Auckland Medical Historical Society 

Thursday June 5th 2008.

Ernest & Marion Davis Library

Drinks are served in the Dining Room at 6.00pm

Dinner at 6.30pm.

Presentations in the downstairs Lecture Theatre at 7.30pm.

Library Corner 6.00pm

  
Dinner cost: Members $26, guests $30, students $15	  
Reply to:
 Eileen Bambury,  
Dept of Endocrinology, Level 1, Building 4, Greenlane Clinical Centre,  
PO Box 92189, Greenlane, 
phone 307 4949, extension 26851 
or email me on EileenB@adhb.govt.nz                  
Please ensure you have booked by sending a cheque and phone Eileen by Wednesday 4th June before 10am.  
Please do not phone on Tuesday as I do not work on this day.              
Please remember that if you've booked and are unable to attend,  
you must let me know by 11am on that Thursday, otherwise you will be charged.               
Cheques should be made out to the Auckland Medical History Society.
              
Last month there were some people who turned up for dinner, without having booked.   
Please always book as having extra numbers makes it hard for the caterer to provide extra food.


Parking: Free parking is available in Park Avenue directly opposite the new City Hospital.   
This area  second on the right is labelled Park 8, University of Auckland and has no barrier.  
The  Ernest & Marion Davis Library is a low brick building on the left, a short way down the hill  
from the main entrance of the Auckland Hospital. 

7.30pm Annual General Meeting

Auckland Medical History Society Annual General Meeting 5th March 2009

AGENDA
Apologies: Edward Mee
Minutes of Previous Meeting (13 March 2008)
Business arising
E-mailing Monthly programme
Financial Report
President's Report
Elections
Marion Davis Centre Catering
General Business
Suggested themes for presentations (Dr R Norris)

P Clarkson Secretary

Approx 7.50pm A Brief History of the Microscope

Dr Richards will discuss the 'microscope' within the context of his own unique collection

John Richards - was 14 years in General Practice before his appointment in 1973 as Assoc. Professor General Practice in the new Auckland School of Medicine. He was a foundation Fellow of the Royal NZ College of General Practitioners. He has written widely on general practice topics, having edited and contributed to several books, "the General Practitioner in NZ", "Primary Health Care and the Community" and "In Sickness and in Health". The latter is designed to assist doctors to maintain good health. He is also author of a book to help patients get the best value from their general practitioner, entitled "You and Your Doctor". - Dr Richards is a past President of the Royal New Zealand College of General Practitioners. He is now retired, lives in Auckland and travels widely. He has a unique collection of early microscopes on which he bases tonight's talk.

Film Arthur Porritt – No Ordinary Man by Graeme Woodfield

Dr Woodfield will outline the life and achievements of this extraordinary New Zealander.

Dr Graeme Woodfield MB, ChB (NZ) PhD, FRCPE, FRCPA

- is a Transfusion Medicine Specialist who has written many scientific papers as well as biographies of the Olympic heroes Dr Jack Lovelock and Sir Arthur Porritt. - - Dr Woodfield lives in Kumeu, just north of Auckland. He is married and has 4 children and 12 grandchildren. His other interests include the mountains, chestnuts, Medical Aid Abroad Inc and medical teaching in developing countries. He also is an Honorary Clinical Associate Professor in the Dept of Molecular Medicine and Pathology at the Auckland Medical School. - He has also (incidentally), very recently published two excellent books on medical history. - Jack Lovelock – 'Athlete and Doctor' - Arthur Porritt– 'No Ordinary Man'

President's Report 2008

AUCKLAND MEDICAL HISTORY SOCIETY PRESIDENT’S REPORT 2008

The year 2008 has been one of characteristic activity with enjoyable lectures and talks, and our nicely sociable gatherings; also one in which some matters possibly affecting future arrangements for our Society have been of concern for your Executive Committee. But first, those matters to report from last year.

Obituaries

First I wish to acknowledge, with the regret of all of us, the sad passing of valued members of our Society in the last year, namely Mr Reginald Lockstone, long-standing committee member Professor David Cole, past Dean of the Auckland School of Medicine Catherine Caughey, founder of the Auckland Multicultural Society Lady Margaret Scott, publishing editor Mr James Carter, notable surgeon and committee member, and now in 2009 Dr Bill Clay most recently. To the relatives of all of these splendid people I say, we hold these departed friends in our memory with affection. (And I do regret we never had Catherine Caughey talk on her Bletchley Park experience).

