Annual Dinner

Almost 300 doctors and health industry executives packed the stately Government House Ballroom for the AMA (WA) Awards Night and Charity Dinner.

The evening celebrated the announcement of the 2008 AMA (WA) Award, the AMA President's Award and the winner of the inaugural Healthier WA Award, jointly sponsored by AMA (WA) and Healthway.

"In their own way, each of the winners has made a significant contribution to the health and wellbeing of the community," said AMA (WA) President Prof Geoff Dobb.

"These awards are in recognition of their efforts, which have been outstanding."

Renowned neurosurgeon Prof Bryant Stokes won the 2008 AMA (WA) Award for his many years of distinguished service and the work he has done in developing neurosurgery both in WA and Australia. He was described as a man held in the highest regard by his colleagues, his patients, his friends and his family – a man of principle and compassion who treated all patients as if they were his own family.

The President's Award went to Peter Forbes, Managing Director of the MDA National Group, for the many years he has devoted to ensuring doctors get the best advice available when facing difficult and stressful times caused by legal predicaments. His role in helping resolve the indemnity crisis of 2002-03 prevented the practices of thousands of doctors throughout the nation from being destroyed. The crisis was without doubt the most complex and challenging threat faced by the medical profession in the last 20 years.

The final award, the Healthier WA Award, was won by the MATES Men's Support Group from Busselton for their outstanding success in reducing the incidence of domestic violence in the region. The group's founder, Robert Reekie, was presented with the inaugural award by Health Minister Jim McGinty.

Snapshots