Emeritus Members

Past Treasurer (2011-2013) Peter Hurly has served in both the New Zealand Army and Royal New Zealand Air Force as a uniformed and civilian medical officer in a variety of roles since 1990, with a particular emphasis on aviation medicine, having also served as an Active Citizen Force (Territorial) officer in the South African Defence Force. As the first formally trained aviation medicine specialist in the RNZAF, he has been at the forefront of developments in this field and influenced much of the aviation medicine policy that supports current air operations. The period 2002 to 2005 saw a reduction in the size of the Air Force medical establishment and during this time he was the only serving RNZAF doctor. He single-handedly maintained a medical service supported by a small staff. From 2005 to 2013 he served as the Director of Air Force Medicine, during which time he re-established the medical trade in the RNZAF and rebuilt the capacity of the Air Force medical system. He has been active in the Air Space Interoperability Council, serving for many years as the Head of Delegation for New Zealand for the Air Space Medicine Group. He is a Council member of the Australasian Military Medicine Association and served as treasurer in the past. For many years he has been a Civil Aviation Authority medical examiner. Dr Hurly continues to support RNZAF operations at Ohakea as a civilian medical officer and member of the Active Reserve.

Dr Nader Abou-Seif was Foundation Vice President of AMMA from June 1991 to May 1995 before becoming President and serving from June 1995 to October 2000. Currently Dr Abou-Seif is Vice President and Conference Convenor of AMMA and has held the latter role in 20 of AMMA’s conferences since 1992. He served in the permanent RAAF until 1990, and has since continued his involvement with the RAAF Reserve. He is now a Member and the Australian Head of Delegation at the Air Force Interoperability Council (AFIC) – Aerospace Medicine Group. At the 2022 AGM he was nominated and voted to the position of Emeritus Member of AMMA in recognition of the significant contribution he has made to Military and Veterans’ Health and his service to the Association since its inception.

Associate Professor Norton Duckmanton OAM was a distinguished Australian prosthodontist and World War II veteran, renowned for his extensive contributions to both dentistry and veteran welfare. His remarkable career spanned several decades, during which he significantly influenced dental education and practice.Duckmanton’s academic journey began at Sydney Dental Hospital in 1948, culminating in his graduation in 1951. He subsequently served as a registrar and later as a visiting professor in prosthodontics at Northwestern University Dental School in Chicago. Throughout his career, he mentored countless students and practitioners, fostering advancements in prosthodontics. His leadership roles included inaugural president of the Australian Osseointegration Society, with life membership conferred in 2015, and membership in esteemed organizations such as the Academy of Australia and New Zealand Prosthodontists, the Australian Prosthodontic Society (life member since 2012), the Academy of Osseointegration, the American Prosthodontic Society, the International Academy of Prosthodontics, the Pierre Fauchard Academy, and the Australian Military Medicine Association.

Beyond dentistry, Duckmanton was deeply committed to supporting veterans and their families. His dedication was recognized with the Reserve Forces Oration in 1990 and the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) in 2007. After a career marked by service and excellence, he retired from his position at Sydney Dental Hospital at the age of 88, leaving a legacy of compassion and professionalism.

Brigadier Anne Campbell holds the distinction of being the first woman in the New Zealand Army to attain the rank of Brigadier. Her groundbreaking promotion marked a significant milestone in the New Zealand Defence Force, paving the way for greater gender representation within its senior ranks.Throughout her illustrious career, Brigadier Campbell demonstrated exceptional leadership and dedication to military medicine. In recognition of her services, she was appointed a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit (MNZM) in the 1998 New Year Honours. Even after her retirement, her legacy continues to inspire; the Defence Health School (DHS) honoured her contributions by naming a new teaching space after her, underscoring her lasting impact on military health education.

Major General William Brian “Digger” James AC, AO (Mil), MBE, MC, FRACS (14 May 1930 – 16 October 2015) was a distinguished Australian soldier and military physician, renowned for his exemplary service and dedication to both his country and the medical profession. Born in Shepparton, Victoria, he earned the nickname “Digger” in infancy when his father placed a slouch hat on his head. He attended the Royal Military College, Duntroon, graduating in 1951.During the Korean War, as a platoon commander with the 1st Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment, Lieutenant James led a patrol on 7 November 1952 that encountered a minefield, resulting in severe injuries, including the loss of his left foot. Demonstrating exceptional leadership, he organized the evacuation of his men before attending to his own injuries, actions for which he was awarded the Military Cross.

