Oral histories

The Geoffrey Kaye Museum of Anaesthetic History in Melbourne is one of the largest and most diverse collections of its type in the world. It showcases more than 170 years of advances in anaesthesia and pain medicine through a combination of physical and online exhibitions. The original collection was gifted to what is now the Australian and New Zealand College of Anaesthetists (ANZCA) in 1956 by Melbourne anaesthetist Dr Geoffrey Kaye. In this video, Dr Kaye talks to Dr John Paull about practicing anaesthesia in the 1920s and '30s.​

Dr John Paull interviews Dr Geoffrey Kaye for the ANZCA Oral Histories Project

As a foundation fellow of FPM, and inaugural board member, Dr Leigh Atkinson has had a significant influence on the development of the specialty. In 2002 he was elected dean of the faculty. Atkinson has a special interest in the non-interventional approach to managing persistent pain. 

Dr Briscoe completed training in anaesthesia in 1982 and her career in pain medicine began in 1984. She was a foundation fellow of the Faculty of Pain Medicine. Dr Briscoe was first elected to the board of the faculty in 2000, she was chair of the examination committee from 2000 to 2008, and then, in 2008, was the first woman elected dean of the faculty.

Dr Penelope Briscoe, AM talks with Dr Gretel Davidson about her career in pain medicine

Professor Macintyre was a foundation fellow of the fledgling faculty, and a member of the inaugural board. Graduating from medicine at the University of Tasmania in 1974, Professor Macintyre followed that up with a fellowship in anaesthesia in 1981 and a Master of Health Administration at the University of New South Wales. She was the acute pain lead for curriculum redevelopments for ANZCA, as well as being involved in initial curriculum development for the Faculty of Pain Medicine.

Professor Pamela Macintyre talks to Dr Gretel Davidson about her career in pain medicine

Professor Alan Merry arrived in New Zealand from Zimbabwe, then known as Rhodesia, in 1979. Professor Merry was to go on to make major contributions to anaesthesia, particularly in medico-legal and academic spheres. In this interview, ANZCA’s immediate past president, Dr Vanessa Beavis, talks with Professor Merry about some of the major milestones of his incredible career.

Dr Vanessa Beavis interviews Professor Alan Merry for the ANZCA Oral Histories Project

Dr Michael Cooper is a senior anaesthetist at the Children’s Hospital in Westmead and St George Hospital Sydney. He is also adjunct professor of anaesthesiology at the School of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Papua New Guinea and makes regular trips to Papua New Guinea. He has been actively involved in the World Federation of Societies of Anaesthesiologists and is currently chair of the paediatric committee.

Dr Christine Ball interviews Dr Michael Cooper for the ANZCA Oral Histories Project

This interview discusses extreme violence and personal experiences of post-traumatic stress disorder, and may trigger an anxiety response. Please consider this before viewing or sharing this content.

Dr Alex Douglas is an anaesthetist, an intensivist, and an active member of the Australian Defence Force. Her deployment to Rwanda, early in her career, saw her awarded the prestigious Medal for Gallantry, but had many other consequences, both professional and personal. It may be a difficult interview to watch but it carries an important message for all healthcare professionals about the need to be mindful of their own - and their colleagues’ - mental health.

Dr Christine Ball interviews Dr Alex Douglas for the ANZCA Oral Histories Project

This interview discusses personal experiences of post-traumatic stress disorder, and may trigger an anxiety response. Please consider this before viewing or sharing this content.

Associate Professor David M Scott is an anaesthetist and a reservist in the Royal Australian Air Force. He’s also a past president of the Australian Society of Anaesthetists (ASA). He has had many deployments overseas, to Bougainville, the Solomon Islands, East Timor and Afghanistan. His role in the tsunami relief effort in Indonesia in 2004, saw him awarded a meritorious service citation by the NSW government but it also had a profound emotional effect on him. In this deeply personal interview, he discusses his military and civilian careers, his contributions to the ASA, and the importance of caring for your mental health and that of your colleagues.

Dr Christine Ball interviews Associate Professor David M Scott for the ANZCA Oral Histories Project

In 1992, the Faculty of Anaesthetists separated from the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons to form a College. This came about because of the commitment and dedication of the board members of the time, a group of people with the energy and enthusiasm to make it happen. Dr Peter Livingstone was the dean of the board of the faculty at the time, and therefore became the first president of the college of anaesthetists. He played a pivotal role in the journey of the college and he is interviewed here by the former president, Professor David A Scott.

