Page 10 - Pharmacy History 03 Sept 1997

Here is part of
what Dr Nissen
had to say:
I can perhaps encapsulate his enthusiasm and commitment to pharmacy and the preservation of its history with his own often used catch phrase: ‘The profession has to know where it has come from so that it can know where it is going.’
It is this passion for pharmacy and
his drive to preserve the history of our profession that is demonstrated in Rad’s contribution to pharmacy and more particularly to PSA.
Rad was appointed as the historian
of PSAQ 20 years ago, an honorary position which he has fulfilled with great dedication, enthusiasm, skill and his usual charming and unassuming manner.
His commitment and passion for pharmacy history has seen him
travel extensively within Australia and overseas as well as attending
and contributing to numerous conference sessions on pharmacy history, particularly at PSA’s own PAC conference.
Many Queensland pharmacists would be familiar with the Childers pharmaceutical museum and information Centre based at the Isis pharmacy originally established in 1894. However, the preservation of this fabulous site would not have been
possible without Rad, who liaised with the local council in its establishment.
Rad’s contribution and knowledge
of pharmacy history has seen his appointment as vice-president of the Australian Academy of the History
of Pharmacy and he is a frequent contributor to the Academy’s journal. As our authority on pharmacy history Rad has, and continues to give generously
of his time to present lectures for the pharmacy students at universities around Queensland.
Rad has also worked more recently
with the Queensland dental groups
to assist in the tracing of their history within Queensland. Aside from his obvious contribution to the preservation of pharmacy history Rad has been a wonderful role model for generations of pharmacists. His professionalism, high standards of practice, engagement with staff and patients and commitment
to evolving the role of pharmacists as integral members of the health care team has been inspirational.
In response,
Radley made the
following remarks:
Warwick Plunkett, President of PSA, President PSA Queensland Branch, Dr Lisa Nissen, Professor Nick Shaw, Professor Nerida Smith, fellow pharmacists and their spouses and others.
It is great pleasure to receive the
Bowl of Hygeia award as a pharmacy historian and join one the 1981 recipients, Michael Hooper, then a councilor of the Society, who received his award for writing a centennial History of the Pharmaceutical Society of Queensland.
I have had a fortunate life. My parents gave me a secondary education as a boarder at TSS where I made lifelong friends. On finishing senior, I had to make the decision whether to apply to enter Duntroon or become an apprentice chemist. Fortunately for me I choose the latter otherwise I might have ended up as a statistic of the Malaysian or Vietnam war and indeed I have enjoyed immensely
my chosen profession which has evolved through dedicated people of the universities, PSA, the Guild and Board into the wonderful example we have today. We are still evolving for the better, although I shake my head in disbelief when I see a new chain
of pharmacies cutting the price of pharmaceuticals as though they were groceries and offer token advice if any at all for the products they are selling. I cannot understand why, after completing a four year degree course, a pharmacy graduate would become part of such a chain.
My old apprenticeship course had much to offer, on the job training at the same time as attending lectures at the CTC, now the QUT. Admittedly, a lot depended on the master for
the in shop training, much like
10 Pharmacy History Australia
volume 5 no 36 FEBRUARY 2009
Queensland pharmacists awarded PSA honour
On Thursday November 20 2008, the PSA Queensland Branch President Dr Lisa Nissen presented the 2008 PSA Bowl of Hygeia1 to Radley West.