Past Council Members

Ms Rachelle Bonner is a toxicologist and environmental risk assessor educated at the University of Sydney and RMIT University in Melbourne. Her career within Defence has included Senior Departmental Liaison Officer to the Minister for Defence, Director of the Defence Centre for Occupational Health and Safety, occupational medicine, personnel operations in Army and HQJOC, and Commissions and Boards of Inquiry for CDF. Rachelle is a CBRN Medical Officer who has lectured on Toxic Industrial Chemicals on this course and on Injury Prevention and Risk Assessment at the ADF PTI School.

Past President (2009-2017) Greg is a conjoint senior lecturer at the Centre of Military and Veterans Health at the University of Queensland, where he is undertook his PhD in dental risk in the military environment. Greg has a number of published papers on dental casualty rates in the military, dental anaesthesiology, dental risk management, oral health quality of life, dental caries and lifetime fluoridation exposure. As a member of the Air Force Specialist Reserve, Greg provides specialist support to the ADF in the areas of dental epidemiology and dental sedation. In 2008, he was promoted to Group Captain and is currently the Clinical Director of Specialist Health Services.

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.

Past Treasurer (2010-2011) Dr Neil Westphalen graduated from Adelaide University in 1985 and joined the RAN in 1987. He is a RAN Staff Course graduate and a Fellow of the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners, the Australasian Faculty of Occupational and Environmental Medicine and the Australasian College of Aerospace Medicine. He also holds a Diploma of Aviation Medicine and a Master of Public Health. His seagoing service includes HMA Ships Swan, Stalwart, Success, Sydney, Perth and Choules. Deployments include DAMASK VII, RIMPAC 96, TANAGER, RELEX II, GEMSBOK, TALISMAN SABRE 07, RENDERSAFE 14, SEA RAIDER 15, KAKADU 16 and SEA HORIZON 17. His service ashore includes clinical roles at Cerberus, Penguin, Kuttabul, Albatross and Stirling, and staff positions as J07 (Director Health) at the then HQAST, Director Navy Occupational and Environmental Health, Director of Navy Health, Joint Health Command SO1 MEC Advisory and Review Services and Fleet Medical Officer (2013-2016). Commander Westphalen transferred to the Active Reserve in July 2016.

Past Treasurer (2008-2009) Scott Kitchener is a qualified specialist in medical leadership and management (FRACMA), a graduate of the AICD, a specialist public health physician (FAFPHM), while remaining a clinician with specialist standing as a general practitioner in rural practice. He has experience in health and education corporate governance and leadership in the private sector, public sector, higher education sector, international and Australian biotech sectors and in the military. His on-going research and experience have been in addressing health issues of developing nations, rural health and workforce, and particularly preventive approaches to public health challenges.

James Ross was a medical officer with the Royal Australian Air Force from 1980 to 2007, after which he became the Medical Director Australia-Pacific with International SOS, before moving on to Aspen Health. James is now enjoying a reserve role in the RAAF as a Medical Officer.

Dr Graham Boothby graduated in Science (1975) and Medicine (1978) at the University of Queensland. He completed his residency at the Royal Brisbane Hospital. He was commissioned into the Royal Australian Air Force on 1 Jan 1978 and had the following appointments:
* Medical Officer RAAF Williamtown
* Senior Medical Officer RAAF Williamtown
* USAF Flight Surgeon Primary Course
* Chief Instructor RAAF Institute of Aviation Medicine

Group Captain Emonson was born in Melbourne, Australia in 1958 and grew up in Victoria. He entered Monash University in 1975 and graduated with Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery Degrees in 1981. He subsequently underwent his intern training at the Alfred Hospital in Melbourne (where he was born).

