Page 2 - Pharmacy History 32 July 2007

A note from the eTditor’s desk
o the astute observer, this edition of Pharmacy History Australia will seem a little
thinner than usual, as we are reverting to 16 pages and one colour as an austerity measure to try and build up the Academy finances.
The cost of publishing three issues a year exceeds our membership income quite considerably, so to keep faith with our readers and produce an informative and interesting journal at a reasonable cost, we have had to make these hard decisions.
It is important to keep your pharmacy stories coming to the editor, especially those related to Australian pharmacy as the journal is being used quite extensively by students through the CTWeb network used by Australian universities, as well as from the history link on the PSA website www.psa.org. au.
This edition has some interesting ‘aromatic’ stories about old time Australian remedies that have now almost disappeared from home medicine cupboards.
In addition, Queensland would seem to be the flavour of this issue, as we feature another family dynasty of pharmacists, the Delahuntys. I hope you also enjoy the contributions from Radley West and his son Brendan.
Geoff Miller
Editor
President’s column
The Australian Academy of Pharmacy History
WThere to from here?
his Academy was formed in 1996 with an important objective of bringing together the existing Australian State Chapters of Pharmacy History. This objective was readily achieved and State Chapters were
absorbed into the newly formed national body, The Australian Academy of Pharmacy History.
Other objectives
The Academy commenced with high ideals and aims. Chief among these were objectives to:
• Foster interest, research, knowledge, understanding and appreciation of
pharmacy history and pharmacy in history.
• Promote the collection, preservation and use of all sources of the profession’s
history and maintain a register of historical materials.
• Work towards the preservation and re-creation of heritage pharmacies and the
establishment of pharmacy areas in museums.
• Foster the teaching and study of pharmacy history in undergraduate and
continuing pharmacy education.
• Facilitate the preservation and publication of original historical papers, reviews
and documents.
• Sponsor or participate in conferences, meetings, exhibitions and displays.
• Confer awards for outstanding achievement in the field.
• Affiliate or co-operate with other organizations with an interest in heritage and
history.
• Raise funds for the attainment of these objectives and related activities.
• Engage in other activities compatible with the above objects as determined by
the Academy.
Current situation
It has been relatively difficult for the Academy to pursue all these objectives. For example, while we enjoy excellent co-operation from the academics at the 17 Pharmacy Schools across Australia, it is very difficult to find appropriate personnel to conduct work-shops and provide lectures on pharmacy history for pharmacy undergraduates.
Indeed resources of our Academy both financial and personnel, are fully stretched to publish three issues per year of our journal Pharmacy History Australia. There
is so much more we could and should be doing that
one comes to the conclusion that we are seriously
under resourced. To address this under resourcing problem your Academy executive is assessing a number of options. One of these is to reduce the frequency of publication of our Journal; another is to merge with a like minded organization, where our combined strength would benefit all members. If you have views on this matter please contact me or our National Secretary Geoff Miller.
THANKS FROM THE TREASURER go to the past members who have renewed their subscriptions and have helped ease the financial pressure considerably.
Editor’s note
Contributions from members are always welcome, especially family histories of pharmacists.
Ross Brown, President
2 ■ Pharmacy History Australia
volume 3 ■ no 33 ■ NOVEMBER 2007