Over 250,000 Australians say “thank you”

Minister for Science and Medical Research, Frank Sartor, has congratulated all Australians who have said “thank you” in the national celebration of health and medical research, Thank You Day, held on 14 November 2006.

“Over 250 thousand Australians have sent messages of thanks to the researchers in our community who are working behind the scenes to improve our health and save lives,” said Mr Sartor. “These heartfelt messages of support show that medical research has a profound effect on families and individuals. The NSW Government is proud to support Research Australia’s Thank You Day campaign, which highlights the human impact of research and provides encouragement to researchers to continue the long quest for understanding and discovery,” said Mr Sartor.

Thank You Day was launched at Sydney’s Garvan Institute for Medical Research, the culmination of a month long tour across Australia promoting support and appreciation for the nation’s scientists and medical researchers. Speakers at the launch included Ron Delezio, whose five-year-old daughter Sophie was badly burnt in an accident three years ago. Mr Delezio spoke of how advances in burns technology made recovery possible for Sophie. Mr Delezio said Sophie would almost certainly have died if her accident had occurred only six months earlier.

Also present was Sue Pieters-Hawke, whose mother Hazel Hawke was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s Disease. While there is currently no cure, there have been many recent developments in understanding Alzheimer’s, and how it may be prevented. The great hope of her mother, Ms Pieters-Hawke said, was that her grandchildren would never know the disease.

As well as acknowledging the tremendous and inspiring work of countless researchers around the country, well known figures such as Sir Gus Nossal, former NSW Premier Neville Wran, and ABC broadcaster Norman Swan were presented with awards for their longstanding contributions to working in, supporting, and communicating medical research.

Each of them used the occasion to praise the commitment and dedication of young researchers, who are now leading the way. To these and all other health and medical researchers working for the greater good, Australia says “thank you”.