Undeterred by his injuries, James pursued a medical degree at the University of Sydney, graduating in 1963. He rejoined the Army as a medical officer, serving with distinction in the Vietnam War as the commanding officer of the 8th Field Ambulance and Senior Medical Officer of the 1st Australian Task Force from 1968 to 1969, earning the Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) for his service. He rose to the rank of Major General, serving as Director General of Army Health Services from 1981 until his retirement in 1985.

In retirement, Major General James continued to serve the veteran community, notably as National President of the Returned and Services League (RSL) from 1993 to 1997, and as Chairman of the Council of the Australian War Memorial. His lifelong commitment to service was recognized with numerous honors, including appointment as a Companion of the Order of Australia (AC) in 1998.

Commodore Peter Graeme Habersberger AM, RFD, RANR, is a distinguished Australian cardiologist and senior naval officer with a career spanning both medical and military fields. Graduating with a Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery from the University of Melbourne, he earned honours in physiology, bacteriology, medicine, and surgery. He is a Fellow of the Royal Australasian College of Physicians and the Cardiac Society of Australia and New Zealand, and an Associate Fellow of the Australasian College of Aerospace Medicine.In his medical practice, Commodore Habersberger serves as a general cardiologist in Melbourne, specializing in managing a wide range of cardiac issues, including chest pain, shortness of breath, and palpitations. His professional experience includes roles such as Consultant Cardiologist at Cabrini Health, Visiting Physician and Cardiologist at The Alfred Hospital, and Clinical Teacher at Monash University School of Medicine. He has also contributed to the aviation sector as a Consultant Cardiologist to the Civil Aviation Safety Authority.

Parallel to his medical career, Commodore Habersberger has had a notable tenure with the Royal Australian Navy Reserve. He has held positions including Assistant Surgeon General, Navy, and Consultant Cardiologist to the Surgeon General of the Australian Defence Forces. His service extended to international duties, such as serving as a Specialist Medical Officer at the United Nations Hospital in Dili, East Timor. In recognition of his exceptional service, particularly in integrating members of the Australian Naval Reserve, he was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) in the 1997 Australia Day Honours.

“Sandy” Ferguson graduated in Medicine at Melbourne University in 1942 and following his residency at The Alfred Hospital was commissioned as a Surgeon Lieutenant in the Royal Australian Naval Reserve in 1943. Prior to studying medicine he had tried to commence a naval career and having been accepted to join the Naval College at the age of 13 found his career cut short when the Commonwealth Government closed the College as an economy measure.Following a short period at HMAS CERBERUS he was posted to HMAS MANOORA, an infantry landing ship and saw active service in the South West Pacific taking part in the landings at Rabaul, Leyte, Lingayen Gulf and Balikpapan.

He continued his naval service following WW2 in the Naval Reserve and was promoted to Surgeon Captain in 1968. He served as the District Naval Medical officer at HMAS LONSDALE until its closure in the early 1990s and then continued seeing patients at HMAS CERBERUS on a weekly basis.

At the end of WW2 he was appointed Medical Superintendent of the Alfred Hospital and Honorary Anaesthetist at Prince Henry’s, the Royal Women’s and the Repatriation General Hospital at Heidelberg.

“Sandy” had a lifetime association with the Hawthorn Football Club. His father, Tom, played for the club and “Sandy” joined as the club’s medical officer in 1950. He was President of that club from 1952 to 1967. His 15 year tenure as President was recognized at Hawthorn with the opening of a stand at their Glenferrie home ground and named the “A.S.Ferguson Stand” by the Governor of Victoria in 1968.

Sandy was very active in the ex-service community and was President of the Naval Association of Australia from 1975 until 1990. He led the Melbourne Anzac Day march in 1992.

