECU] researched then made a DVD, plus a simple booklet, to
reach out to every father, and father-figure, that we could, principally
through schools but also through workplaces and community groups.
Our hope was that dads would become better 'connected' to their kids
from an early age, and where there was no dad, father figures would step
in to that role. We knew from the statistics that if this succeeded, it
would reduce the rate of drug addiction, smoking, binge drinking,
crime, bullying, vandalism, teenage depression and poor attitudes to
school. This could [incidentally] save the national economy billions of dollars
each year.

-
authored
the popular
books 'Daughters and their Dads'
(Macsis, 2008)
and 'Fathering from the Fast Lane' (Finch
Publishing, 2001)
-
co-founded The Fathering Project
which developed a DVD for schools aimed at encouraging fathers or father-figures
to get involved in their childrens' education/school -
www.thefatheringproject.org.
This project is also aimed
at reducing adolescent drug taking, crime and depression/suicide. The DVD
entitled "What Kids Really Need from their Dads" was supported by
both Commonwealth and State Education Depts and is being sent to all
schools.
-
wrote "The Blue Book of Tips for
Fathers and Father Figures"(Macsis, 2007), which is also being sent to all schools
to help fathers, and father figures, get more involved in children's
lives
-
given
seminars on the
subject of fathers/parenting for busy people to over 100 groups in
Australia, England, USA, Canada and New Zealand.). These groups
include schools
Rotary Clubs, City Councils, Chambers of Commerce, groups, church
groups, mens groups, single mothers groups, mens breakfasts and a
number of professional conferences-
http://www.brucerobinson.com.au/book.html
-
invited to be the speaker at a Fatherhood Foundation dinner in Parliament House,
Canberra, to a group of selected political leaders,
including the deputy Prime Minister, Leader of the Opposition,
Minister for Family Services and others.
-
co-developed a successful
community program for men through the Subiaco
Community Development Centre, called ‘21st Century Men’,
to help provide information on men's health, parenting, stress at
work, community, relationships -
www.scdc.com.au
-
these books,
the DVD and the
related work on parenting have been featured in the
media, eg. Good Morning Australia with Bert Newton, Good Morning on TV NZ,
The Morning Show on Seven with Denise Drysdale, evening news
bulletins & others, over 35
radio interviews, including Life Matters, AM and numerous talk-back
shows and around 25 newspaper articles - http://www.brucerobinson.com.au/Media%20FFL.htm
-
received a Family Service Award,
2004 (for contributions to families by the publication of 'Fathering
from the Fast Lane')
Some
comments on the Books, Seminars
&
Fathering DVD
-
‘I recommend this book for all fathers
struggling to be better parents’. Rev Tim Costello
-
‘Bruce Robinson provides incredibly
valuable strategies for negotiating the long road that being a father is
all about. A must-read for all men, be they fathers or not’.
Daniel Petre. Author of Father Time.
-
'This book is brilliant. It is the best book I have
ever read on daughters and thier dads, without a shadow of a doubt.
It is a must read book for every daughter and every dad.
Warwick Marsh, Fatherhood Foundation
-
‘Here we have a chance to read about
people’s real experiences and results with their own children. I suggest
all fathers have a read.’ Dennis Lillee. Former Test Cricketer.
-
‘The talk was informative, entertaining
and inspirational. As a working mother I found all of the ideas to be
applicable to me as well to the men who attended.
Ms JA. City Council Community Development Officer.
-
That was the
best talk I have ever heard on any subject. Thank you. My wife enjoyed
it too and said she was glad I was there to listen to it.
JA. Surgeon.
-
This dynamic DVD
and program will provide parents and teachers with an outstanding
resource to assist and encourage fathers to positively engage in
their children’s lives. The DVD has relevance to all parents and
caregivers.
Colin Pettit, President, former Primary Principals Association of WA
[click for other
comments on:
-
Books
-
Seminars
-
Fathering DVD]
3.
DOCTORS WHO CARE
3.1 TEACHING COMPETENCE AND COMMUNICATION TO MEDICAL STUDENTS
Personal comment:
I have always loved teaching medical students - they are bright,
motivated and fun to teach. That also means they are easy to teach, and
I feel sorry for those schoolteachers who have to teach unmotivated kids
who don't want to be at school [I think those teachers deserve way more credit than
us medical teachers].
The
realization that our teaching can help our students graduate as
competent and caring doctors drives us all on. Many of my former students are now my friends.
To teach them to sit on an elderly ladies' bedside, to her hand and to
speak words of kindness to her is a privilege.
-
Initiated a program of
communication skills tutorials to medical students on ‘how to
break bad news to patients” because bad news is often broken
to patients and their relatives quite badly by doctors, and with
devastating effects. I started this course in 1990 and the program
has now been going for 16 years.
-
Developed a ‘medical
research for medical students’ lecture/symposium to teach
and encourage medical students to think about research and to
develop their questioning skills and creativity
-
Developed a program of
tutorials for medical students aimed at helping them to develop balanced careers and avoid the ‘occupational hazards’ of
medicine ie. alcoholism, divorce, depression etc. This has been
running for 15 years.
-
Developed a program of
“Teaching Weekends’ for medical students, aimed at
providing a unique environment for them to learn effectively and
also talk personally with their tutors about issues that concern
them. This program has now been running for 16 years.
