Australian Dental Journal, February, 1978
113
FEBRUARY, 1978 ROBERT
HARRIS, M.B.E.,
M.D.s.,
Editor
Volume 23 : : No. 1
TRALIAN
DENTAL JOURNAL
Published by the Australian Dental Association Incorporated 116 Pacific Highway, North Sydney, N.S.W.2060
THE FIRST HALF CENTURY
The hills are shadows, and they flow From form to form, and nothing stands, -TENNYSON.
“It was resolved that the Delegates here present become the Federal Council of the Australian Dental Association with the addition of two Delegates from Western Australia, which State be asked to forward the names of Delegates.” In that short resolution made on June 19, 1928, at a meeting in Canberra, the Association was born. Present at that meeting were, W. R. Parker of Queensland, presiding, W. E. H. Hensley also of Queensland, A. J. Arnott and F. Marshall of New South Wales, J. K. Clark and W. J. Tuckfield of Victoria, H. Lipman and H. J. T. Edwards of South Australia. That meeting, destined to be of historical importance to the Dental Profesdon, was the culmination of tremendous effort on the part of those who saw the need for developing a coherent professional organization from the disparate groups of dentists in Australia. The men who met in Canberra were not the first to recognize the need for cohesion, for this had already been discussed more than 20 years previously at the First Australian Dental Congress held in Sydney in 1907. The resolution of the differences was made more difficult by the variations between the States governing entry to the profession and by the geographical hurdles which tended to produce an isolation in thinking and action between State organizations. Despite all the difficulties, which today may seem slender, cohesion was achieved and the developments flowing therefrom, in a country remote from the main stream of scientific, technical, and industrial progress, have unquestionably been to the advantage of the community. The essential final step in cohesion within the profession was the coalescence of the three dental journals which had remained in existence for some 18 years after the Association was formed. In acknowledgement of the dependence of the
114
Australian Dental Journal, February, 1978
Association on the support of the private practitioner, this issue of the Journal, which commemorates the Jubilee Year of the Association and of the Congress, presents in the main contributions from members of the profession who at the time of invitation were engaged in private practice. The intervening years since the birth of the Association have been notable for advances in the fields of dental education, with the establishment of dental faculties in five States, the establishment and growth of the Australian Dental Standards Laboratory, great emphasis on and action in the promotion of dental health education, the development of proper and adequate dental services in the Armed Forces, for school children, and particularly for those people living in remote areas of our country, and special groups for whom Social Services provide various types of assistance. Probably such developments would have been greatly delayed but for two major events of the half century - the Great Depression and World War 11. The former, stirred community consciousness in the plight of those overwhelmed by financial distress created by unemployment, lowered incomes, food relief and dole queues, and the latter brought the stark reality of isolation, limited population and technical resources, to both Governments and the community. Unquestionably the technical advances forced upon the nations at war subsequently produced an unprecedented facility in communication and in travel. These have provided us with the means to assemble delegates and conduct extensive business meetings, within the Association itself, and between the Association and other similar organizations and Government instrumentalities both in Australia and overseas, in a fraction of the time previously spent on travel. The disadvantage of isolation largely has been eliminated. Our Congresses are attended by many dentists from overseas and greater numbers of practitioners can more readily arrange their practices to permit their attendance. Our remoteness no longer becomes a barrier for invitations to be accepted by eminent authorities to lecture to us. What is more important is the steady travel overseas of numbers of our profession who attend dental meetings and undertake post-graduate study. These are the gleaners who return and disseminate their knowledge and skills amidst their colleagues. With the growth of the dental faculties in the Australian Universities, the establishment of the Institute oE Dental Research in Sydney, and the growth of the Australian Dental Standards Laboratory, research activities have been greatly expanded. This is demonstrated in the establishment of an Australian and New Zealand Division of the International Association of Dental Research and at its most recent annual meeting 56 papers were presented. The Association, with assistance from the Australian Dental Trades Associations, has established the Australian Dental Research and Education Trust. Financial support from the Dental Trades and the Dental Profession has enabled assistance to be given to numbers of research projects undertaken by clinicians. The importance of post graduation education has kept pace with other developments and this covers not only provision for facilities for obtaining higher degrees in Australian Universities but also for attending well organized post graduate programmes designed to help practitioners. An important event in post graduate education has been the establishment of the Royal Australasian College of Dental Surgeons. Proper and just acknowledgement must be given to the Association for the role it played in the establishment of the College which has Committees actively operating in Australia, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom. Specialist societies have also played their part in the growth of the profession and by their contributions they have stimulated the pursuit of knowledge and skills for the benefit of all. Other groups have contributed to the development of dentistry during the last fifty years. These are the manufacturers of equipment, materials, and drugs,
