The Australian of the Year Awards is a program of the National Australia Day Council. The awards represent one of the highest national honours, and aim to celebrate the exceptional contributions of eminent Australians to “creating a better Australia.”
The Awards were announced by the Prime Minister, Julia Gillard, at an event held on Friday evening in front of Parliament House in Canberra.
The Minister for Mental Health and Ageing, Mark Butler, congratulated Emeritus Professor Maddocks on his award, adding that: “The Senior Australian of the Year award is a wonderful opportunity to celebrate the achievements of older Australians who have so much to offer not only to friends and family but to the wider community.”
Dr Yvonne Luxford, Chief Executive Officer of Palliative Care Australia (PCA) said: “On behalf of everyone at Palliative Care Australia, we congratulate Professor Maddocks on this great achievement. He is a true pioneer of palliative care in this country, and it is fantastic to see this recognised at the highest level.”
Emeritus Professor Maddocks has made a significant contribution to health care in Australia over his long and distinguished career, most notably in palliative care. He was the first President of the Australian Association for Hospice and Palliative Care (now called Palliative Care Australia) and the first President of the Australian and New Zealand Society of Palliative Medicine.
‘Professor Maddocks was integral in developing palliative care practices in this country and establishing Palliative Care Australia,’ said Dr Luxford. “We hope that this award will help raise the importance of palliative care with all Australians.”
Professor Maddocks maintained that this award should be shared by all who have contributed to the development of palliative care in the country.
PCA also congratulated Ita Buttrose on her Australian of the Year award.
“Ita has really put dementia on the agenda in this country in her role as President of Alzheimer’s Australia,’ said Dr Luxford. ‘To have both the Australian and Senior Australian of the year award going to eminent figures in healthcare is a great coup. We look forward to a greater focus on palliative care and dementia issues in 2013.”
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