In 1998, Group Captain Geoff Robinson NSC became AMMA’s Public Officer. He held this role until 1999. Past Treasurer (2016-2017) and Past President (2017-2023) Group Captain Geoff Robinson NSC joined the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) in 1981 as a Nursing Officer having completed his Registered Nurse training at the Royal Children’s Hospital, Melbourne and then worked in the civilian health sector prior to joining. After initial officer training he was posted to 3 Hospital at RAAF Richmond followed shortly after by a three and half year posting to 4 Hospital, Butterworth; Malaysia. During this period he worked mostly in the operating theatres, his Nursing speciality. On return from Malaysia he completed postings at Richmond, East Sale and Laverton and Point Cook before attending RAAF Staff College in Canberra, 1997. During these years he completed a Bachelor of Science (Nursing) at Monash University. Following Staff College, he became Staff Officer to Head Strategic Command which became the first of a number of out of category positions both as a Wing Commander and Group Captain. Positions such as Staff Officer to Head Collins Submarine Sustainment Program, Director Personnel (J1) HQ Joint Operations Command and the Senior Rebasing Officer and Project Director at Al Minhad Airbase, United Arab Emirates have contributed significantly to his career advancement and genuine love of the Air Force. During his posting to Joint Health Command, Canberra he also became the Director of Defence Force Nursing, the first male to have attained this position. From there he was appointed as the Director of Personnel in HQ Joint Operations Command, Chief of Staff at the Centre for Military and Veterans Health and Staff Officer to Commander Joint Health Command. He is passionate about his nursing specialty and retains membership of the Australian College of Nursing and the Australian College of Health Service Management. In his 34 year career thus far, he has been deployed on a number of operations including both Gulf Wars and immediately following the 2004 Boxing Day Tsunami in Banda Aceh, Sumatra. He holds a Nursing Services Cross conferred in the 1996 Queens Birthday Honours list, a CDF Commendation and United States Navy Unit Commendation. He holds a Bachelor of Science (Nursing), Graduate Diploma of Management, Diploma of Administration and an Advanced Certificate in Vocational Training Systems. Group Captain Robinson has held two command positions during his career. The first being Commanding Officer of No 3 Combat Support Hospital located at RAAF Base RICHMOND and he was appointed as Officer Commanding Health Services Wing in January 2013 and held this position until 5 February 2015. Group Captain Robinson retired from the Air Force on 10 March 2015, however, has transferred to the Air Force Specialist Reserves and remains with Health Services Wing in that capacity to undertake project work. The Wing provides Expeditionary Health support to aerospace operations both nationally and internationally as well as training all health specialties for their operational and aeromedical duties. The Wing also supports joint and coalition operations, humanitarian assistance and disaster relief. Group Captain Robinson retains an interest in wood working, fishing, scuba diving and travel. He has 2 adult children and 2 wonderful grandchildren.

Past Secretary and Graduate of Monash University Medical School, Melbourne. Joined the Australian Naval Reserve 1988 Full Time Service in 1990-91 including duties in the Persian Gulf Completed Anaesthesia training becoming a Fellow of the Australian and New Zealand College of Anesthetists in 1998. First Provisional Fellow in Anaesthesia to work as Research Fellow in the Southern Health Care Network Patient Simulation Centre in 1998.

Past Vice-President (1995-2000) Russ Schedlich graduated from the University of New South Wales in 1979 and started working in the Royal Australian Navy the following year. After time at sea and in major shore Establishments, he specialised in underwater medicine, and in 1986-88 undertook a posting to the Institute of Naval Medicine in the United Kingdom. Returning to Australia, he served as Fleet Medical Officer from 1989-90 and then completed a Master of Public Health the following year.

Rear Admiral Sarah Edith Sharkey, AM, CSC is an Australian physician, medical administrator, and a senior officer in the Royal Australian Navy.

While holding the rank of captain, Sharkey was awarded a Conspicuous Service Cross in the 2014 Queen’s Birthday Honours for “outstanding achievement as the Director of Clinical Governance and Projects and Australian Defence Force Health Services Project Transition Lead”.  She was appointed as a Member of the Order of Australia in the 2020 Queen’s Birthday Honours “for exceptional service to the Australian Defence Force in the management of health care”.