Australian Dental Journal, February, 1978
and the Dental Supply Houses whose representatives, constantly travel ovcrseas seeking modern materials and equipment and who individually and collectively play an important supportive role to the profession throughout the years as well as at Congress. Highly developed technical laboratories which provide extensive services to the profession play an essential role for, without them, many restorative procedures for our patients could not be implemented with the facility to which we have become accustomed. Much has been achieved in fifty years, beginning with a small group of honorary officers meeting at lengthy intervals to the national organization with a secretariat capable of dealing with a wide range of demands on its time and skill. Dental health education has been greatly advanced by the efforts of the Statc Branches of the Association, the School Dental Services of the States and the Australian Capital Territory, and through the development of departments of preventive dentistry in the University Dental Schools. A major effort in these fields has been the work of the Dental Health Education and Research Foundation of the University of Sydney, which has been responsible for a wide range of activities in the promotion of an appreciation of good dental health in the community. Its work has been acknowledged both in Ausdralia and overseas. It appears inevitable that dental practice in the next fifty years will change in ways never envisaged by our forebears. Whether the new developments will be to the advantage of the patient, the future alone can decide, but with the use of dental auxiliaries, registration of dental technicians as prosthetists, fears of fragmentation of the profession are bound to arise. Major demands will be made on the Officers of the Association to guide the destinies of the profession. The prospects for the next fifty years suggest that the tasks ahead will be no less challenging than before. The great achievements of the past are acknowledged and stand as an incentive for those who follow. All the evidence suggests that the future can be faced with confidence.
115
113
FEBRUARY, 1978 ROBERT
HARRIS, M.B.E.,
M.D.s.,
Editor
Volume 23 : : No. 1
TRALIAN
DENTAL JOURNAL
Published by the Australian Dental Association Incorporated 116 Pacific Highway, North Sydney, N.S.W.2060
THE FIRST HALF CENTURY
The hills are shadows, and they flow From form to form, and nothing stands, -TENNYSON.
“It was resolved that the Delegates here present become the Federal Council of the Australian Dental Association with the addition of two Delegates from Western Australia, which State be asked to forward the names of Delegates.” In that short resolution made on June 19, 1928, at a meeting in Canberra, the Association was born. Present at that meeting were, W. R. Parker of Queensland, presiding, W. E. H. Hensley also of Queensland, A. J. Arnott and F. Marshall of New South Wales, J. K. Clark and W. J. Tuckfield of Victoria, H. Lipman and H. J. T. Edwards of South Australia. That meeting, destined to be of historical importance to the Dental Profesdon, was the culmination of tremendous effort on the part of those who saw the need for developing a coherent professional organization from the disparate groups of dentists in Australia. The men who met in Canberra were not the first to recognize the need for cohesion, for this had already been discussed more than 20 years previously at the First Australian Dental Congress held in Sydney in 1907. The resolution of the differences was made more difficult by the variations between the States governing entry to the profession and by the geographical hurdles which tended to produce an isolation in thinking and action between State organizations. Despite all the difficulties, which today may seem slender, cohesion was achieved and the developments flowing therefrom, in a country remote from the main stream of scientific, technical, and industrial progress, have unquestionably been to the advantage of the community. The essential final step in cohesion within the profession was the coalescence of the three dental journals which had remained in existence for some 18 years after the Association was formed. In acknowledgement of the dependence of the
114
Australian Dental Journal, February, 1978
