Celebrating 40 years of advocacy in action

The Australian Council on Smoking and Health celebrated 40 years of advocacy on November 17, 2011. Chaired by Professor Mike Daube, the morning forum took place at the University of Western Australia's Club Banquet Hall and was attended by over 100 guests.

His Excellency, Mr. Malcolm McCusker AO, CVO, QC, Patron of ACOSH, opened the forum, followed by a Welcome to Country provided by Richard Wilkes and an overview of tobacco control presented by Kim Snowball, Director General of the Department of Health WA.

ACOSH used the opportunity to present the Bob Elphick Medal, awarded annually to an individual who has made an outstanding contribution to tobacco control in WA. The 2011 Medal was presented to Dr. Mal Washer, a highly regarded general practitioner who has seen the first hand tragedies of preventable death and disease caused by smoking. Now a Federal Member of Parliament for Moore, Dr. Washer has been a strong supporter of tobacco control, as well as other health objectives, and more recently, has played a crucial role in ensuring all-party support for plain packaging.

The forum was addressed by Professor Bruce Armstrong, (Professor of Public Health, University of Sydney) who attended the inaugural meeting of ACOSH on November 17, 1971, and who was able to provide a background and history into the founding of ACOSH. Professor Kingsley Faulkner (Director of Clinical Teaching, University of Notre Dame) reflected on the impact of smoking in his medical practice, outlining highlights of tobacco control over the past 40 years. Maurice Swanson (Chief Executive Officer of the WA Heart Foundation) provided the background and story of tobacco control since 1971.

Mr Rex Lungz, VP Corporate Affairs, Big Tobacco Company of the World (played by Jon Doust) gave an entertaining plea for us to all just get along, in a speech made up entirely of actual and outrageous Big Tobacco Quotes. Professor Melanie Wakefield (Director of the Centre for Behavioral Research in Cancer, Cancer Council Victoria) presented on the research and findings behind what influences adults and children and Mr. Peter Gordon (Director of Gordon Legal in Melbourne) outlined legal approaches - what we have learned and how to apply those learnings. To close the forum, Professor Simon Chapman (Professor of Public Health, University of Sydney) did some educated crystal ball gazing to paint a picture of the end of smoking.

PowerPoint presentations from the event can be viewed below:

Professor Bruce Armstrong - There at the beginning of it all


Professor Kingsley Faulkner - Medical reflections


Mr Maurice Swanson - The story - what has happened since 1971?


Professor Melanie Wakefield - What influences adults and children?


Professor Simon Chapman - The end of smoking

More photos from the event!