Major General New was born 15th June 1959, Sydney NSW. He completed his Higher School Certificate at Waverley College Sydney (where he was a Cadet Under Officer) and graduated with his primary medical degree Bachelor of Medicine Bachelor of Surgery in 1985, UNSW. He enlisted in 1992 as a Specialist Service Officer and was posted to 1st Parachute Surgical Team (PST) at Holsworthy Sydney. Subsequent to his specialty training in Orthopaedics (FRACS Orth), MAJGEN New undertook sub-specialist spinal surgery training in the UK in 2003 and was posted to 23rd Parachute Field Ambulance Aldershot on exchange, serving in their Forward Squadron as an Orthopaedic Surgeon. In support of Specialist Airborne Operations, he completed a suite of courses to deliver the scope of service required. MAJGEN New has deployed with Australian forces to Rwanda, East Timor and Banda Aceh and has held appointments with 1PST and 1HSB (Health Support Battalion) in Sydney and staff appointments SO1 Reserve Health 2000, SMO 8 Brigade 2007, Consultant Surgeon to SGADF 2008–2014, Chairman Orthopaedic Consultative Group JHC 2009 onwards.

Over 22 years of full-time service in the RAN, Jenny was posted to various positions, including service at sea in the training ship HMAS Jervis Bay during 1986 and 1987. Jenny also served at the naval hospital at HMAS Penguin and specialised in underwater medicine. She served as the Officer in Charge of the Submarine and Underwater Medicine Unit from 1994 to 1996, as well as the senior health officer at the RAN Health Centre at HMAS Cerberus and as the medical officer at HMAS Stirling.  Rear Admiral Jennifer Ruth Firman was appointed as a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) in the Queen’s Birthday Honours List 2021: “For exceptional performance of duty in the field of military medicine”.

Dr Hugh Bartholomeusz graduated from the University of Queensland in 1976. He undertook further advanced surgical training in plastic surgery at Princess Alexandra Hospital, Royal Brisbane Hospital and the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Adelaide. He is currently the senior plastic surgeon at Greenslopes Private Hospital and has been President of the Queensland Society of Plastic Surgeons and Chairman of the State Committee of the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons. His appointments have also included the Chairmanship of the Australian Day Surgery Council and past President of the Council of the Australian Society of Plastic Surgeons. He teaches undergraduate and post graduate medical and nursing personnel and is currently appointed as an Associate Professor at the University of Queensland.

His international accomplishments have included World President of the International Air Cadet Exchange Association and a member of the Executive Committee of the International Association of Ambulatory Surgery. He has served as a commissioned officer in the Royal Australian Air Force since 1972 and currently holds the rank of Air Vice-Marshal. He is a former Surgeon General Australian Defence Force Reserves and is the current Chairman of the Australian Air Force Cadets National Council.

MAJGEN Paul Alexander joined the Army in 1976 and completed his medical training at the University of Melbourne in 1978. Following several years of clinical training in Victorian hospitals, he commenced the first of several regimental appointments as the Regimental Medical Officer (RMO) of the 3rd Battalion Royal Australian Regiment. This was followed by several years working as an RMO in Papua New Guinea with the PNG Defence Force. He then served as the RMO for the Special Air Service Regiment for three years and completed SAS selection during his tenure.

MAJGEN Alexander has also been actively involved in risk management and legal medicine. He has completed a Masters in Legal Medicine and is a Fellow of the Australian College of Legal Medicine. MAJGEN Alexander was promoted to the rank of Major General on 25th March 2008.

MAJGEN Alexander was appointed Commander Joint Health and Surgeon General Australian Defence Force on 4 August 2008 and Joint Health Command was established on 11 August 2008.

Graeme was awarded a Diploma of Diagnostic Radiology from Sydney University in 1979 and his Fellowship from the Royal Australasian College of Radiologists (now the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Radiologists) in 1980. He was in private practice in Sydney, developing his special interests in CT imaging, musculo-skeletal imaging (particularly with ultrasound) and mammography. He was Chairman of his radiology group in 1995-99. In addition, Graeme was a senior visiting medical officer with the Central and Eastern Sydney Breast Screening Program at the Royal Prince Alfred Hospital from 1989 to 2003. He was also chairman of the CT group of the RANZCR Accreditation and Quality Control Subcommittee, and the radiologist on the Professional Services Review Committee of the Health Insurance Commission. In 1992 Graeme became a Visiting Fellow in MRI at the Barrows Neurological Institute in Phoenix Arizona, and at the MRI Institute Presbyterian Hospital in Pittsburgh Pennsylvania. He was also a member of the Radiological Society of North America.

