Queens Birthday Honor Recipients

Four doctors who have helped shape and deliver expert medical and dental services across Metro North Hospital and Health Service have been awarded a Member (AM) in the General Division of the Order of Australia in the Queen’s Birthday Honours.

Metro North Hospital and Health Service Board Chair Dr Paul Alexander said the honours for Professor Ian Gough, Dr Cliff Pollard, Dr Paul Luckin and Dr Ralph Neller were fitting recognition for their years of service.

Professor Gough was recognised for his service to medicine as a clinician, to education as an academic, researcher and author and through his medical advisory roles.

He was formerly Senior Visiting Surgeon and Head of Endocrine Surgery at Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital. He has been Professor of Surgery, University of Queensland, since 1991 and maintains an Honorary Consultant role at RBWH.

“Ian has maintained his links with the RBWH and its staff. He serves as the inaugural Chair of the Royal Alumni, which provides opportunities for past and present staff to connect on a professional, academic and social basis, “Dr Alexander said.

Dr Pollard was awarded for service to medicine in the field of trauma care and through contributions to health policy and reform in Queensland

He was the inaugural Director of Trauma at Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital and his expertise led to the development of the first Statewide Trauma Plan and Trauma System. He also served as inaugural Chair of the National Trauma Registry Consortium for Australia and New Zealand, and as President, Australian and New Zealand Association of Surgeons for Trauma.

“Many of you will know of Cliff’s keen interest in preserving medical history, particularly at the Royal,” Dr Alexander said.

“Together with the Royal Brisbane Hospitals’ Nurses Association, he curated the commemorative exhibition for the Anzac Centenary and more recently played a significant role in putting together the documentary Bandages and Battlefields.”

Paul Luckin is a former a visiting anaesthetist at Redcliffe Hospital, whose expertise is in survival medicine.

As a Commander in the Royal Australian Naval Reserve, Paul has served in Afghanistan, Bougainville, East Timor; the Resuscitation and Retrieval Team for the victims of the Bali bombs, the Solomon Islands, and was in the first medical team into Banda Aceh following the tsunami.

Dr Neller was awarded for service to dentistry as a clinician, to improved community oral health outcomes and to professional dental associations.

He has served as Executive Director of Brisbane Metro North Oral Health Services, principal dentist at the Brisbane Dental Hospital and as a member of the Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital Executive.

“Ralph, who has now retired, was a long-serving member of the Dental Board of Queensland and served as Chairman of the Board,” Dr Alexander said.

“Ralph’s service extends to overseas aid programs, most notably as a dental trainer in Aceh following 2004’s devastating Boxing Day tsunami.

“Please join me in extending our congratulations and appreciation to Ian, Cliff, Paul and Ralph for their outstanding service.”