Rohan Greenland: I think so, but it was before my time. One of the previous presidents had dabbled, but it was Brendan who emphatically picked it up and ran with it, particularly at critical times such as with warnings on cigarette packs. At the Press Club he famously held up in one hand a packet of Ratsak, with its warning that it kills rats and mice, and a cigarette packet in the other, where you couldn’t see any warnings. He was terrific, and did it with great passion.

Kathy Barnsley: I’d like to pay tribute to the Heart Foundation for bringing James Repace[205] to Australia, and particularly to Tasmania. He made a huge impact and turned around the union movement which had been opposed to doing anything about smoking (in the workplace). He completely turned around the union officials and that turned around the debate on smokefree areas.

Lyn Roberts: Mike, you were probably head of the Heart Foundation Education Committee with Judy Finn[206] at that time. And I think he (James Repace) went to every state.

Mike Daube: No I don’t think I was at that stage. I think Judy gets credit for that.

While talking heart and strong CEOs, and the names of some of them escape me. Cancer at various stages, but Heart Foundation has always had a leading role right from the days of Ralph Reader.[207] It’s always been strong in this area and has had some great people working for it.

Lyn Roberts: Some of the early things that the Heart Foundation started doing about passive smoking, and people such as Paul Magnus, who’s retired now, have been important.

Simon Chapman: Thinking about other people who came out. Stan Glantz came out several times and did fantastically well in the media on a variety of issues.

Do you remember the Winston man[208] who came out? He’s gone over to the dark side again.

And there was the woman, Janet Sackman.[209]

Ron Borland: Jeff Wigand.[210]

Kathy Barnsley: Victor de Noble.[211]

Trish Cotter: In the early days I remember Kjell Bjartveit[212] coming and talking about the ban on tobacco advertising in Norway.

Ron Borland: Another very important visitor was Judith Mackay.[213]

David Hill: We should try to enrich this list of people who’ve come out to Australia and had an important strategic impact.

Ann Westmore: Talking of strategic impact, today has been a wonderful day in bringing out some important stories and lessons that could benefit a wider audience. It’s a wonderful achievement of VicHealth to facilitate this Witness seminar and Caroline’s done a terrific job, managing the whole thing from behind the scenes. We’ll now cross to Jerril for some final words.

Figure 7

Jerril Rechter, CEO of VicHealth. Image courtesy of VicHealth.

Jerril Rechter: I’m sorry I couldn’t be here this morning to thank everyone for coming, It’s great to be able to say it now, having heard people share their incredible stories.

I’ve heard a couple of comments about how some of you may have to go back into therapy after reliving the trauma. Others had a twinkle in the eye, remembering the journey. Others have heard about things that were happening that they were unaware of.

So a warm thank-you, including to Ann who has been a pleasure to work with. It’s been a long day, but it’s taken time to unravel the many layers of the journey.

Witness to the History of Australian Medicine