Graeme joined the Royal Australian Naval Reserve (RANR) as a junior sailor in 1969. After topping his recruit course, he joined the medical branch as an Ordinary Sick Berth Attendant. Over the next six years he was promoted through the ranks to Leading Seaman while continuing his undergraduate medical studies.

On 9 May 2005 Graeme was promoted to Rear Admiral and appointed SGADF, the first Navy medical officer to hold the position since its establishment in the early 1980s. He was also the first medical officer to achieve the rank of Rear Admiral RANR, and the first to achieve the rank of Rear Admiral since Geoff Bayliss (DGNHS 1987-1990).

In addition to chairing the Australian Defence Human Research Ethics Committee, Graeme was Adjunct Associate Professor at the University of Queensland in the Centre for Military and Veterans Health (CMVH), and Chairman of the CMVH e-Health Committee. He also continued to conduct courses in ultrasound for trauma surgeons, as part of the Royal Australian College of Surgeons teaching program. On 04 July 2008, with the restructure of the senior ADF health leadership, Graeme was appointed Surgeon General Defence Health Reserves until 31 December 2008. He was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia in the Military Division in the Australia Day 2011 Honours List, for his exceptional performance of duties as a RANR medical officer.

Following postgraduate training Air Vice-Marshal Short was admitted as a Fellow of the Australasian College of Physicians in 1973 and commenced private practice in Sydney as a specialist general physician with particular interests in cardiovascular medicine. In 1989 he was admitted as a Fellow of the American College of Chest Physicians and in 2000 advanced to Fellowship of the American College of Physicians. Air Vice-Marshal Short holds appointments at Royal North Shore Hospital, Sydney Adventist and North Shore Private hospitals and since 1975 has been a Clinical Lecturer in Cardiology at the University of Sydney

Air Vice-Marshal Short has completed 40 years of continuous service in the Australian Defence Force following his enlistment in 1960 as a private in the Sydney University Regiment. Following 4 years Reserve infantry training he transferred to the RAAF medical undergraduate scheme. He graduated from the University of Sydney and following residency at Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Sydney, he commenced permanent Air Force service in 1968 at 3 RAAF Hospital. In addition to his clinical duties he performed strategic aeromedical evacuation service to Vung Tau, Vietnam. He was then posted as Senior Medical Officer RAAF Point Cook, and Senior Medical Officer RAAF Williamtown (1970). In 1972 he transferred to the RAAF General Reserve and, in late 1973, served at 4 RAAF, Butterworth, Malaysia, as a specialist physician.

Major General John Pearn has served as one of Australia’s most senior doctor-soldiers. Professor Pearn is Senior Paediatrician at the Queensland Children’s Hospital where he has served as a full-time staff clinician since 1968. His major clinical, research and teaching interests in paediatrics and internal medicine have included medical genetics, clinical toxicology, bioethics and accident prevention.

Major General John Pearn also served in a second career in the Australian Defence Force, rising progressively through various senior command and executive positions in the Defence Health Service. In 1998 Major General Pearn was appointed Surgeon General to the Australian Defence Force and served in this role until his retirement in 2000.

Major General Rossi was born in 1945 and educated at the University of Adelaide and Royal Army Medical College, Millbank. He saw service in South Vietnam 1971-72 as a Medical Officer with 1st Australia Field Hospital, 12th Field Regiment RAA, HQ AFV, and HQ AAAGV. He held appointments as Officer Commanding 7th Camp Hospital Kapooka 1972-74, Regimental Medical Officer 3 RAR 1976-77, Commanding Officer 1st Field Hospital 1977-79, and Commanding Officer 1st Military Hospital 1980-83. He was appointed Director Medical Services 2nd Military District 1986-88 and served as COL (Professional Services) in 1984-85 and in 1989. He was Director General Army Health Services 1990-92 and later appointed Surgeon General Australian Defence Force 1992-1996. He was appointed as an Officer in the Order of Australia (AO) in 1995 and KStJ in 2000. BRIG Rossi was subsequently promoted MAJGEN.