New Year Royal Honours

It is a pleasure to recognise those conferred on Society members at the start of this New Year Mr Ron Goodey, ENT surgeon, now a Companion NZM, and Prof Ron Jones, obstetrician and gynaecologist, an Officer NZM (and in case you missed it, similarly honoured were Auckland Hospital’s Professor Alan Merry and past-Professor Graham Hill &). It was a pleasure to offer congratulations to them all.

Publications.

Following his Jack Lovelock book of 2007, Dr Graeme Woodfield had a successful launch in November of his succeeding triumph “No Ordinary Man”, a life of Lord Arthur Porritt (with Joseph Romanos). Your president had 3 medical history papers published in 2008.

Society Facts

Members now number c.160. The current executive comprises Patricia Clarkson (honorary secretary), Susan Cameron (treasurer), Kaye Ibbertson (archivist et al.), Don MacCulloch, Ken McGrath, (winemaster), Edward Mee (past president and expert in audio-visual matters), Terry Sutcliffe (provider of legal expertise), Ron Trubuhovich (president), JohnWattie (webmaster), John Webster (doormaster). The Society has Eileen Bambury as executive secretary.

The 2008 Programme

The year’s quality programme was constructed by Kaye Ibbertson with an enjoyable variety of local, national, biographical and historical, including medieval subjects.

1). Our named lectures last year were delivered by
a) the late Mr James Carter for the Laurie Gluckman, with an absorbing account of his researches into his missionary ancestor, Charles Baker, and
b) Prof. Edward Nye for the James Newman, on botanist Carl Linnaeus, the “Father of Taxonomy” and his disciples.

2). Kaye Ibbertson has listed other memorable talks in his September Newsletter you have received, and identified the Ron Goodey - Jim Gwynne - Chris Cotter evening as most memorable. At that evening you may recall Chris Cotter’s gifting to our Society of Bessie Christie’s painting, now-historical, of Dr Frank Gwynne’s Radiology Suite at the old Mater Hospital. Currently the painting is at the Auckland City New Art Gallery being assessed for restorative needs and insurance valuation.

3). The Christmas Dinner evening featured Professor Wyn Beasley from Wellington as our guest speaker, with his splendidly presented and illustrated talk Images of Freyberg. The arrangement of having this dinner post-talk (as we did in 2007) seemed to me to go very smoothly and enhanced the socialising opportunities.

4). We are highly appreciative of the many other speakers who throughout the year delivered us enjoyable papers, vignettes and lectures.

5). The Student Landmark Evening with the 4th year medical students of Auckland University had to be cancelled because of uncertainty about the availability of the E&M Davis Centre. Currently Prof Ibbertson and myself have met with Prof Des Gorman, Head of the School of Medicine, and Dr Warwick Bagg, Senior Lecturer, who will be presenting a case to the Faculty’s curriculum committee for formalising a “Landmark Meeting” equivalent, already provided to 4th year students for 12 years now, to be included into the medical course at an earlier stage. The larger number of students then involved will require repeated sessions from the Society’s officers.

Venue

For some time now the E&M Davis Trust has planned architectural alterations for the centre, which we had expected completed last year, but to date the Guardian Trust has delayed giving approval to the Trust to proceed. Once such alterations are under way our Society’s meetings will be need to be transferred to the ADHB’s Clinical Education Centre at level 5 of Auckland City Hospital for monthly meetings with dining and lectures. The CEC requirements are that its own agents supply the food, which involves a greater cost than the modest charges we have enjoyed at the E&M Davis centre. It is difficult at this stage to anticipate what will happen when work will finally start. Current difficulties for meetings are further compounded by the disruption to parking with the Park Rd alterations which will still need more than a year before being completed.

Programme for 2009.

Your executive has endorsed the talks selected for this year, as per the annual published programme, and anticipates you will enjoy 2009, the Darwin bicentenary’s year. We appreciate the continuing offer of papers and although, reluctantly, not all can be included on the programme for this year it is essential that offers by members and suggestions of possible speakers continue to flow in.