-
Awarded the Teacher of the
Year Award, 1990; UWA School of Medicine (selected by the
students).
-
Awarded the Excellence in
Teaching Award, 1997; the UWA Faculty of Medicine &
Dentistry.
-
Awarded the Teacher of the
Year Award, 1999; the University of Western Australia School
of Medicine.
-
Established teaching fora for
postgraduate science students, eg. weekly
journal clubs, data presentations and invited lectures. This was
principally undertaken to improve the training of scientists within
Tumour Immunology group at SCGH to train junior scientists in
advanced scientific methogs. Also established an annual Tumour
Immunology Conference in Perth, which has attracted 25 visiting
speakers from overseas and interstate to WA, including Nobel
Laureate Prof Peter Doherty.
Comments (anonymous)
from
the University of Western Australia Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry
(from medical students' nominations for the Excellence in Teaching
Award)
-
‘Prof Robinson is one of the most
inspiring teachers I have ever had’.
-
‘I don’t have many role models but
Bruce has become one of them’
-
‘His dedication to his patients and
his ability to communicate his genuine compassion to them also sets a
good example for medical students.
-
Prof Robinson is not only an
excellent doctor but a true teacher, and deserves recognition as such.
He is reminder of why we chose medicine as a career’.
3.2
DEVELOPMENT OF
THE
INTERNATIONAL SKILLS AND TRAINING INSTITUTE IN HEALTH [ISTIH]
ISTIH is an organisation established in collaboration
with the University of WA, the Health Dept of WA, Curtin University,
Siloam Health Care and the University of Indonesia to provide
training in medicine, nursing and other health areas to post-tsunami Aceh
and other areas of Indonesia. It was started in response to the need
for medical training in Aceh following the Indian Ocean tsunami
but has grown to embrace training in all areas of health in the region.
I have found that many doctors, nurses and allied health workers are
willing to help in areas of need in the region, provided their visits
can be facilitated and co-ordinated. ISTIH does that.
-
co-founded ISTIH in 2005 with Profs
Michael Henderson and Linda Kristiansen
http://www.brucerobinson.com.au/ISTIHTEMP.htm
).
-
lectured on this subject in
Australia to various groups to raise awareness and recruit other
doctors and nurses to the program, eg.to Royal Melbourne Hospital,
Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital, medical
student groups, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre in Melbourne, Mensa, churches and
other community groups
-
conducted disaster preparedness
training for visiting senior Acehnese doctors, nurses and public
health officials in WA in 2007
-
delivered a team-based training
course in disaster and emergency preparedness to staff at the Rumah
Sakit Umum Zainan Abadan in Banda Aceh, August 2007
Comment:
I am often asked why I
do this sort of stuff. I guess it's because I was taught, mostly by my father, that we are not on this
planet just for personal success - we should do our best in whatever we
choose to do, but at the same time make sure we leave the world in a
slightly better way than if we hadn't been here. He was a deputy mayor, RSL President and a bunch of other things.
He also ran a youth club to 'keep the kids of Basso off the streets"
and he taught them leadership. One evening at the Club he was nearly
beaten and had his shirt torn off his body by some thugs. He had many of
his own problems but he profoundly influenced his
children to be contributors to the community. I am motivated by the idea that we are put here to
serve, not to be served, but I don't claim anything noble or altruistic
in that
- it is actually quite selfish of me, because for me life has been full of joy, love,
laughter, wonderful people and rich experiences
by living this way, so why change?
My final comment [in the unlikely event that anyone has read my boring
website this far]
is that the main thing I don't like about these summary lists is that
they don't reflect the most important things in life, such as being a
caring father, husband, friend etc. Although I am no great shakes in any
of these roles, I would rather be judged by them than by anything else.
NON PROFESSIONAL INTERESTS
Windsurfing, swimming & hiking
    
Football (Australian Rules) Over 400
competitive games as player or coach. University Football Club
Selected in All-Australian Intervarsity Football Team, 1972 and
1973.
Player 1968-73, 1975 & 1979.
Coach, University A-grade Colts Football Team (1981, 1985, 1986,
1987) and Head Coach and A-grade Coach (1988, 1989). 3 premierships.
Coached WAAFL record of 52 consecutive games undefeated.
Clubman of the Year 1987.
Life Member from 1989.
Australian Coaching Association member. Swan Districts Football Club
Reserves and League Football 1974. Life Time Social Member.
Link to Football Coaching Manual.
PS. Dont be fooled by these facts. I was only
an average player and an OK but not outstanding coach.
Cricket
Played
with Bassendean-Bayswater, University and Nedlands (W. Australia),
Goroka (Papua New Guinea) and Southchurch (UK) Cricket Clubs.
Member, Western Australian Cricket Association. Also enjoy wine tasting, travel, music, chess, poetry,
languages and physics.
PROFESSIONAL/ADMINISTRATIVE
Currently Chairman of the State Health Research Advisory
Council of the Health Dept of WA. Formerly on NHMRC Research Committee and Program Grants Committee.
Member of
10 other local and national committees. Chairman of the Asbestos Working Party of the National Health
and Medical Research Council of Australia (NHMRC) & former President of the International Mesothelioma Interest
Group. Currently a member of 2 other NHMRC committees plus 21 Professional Societies
and at least 20
Journal review panels. Royal Australasian College of Physicians
clinical examiner.
Link to full
resume, publications etc. |