Professor David A Scott interviews Professor Peter Livingstone for the ANZCA Oral Histories Project

Dr Felicity Hawker trained in both anaesthesia and intensive care. She has contributed at every level of education and training in intensive care medicine, and served on numerous committees. She was the last dean of the Faculty of Intensive Care Medicine and the first dean of the Joint Faculty of Intensive Care Medicine, having been instrumental in bringing together these two separate training programs, a union which has ultimately to lead to the College of Intensive Care Medicine which formed in 2008.

Dr Christine Ball interviews Dr Felicity Hawker for the ANZCA Oral Histories Project

Professor Michael Cousins was the first dean of the Faculty of Pain Medicine when it formed in 1998. This remains the only faculty in the world to bring together five specialties into one training program. He subsequently served as the president of ANZCA from 2004-2006. We are honoured to be able to record his extensive contributions and the important role of the Faculty of Pain Medicine during the 25th year of ANZCA.

Professor David A Scott interviews Professor Michael Cousins for the ANZCA Oral Histories Project

Professor Bill Runciman has made fundamental contributions to patient safety and quality research in Australia and internationally, and has been involved in the publication of more than 200 scientific papers and chapters. In 2008 Professor Runciman was awarded the Pugh Award of the Australian Society of Anaesthetists in recognition of his outstanding contribution to the science of anaesthesia, intensive care or related disciplines.

Dr Christine Ball interviews Professor Bill Runciman for the ANZCA Oral Histories Project

Dr Patricia Mackay, OAM, made an outstanding contribution to the Australian community for more than 50 years with her work in the field of patient safety in anaesthesia and served as chair of the Victorian Consultative Council on Anaesthetic Mortality and Morbidity (VCCAMM) from 1991 until 2005. Dr Mackay received many accolades including the ANZCA Medal, the Australian Medical Association Women in Medicine Award, and a Medal of the Order of Australia in 2008.

Dr Christine Ball interviews Dr Patricia Mackay for the ANZCA Oral Histories Project

Professor Tess Cramond held many significant positions, including dean of the Faculty of Anaesthetists, Royal Australasian College of Surgeons and president of the Australian Medical Association (AMA). She received many accolades, including the Gilbert Brown Prize, an order of the British Empire and an Officer of the Order of Australia, an Advance Australia Award, a Red Cross Long Service Award and the AMA Women in Medicine Award.

Dr John Hains interviews Professor Tess Cramond for the ANZCA Oral Histories Project

Professor Ross Holland retired in 2013 from the Special Committee Investigating Deaths Under Anaesthesia (SCIDUA) having been a member since its inception, and was largely responsible for its establishment. This committee is acknowledged internationally as the most experienced body in the field. In 1992, he was awarded the Robert Orton Medal for his contribution to anaesthesia.

Dr Christine Ball interviews Professor Ross Holland for the ANZCA Oral Histories Project

Dr Duncan Campbell invented the Campbell ventilator in 1973, a ventilator that became extremely popular in Australia and New Zealand. In 2011, he was awarded the Robert Orton Medal for his contribution to anaesthesia.

Dr Christine Ball interviews Dr Duncan Campbell for the ANZCA Oral Histories Project

Dr Nerida Dilworth devoted her career to establishing outstanding paediatric anaesthesia in Western Australia, ensuring the reputation of Princess Margaret Hospital as a leading children’s hospital. She was a tireless contributor to the College and received many awards including a Member of the Order of Australia and the inaugural Australian Society of Anaesthetists (ASA) Medal for significant contributions to anaesthesia. The Western Australian branch of the ASA awards a registrar prize annually in her name.

Dr Walter Thompson interviews Dr Nerida Dilworth for the ANZCA Oral Histories Project

Dr John Williamson was a country GP in far north Queensland before becoming a specialist in anaesthesia and intensive care. As a specialist he became involved with specialists from many disciplines in the area of marine envenomation and he’s been responsible for the definitive textbook on the subject Venomous and Poisonous Marine Creatures. An interest in hyperbaric medicine lead to a career change and a move to Adelaide. In Adelaide he became an associate professor and the director of the Diving and Hyperbaric Medicine Unit. He made important contributions to the Australian Patient Safety Foundation and to the anaesthesia incident monitoring service.

Dr Christine Ball interviews Dr John Williamson for the ANZCA Oral Histories Project

In this video, two founding members of the Welfare of Anaesthetists Special Interest Group - Dr Di Khursandi and Dr Genevieve Goulding - talk to Dr Christine Ball.

Dr Christine Ball interviews Dr Di Khursandi and Dr Genevieve Goulding for the ANZCA Oral Histories Project