AGY-4581 | New South Wales Medical Research Council

Full description

The NSW Medical Research Council met for the first time on 18 September 1946. The Council was estabished by the Government to promote medical research on a systematic and co-ordinated basis, with the objectives of:

1) carrying out a survey of medical research at present being conducted in New South Wales;

2) advising the Government of New South Wales as to - (a) the expenditure of money upon medical research generally; (b) such other matters concerning medical research as the Council may from time to time determine; (c) the merits of reputed cures or methods of treatment which are from time to time referred to the Council by the Minister for Health.(1)

The New South Wales Medical Research Council consisted of the following members representing hospitals, professional bodies, and major public health organisations: Dr A.H. Tebbutt, Royal Australasian College of Physicians; Dr H.R.G. Poate, Royal Australasian College of Surgeons; Professor H.K. Ward, Faculty of Medicine, Sydney University; Dr E.S. Wallace, Faculty of Dentistry, Sydney University; Dr W.F. Simmons, State Council of British Medical Association; Dr C.G. McDonald, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital; Dr A.C. Telfer, Sydney Hospital; Dr V.M. Coppleson, St Vincent’s Hospital; Dr W.W. Ingram, Royal North Shore Hospital; Dr A.E. Platt, Prince Henry Hospital; Dr Lorimer Dodds, Royal Alexandra Hospital for Children; Dr Alan Grant, Women’s Hospital; Dr H.A. Ridler, Royal Hospital for Women; Dr N.E. Goldsworthy, Dental Hospital of Sydney; Dr E.S. Morris, Department of Health; Dr A.B. Lilley, Hospitals Commission; Mr C.J. Watt, State Government. The Minister for Health appointed Mr C.J. Watt as Chairman and Dr A.B. Lilley as Deputy Chairman.(2)

At the Council’s first meeting, an Executive Committee was appointed for a period of twelve months to facilitate the work of the full Council. The Executive Committee consisted of the Chairman, Deputy Chairman, Professor Ward, Dr Tebbutt, Dr Goldsworthy, Dr Ingram, and Dr Telfer.(3) The first function of the Executive Committee was to carry out a survey of research at present being conducted in New South Wales and to submit a report to Council. Information on research projected in the immediate future by the various hospitals and organisations throughout New South Wales was also to be collated.

The Executive Committee decided the following information would be sought on current medical research: nature of research work, when commenced and probable period of duration, employee information, available facilities, sources and amounts of moneys available for research. Information sought on future research included: nature of projected work and probable period of duration; workers; level of facilities available and any additional facilities that may be required.(4)

The second meeting of the Executive Committee of the Council held on 20 November 1946 recommended the Council should be incorporated by an Act of Parliament and the Committee should submit a report embodying its views as to what the powers, authorities, duties and functions of the NSW Medical Research Council should be. The Committee recommended the Council should be constituted as follows:

1) one member nominated by the Senate of the University of Sydney on the advice of the Faculty of Medicine and one member on the advice of the Faculty of Dentistry;
2) one member nominated by the Royal Australasian College of Physicians;
3) one member nominated by the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons;
4) one member nominated by the NSW Branch of the British Medical Association;
5) a member of the Hospitals Commission of NSW;
6) a person nominated by the Minister to represent the Government;
7) such other members not exceeding four in number co-opted by the Council because of their knowledge of, and experience in, medical and dental research.(5)

The minutes of the second meeting end with the statement that the next meeting of the New South Wales Medical Council "would be convened as soon as the Executive Committee had completed its deliberations". The last extant Minutes of the Executive Committee are for the meeting on 13 January 1947 and it is not known if the Council continued beyond this date.


Endnotes
1. Minutes of the NSW Medical Research Council, 18 September 1946, State Records reference 5/5842.
2. loc. cit..
3. loc. cit.
4. Minutes of the Executive Committee of the NSW Medical Research Council, 25 September 1946, p1, SR reference 5/5843.
5. Minutes of the Executive Committee of the NSW Medical Research Council, 4 December 1946, p5, 5/5843.