Retired anaesthetist Dr John Paull, of Lanena, has been saving a bottle of champagne for a special occasion.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
But with the news he's been awarded a medal of the Order of Australia for service to medicine and to history, the 84-year-old said today would be the day he finally pops the cork.
"I was pretty amazed. I had no idea it was coming and I still can't believe that it's actually happened," he said.
"I am 84 now, so I am well out of my career period. But it means that the governor general and his committee have recognised what I did when I was working."
Dr Paull's career as an anaesthetist spanned more than four decades, from the 1960s until his retirement in 2007.
In that time he fulfilled many distinguished roles, including the director of anaesthetics and operating services at Box Hill Hospital, chairman of the Victorian Consultative Council on Anaesthetic Mortality and Morbidity from 1983-1990, and chairman of the Working Party on Anaesthetic Mortality, National Health and Medical Research Council from 1987-1990.
He was also a consultant sessional anaesthetist at the Launceston General Hospital from 1999 until his retirement, and convenor of the Anaesthetic Department Morbidity and Mortality Review Program from 2004-2005.
He also held numerous positions with the Australian and New Zealand College of Anaesthetists and the Asian and Oceanic Society of Regional Anaesthesia and Pain Medicine.
But it was in his retirement that Dr Paull dived deeper into his second passion - history.
Most notably through his involvement with the LGH Historical Committee where he has been a member for the past decade.
It was here that he unearthed the remarkable story of anaesthetist William Pugh, who was in Launceston when he provided the first anaesthetic for a surgery in Australia in 1847.
Dr Paull went on to publish two books on the topic - most notably Not just an Anaesthetist: The remarkable life of Dr William Russ Pugh MD.
He also continues to convene the Pugh Day Lecture Program, in conjunction with the Launceston Historical Society.
Looking back on his career, Dr Paull said he was most proud to have paved the way for other anaesthetists, including training roles with the Faculty of Anaesthetists.
"I was their indication officer for Australia and South East Asia. So I was responsible for training anaesthetists in Malaysia and Singapore, as well as in Australia and New Zealand," he said.
"It was a very big task, but very rewarding."
Our journalists work hard to provide local, up-to-date news to the community. This is how you can continue to access our trusted content:
- Bookmark www.examiner.com.au
- Make sure you are signed up for our breaking and regular headlines newsletters
- Follow us on Twitter: @examineronline
- Follow us on Instagram: @examineronline
- Follow us on Google News: The Examiner