He was an Honorary Life Member of the Australian Military Medicine Association, the Victorian Football League, the Hawthorn Football Club, the Naval Association of Australia and the Melbourne Naval Centre. He was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia in 1989.

Dr. John Charles Lane AM (1918–1999) was a pioneering figure in Australian aviation medicine and a notable contributor to road safety. Born in Sydney, he attended Scots College before enrolling in the University of Sydney, where he initially studied science and later transferred to medicine, graduating with honors in 1941.During World War II, Dr. Lane served as a Medical Officer in the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF). His postings included No. 3 Operational Training Unit and No. 20 Squadron (Catalinas), where he researched crew fatigue in long-range flying operations and explored the effects of low-dose Benzedrine to combat this issue. His findings led to his appointment as Officer-in-Charge of High Altitude Training Units and later as Flying Personnel Medical Officer with Training Command.

After the war, Dr. Lane became the inaugural Director of Aviation Medicine in the Department of Civil Aviation, a position he held from 1947 to 1982. His tenure was marked by significant contributions to air safety, including his role as a medical monitor in the U.S. manned spaceflight programs, notably Projects Mercury and Gemini, earning him recognition as a ‘Space Surgeon’ by the USAF.

In addition to his aviation work, Dr. Lane was a pioneer in road safety. He introduced the concept of ‘crashworthiness’ and was instrumental in establishing vehicle safety standards in Australia. His efforts led to life-saving developments in both aviation and automotive sectors, such as the installation of overturn trusses on crop-dusting aircraft, enhancing pilot survival rates in crashes.

Dr. Lane’s academic pursuits included earning a Master of Public Health from Harvard University in 1957. He was actively involved with Monash University as an Associate at the Accident Research Centre and an Honorary Lecturer in the Department of Social and Preventative Medicine. His professional affiliations were extensive, including fellowships with the Royal Aeronautical Society and the U.S. Aerospace Medical Association, from which he received the J.H. Tamisiea Award. In 1985, he was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia for his services to aviation medicine and road safety standards.

Dr. Lane passed away in late January 1999 after a short illness. His legacy as the Father of Australian Aviation Medicine endures, reflecting his vision and dedication to the field over five decades.

Vivienne Bullwinkel (1915–2000) was an Australian nurse, army officer, and war hero, best known as the sole survivor of the 1942 Bangka Island massacre during World War II. Born in Kapunda, South Australia, she trained as a nurse and midwife before joining the Australian Army Nursing Service in 1941.During the war, Bullwinkel was stationed in Singapore when the city fell to the Japanese. She and 64 other nurses attempted to escape by ship, but their vessel was attacked and sunk. Stranded on Bangka Island, the group surrendered to Japanese forces. In a horrific war crime, the Japanese soldiers ordered the nurses into the sea and opened fire. Bullwinkel was the only survivor, feigning death despite being shot. She later hid in the jungle before surrendering and enduring over three years in a prisoner-of-war camp, where she continued to care for fellow captives.

After the war, she became a prominent advocate for nurses and veterans, testifying at war crime trials and serving in various leadership roles in nursing organizations. She was awarded the Florence Nightingale Medal and made an Officer of the Order of Australia for her contributions to healthcare and veteran support. Her courage and resilience made her a symbol of strength and compassion in Australian history.

Sir Edward “Weary” Dunlop (1907–1993) was an Australian surgeon, soldier, and war hero, renowned for his leadership and medical expertise during World War II. Born in Wangaratta, Victoria, he studied pharmacy before pursuing medicine at the University of Melbourne, where he excelled in both academics and sports, becoming the first Victorian to play rugby for Australia.During World War II, Dunlop served in the Australian Army Medical Corps and was captured by Japanese forces in 1942. He was imprisoned in the infamous Changi prison and later sent to work on the Thai-Burma Railway, where he became a symbol of resilience and compassion. As a commanding officer and surgeon, he provided critical medical care to fellow prisoners of war, often risking his life to protect them from brutal treatment.

After the war, Dunlop dedicated his life to medicine, veteran advocacy, and humanitarian work, particularly in Southeast Asia. He was knighted in 1969 for his services to medicine and veterans. His legacy lives on as a national hero, remembered for his courage, selflessness, and commitment to helping others.