Page 3 - Pharmacy History 37 Nov 2009

Future organisation
of pharmacy
history in Australia
Our Australian Academy of Pharmacy History was formed in 1996 with the important objective of bringing together the existing Australian State Chapters of Pharmacy History. This objective was readily achieved and members of State Chapters were absorbed into the newly formed National body, The Australian Academy of Pharmacy History. Since inception the Academy has been active in fostering interest, research, knowledge, and appreciation of pharmacy history and pharmacy in history. We have worked towards collection and preservation
of historic materials and our heritage for future generations to enjoy. Much more needs to be done and Australian Pharmacy History needs careful nurturing. We are custodians of our heritage and it is up to us to see that we capture the written account and preserve documents and artifacts that provide the pathway of our professional progress.
Our organisation is finding it difficult to maintain our services with few willing helpers and we are carefully considering our future. It is interesting to note
that Australian State Societies of the History of Medicine have recently merged to form the Australian and New Zealand Society of the History of Medicine
Inc. Our organisation could well fit comfortably within that major History of Medicine Society, perhaps as a pharmacy history SIG – Special Interest Group or a Chapter.
Our journal - Pharmacy History Australia
A particular strength of our organisation has been the important pursuit of the written recording and publishing of the history of pharmacy in Australia including the maintenance of this important Journal. Our Journal has been supported by a wide range of contributors, but by far the most significant contribution to our Journal has been made by our tireless pharmacist historian Geoffrey Miller who has edited the Journal from its inception. Hearty congratulations Geoffrey, you have made a wonderful contribution to the preservation of the history of pharmacy in Australia.
Other authors have also made excellent contributions including our only pharmacist with a PhD in history Dr Gregory Haines who is a keynote speaker on the history of the development of Standards for Australian Pharmacy at this year’s Pharmacy Australia Congress 17 October.
Undergraduate education in pharmacy history from discipline to disease
Typically pharmacists have been
taught through the disciplines such as pharmaceutical chemistry, pharmaceutics etc., but a change towards focusing on disease is emerging as a likely way ahead. It has been a continuing aim of our Academy to promote the teaching, knowledge and
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Ross Brown, President
Editorial swan song!
Well folks this is where the journey ends, for me at least. Despite numerous pleas for some one else
to wear the green eye shade, we will have to find another way to keep
the profession of pharmacy aware
of its history and its achievements. This issue has been expanded to 40 pages which enables us to give you two issues wrapped into one for Christmas reading. Whilst it has been a labour of love over the past 12 years to produce 37 issues of Pharmacy History Australia, there are credits due also to a number of people who have contributed to the network of expertise that has been harnessed
to help make available a greater awareness of the history of pharmacy in Australia.
The President of the Australian Academy of the History of Pharmacy, Ross Brown and his predecessor Keith Smith, have never failed to give support. The management committee involved Radley West, Catherine Bartho, Peter Lynch and Ralph Tapping.
I am very grateful for their contribution as I am for the members who supported us with their subscriptions.
The corpus of knowledge that has been gathered from international involvement by our Academy will still be available to all Australian pharmacists or historians, you only have to ask.
Cheers for now,
Geoff Miller, Editor
Editor’s note
Contributions from members are always welcome, especially family histories of pharmacists.
volume 5 no 37 NOVEMBER 2009 Pharmacy History Australia 3