Finances

Mrs Sue Cameron will present the Treasurer’s Report. Last year, through the good offices of Dr Richard Sorrenson, Manager, External Relations, the University of Auckland Foundation, returned control of the James Newman Special Fund from the Foundation to your Society. With the endorsement of Helen Tabor, Dr Newman's daughter and the principal link between the family, and the AMHS, the Special Fund has been lodged in a separate account in the Society’s bank, the BNZ. Currently a subcommittee (Terry Sutcliffe, Don MacCulloch and Sue Cameron) is investigating settling the fund into a formal trust The Gluckman Fund will be drawn on this year to bring the Founder’s Lecturer, Dr Viola Schwarz from Sydney for this year’s presentation and much help from Brian Barraclough in arranging this is appreciated. Kaye has established that there are no specific conditions attached to the use of this fund. The NZMA, through the good offices of Mr Ron Goodey, has proposed sponsoring an NZMA Lecture Evening which will be the August 2009 meeting. We also receive generous support from the Medical Assurance Society and from the legal firm Frost and Sutcliffe.

Format of Meetings

With the current uncertainties about the possible renovations to the E&M Davis Centre it is not planned to alter the format of the monthly meetings.

Constitution

That AMHS “Constitution”, which we do have copies of, dates from 11 Nov 1964 (see NZMJ, Mar1965, p.164). Rules were amended at the AGM on 18 April 1991 to satisfy the IRD re our tax exemption. At the Mar1996 AGM further alteration required for the IRD was made. The Society is not a Trust but a Learned Society. Terry Sutcliffe is kindly bringing his expertise to help us determine our true situation re Constitution/ Incorporation /Trust status. In the first instance he advises that our constitution is not in the Register of Incorporated Societies administered by the Companies Office, so is not formalised i.e., we are not incorporated. Terry has kindly offered to work on our problems and reconstruct a legitimate document for us. We are fortunate to have his expertise provided .

Acknowledgements.

I wish to acknowledge on your behalf our thanks to the Executive for the running of the Society. But so much of that continues to be undertaken by Kaye Ibbertson, with the assistance of Pat Clarkson, our secretary. It is Kaye who devises a lecture programme for the year, contacts possible speakers and secures their invitation to speak to us. So thank you indeed Kaye, for the hard work and associated worry. And that’s without mentioning all the effort he puts into the displays for each meeting. Our thanks are also due to our speakers and to members who help in a variety of ways. Susan Cameron and John Webster are owed special mention too. John Wattie had the Society’s website that he runs filched from him but now has secured its successful restoration and availability for us. It is located at www.kiwizone.org/History/index.html We are also grateful to the E&M Davis Trust for the continuing use of their facilities (and certainly at a quite moderate rental). I have indicated my appreciation of our catering team. Juliet Hawkins, Davis Centre Curator, continues to provide valuable support that is much appreciated. Our long standing executive secretary, Eileen Bambury, carries on providing much of the basic and organisational support that enables our society to function and we are indebted to her. Victoria Bell took over as Centre librarian in 2008 when ill health led Roberta Whelan to retire, and we do thank Roberta for past services and wish her well.

Facts of Life

As a Society member, for my own part I do find myself continuingly surprised at new facts I keep learning about the Society that I never realised before. Our society is not run for profit but creeps along each year from subscriptions and help from the Funds outlined above. The Davis Centre belongs to the E&M Davis Trust, (not us, as some could think!), we are one of the groups renting the building for nights of our meetings (and certainly at a moderate rental). The E&M Davis Trust is under the ultimate control of the Guardian Trust eg, for deciding about the Davis Trust’s wish for expenditure on refurbishing the layout of the building. The audio-visual system in the lecture room (which I receive so much criticism of) is not the Society’s but the Davis Centre’s (ie, Davis Trust’s). The Davis Library books belong not to the Society but to the Davis Trust. (They also store some ancient texts for the Philson Library, ie, the University of Auckland). The Society makes an annual donation to the Trust for purchase of some additions to the Trust’s library. And so on.

Let’s look forward to a happy and successful year.

Ron Trubuhovich. President, AMHS.