Association on the support of the private practitioner, this issue of the Journal, which commemorates the Jubilee Year of the Association and of the Congress, presents in the main contributions from members of the profession who at the time of invitation were engaged in private practice. The intervening years since the birth of the Association have been notable for advances in the fields of dental education, with the establishment of dental faculties in five States, the establishment and growth of the Australian Dental Standards Laboratory, great emphasis on and action in the promotion of dental health education, the development of proper and adequate dental services in the Armed Forces, for school children, and particularly for those people living in remote areas of our country, and special groups for whom Social Services provide various types of assistance. Probably such developments would have been greatly delayed but for two major events of the half century - the Great Depression and World War 11. The former, stirred community consciousness in the plight of those overwhelmed by financial distress created by unemployment, lowered incomes, food relief and dole queues, and the latter brought the stark reality of isolation, limited population and technical resources, to both Governments and the community. Unquestionably the technical advances forced upon the nations at war subsequently produced an unprecedented facility in communication and in travel. These have provided us with the means to assemble delegates and conduct extensive business meetings, within the Association itself, and between the Association and other similar organizations and Government instrumentalities both in Australia and overseas, in a fraction of the time previously spent on travel. The disadvantage of isolation largely has been eliminated. Our Congresses are attended by many dentists from overseas and greater numbers of practitioners can more readily arrange their practices to permit their attendance. Our remoteness no longer becomes a barrier for invitations to be accepted by eminent authorities to lecture to us. What is more important is the steady travel overseas of numbers of our profession who attend dental meetings and undertake post-graduate study. These are the gleaners who return and disseminate their knowledge and skills amidst their colleagues. With the growth of the dental faculties in the Australian Universities, the establishment of the Institute oE Dental Research in Sydney, and the growth of the Australian Dental Standards Laboratory, research activities have been greatly expanded. This is demonstrated in the establishment of an Australian and New Zealand Division of the International Association of Dental Research and at its most recent annual meeting 56 papers were presented. The Association, with assistance from the Australian Dental Trades Associations, has established the Australian Dental Research and Education Trust. Financial support from the Dental Trades and the Dental Profession has enabled assistance to be given to numbers of research projects undertaken by clinicians. The importance of post graduation education has kept pace with other developments and this covers not only provision for facilities for obtaining higher degrees in Australian Universities but also for attending well organized post graduate programmes designed to help practitioners. An important event in post graduate education has been the establishment of the Royal Australasian College of Dental Surgeons. Proper and just acknowledgement must be given to the Association for the role it played in the establishment of the College which has Committees actively operating in Australia, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom. Specialist societies have also played their part in the growth of the profession and by their contributions they have stimulated the pursuit of knowledge and skills for the benefit of all. Other groups have contributed to the development of dentistry during the last fifty years. These are the manufacturers of equipment, materials, and drugs,
Australian Dental Journal, February, 1978
and the Dental Supply Houses whose representatives, constantly travel ovcrseas seeking modern materials and equipment and who individually and collectively play an important supportive role to the profession throughout the years as well as at Congress. Highly developed technical laboratories which provide extensive services to the profession play an essential role for, without them, many restorative procedures for our patients could not be implemented with the facility to which we have become accustomed. Much has been achieved in fifty years, beginning with a small group of honorary officers meeting at lengthy intervals to the national organization with a secretariat capable of dealing with a wide range of demands on its time and skill. Dental health education has been greatly advanced by the efforts of the Statc Branches of the Association, the School Dental Services of the States and the Australian Capital Territory, and through the development of departments of preventive dentistry in the University Dental Schools. A major effort in these fields has been the work of the Dental Health Education and Research Foundation of the University of Sydney, which has been responsible for a wide range of activities in the promotion of an appreciation of good dental health in the community. Its work has been acknowledged both in Ausdralia and overseas. It appears inevitable that dental practice in the next fifty years will change in ways never envisaged by our forebears. Whether the new developments will be to the advantage of the patient, the future alone can decide, but with the use of dental auxiliaries, registration of dental technicians as prosthetists, fears of fragmentation of the profession are bound to arise. Major demands will be made on the Officers of the Association to guide the destinies of the profession. The prospects for the next fifty years suggest that the tasks ahead will be no less challenging than before. The great achievements of the past are acknowledged and stand as an incentive for those who follow. All the evidence suggests that the future can be faced with confidence.
115
