Gail O’Brien was awarded Officer of the Order of Australia for her work in carrying on her neurosurgeon husband Chris’s legacy at the Chris O’Brien Lifehouse in Sydney, following his death from an aggressive brain tumour. Calvary is privileged to work alongside Gail and others on a campaign to promote, encourage and nurture positive conversations about dying, end of life care and death.

On receiving her award, Gail says “We were able to translate what he suffered and many other people suffer into a beautiful built environment which brings together every aspect of cancer care.”

Dr Colin Chilvers, an anaesthetist at Calvary St Vincent’s Hospital, Launceston, received the Member of the Order of Australia for his more than two decades of dedication to his speciality, and has been a member of humanitarian medical teams at least five times with Medecins Sans Frontieres Australia.

Kay Fordham, a volunteer at Calvary Mater Hospital, NSW, was recognised with a Medal of the Order of Australia for her service to community health. For over 20 years Kay has been a member of Calvary Mater Newcastle hospital’s Auxiliary ‘Cancer Carers’. She was elected as Auxiliary Treasurer in 1999, a position she holds till this day, and in 2012 became a member of the hospital’s Community Advisory Council, assisting with community and stakeholder engagement .

Dr Andrew James Luck, a colorectal surgeon at Calvary North Adelaide and Central Districts Hospitals in South Australia, was awarded a Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) for service to medicine in the field of colorectal surgery.

Associate Professor Christopher Ashton, Acting Director of Medical Services at Calvary Public Hospital Bruce, received an Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) for service to medicine, and to medical education. Dr Ashton originally commenced with Calvary in 1980 at Calvary Riverina and moved to the ACT in 1990. In the words of Dr Kenneth Khoo, Hospital Chair DOM and DPE, Dr Ashton is an astute gastroenterologist, a respected clinical leader and a dedicated clinical educator.

Each of these people are highly regarded by us for their kindness and compassion and their selfless dedication to improving the lives of others.