As a boy, Sir Davidgrew up in Sydney and attended Scots College in Bellevue Hill. He was a caring boy who enjoyed family life. This love of family was later reflected in his life with his wife Susie and their three children. ... More >>

As a boy, Sir David grew up in Sydney and attended Scots College in Bellevue Hill.  He was a caring boy who enjoyed family life.  This love of family was later reflected in his life with his wife Susie and their three children.

Sir David’s father was a Commander in the Navy and from an early age David showed interest in following his father’s footsteps to a career in the Navy.  At 13 years of age, David joined the Royal Australian Navy as a Cadet Midshipman. He had a challenging and distinguished career which concluded with the rank of Rear Admiral, his final posting being Flag Officer Naval Support Command in Sydney.

Sir David became an officer of the Order of Australia in 1985 and was knighted in 1988, shortly before being appointed the Governor of New South Wales.

As Governor of New South Wales Sir David was chairman, trustee, patron and supporter of a range of community services and charitable organizations.  Through this work he was able to view first hand, the hardships that were being faced by many Australians.  In particular, Sir David was shocked by the number of young homeless and disadvantaged people who had no one who cared about them and their future.

It was this which led to the creation of the Sir David Martin Foundation - the first step in reaching Sir David’s dream of 'an Australian community where children can grow up with hope and understanding'. Just days before his death from the deadly effect of asbestos, Sir David created the Sir David Martin Foundation.  He had expected to play an active role but sadly he died just a few days later.  

TAKE THE TIME ... More >>

TAKE THE TIME

DAVID JAMES TURRIFF-SMITH

14-04-1955 31-05-2007

FOREWORD

The following notices were posted in the West Australian on 2 June 2007:

My darling DAVID, I miss you so very much.

Through all the pain you remained

brave , strong and not once wavering under the cross you had to bear.

How do we possibly go on without you?

My darling brother , thank you for being there always.

I thank God for allowing me to be part of your short life -

he needed you back in Heaven all too soon.

"I am worn out from the groaning; all night long I flood my bed with

weeping and drench my couch with tears." Psalm 6:6

Love you forever and ever,

your sister ChristinE

To my dear Uncle Dave,

God saw you getting tired and a cure was not meant to be,

So he put his arms around you and whispered "come to me",

With tearful eyes we watched you as we saw you pass away,

Although we loved you deeply we could not make you stay.

Your golden heart stop beating

Hardworking hands at rest

God broke our hearts to prove to us - He only takes the Best.

The grief is overwhelming, words cannot describe the loss. I cannot

bear to think what tomorrow will bring , just as I cannot bear the thought

that you will not be here to share the journey with us all.

You fought through the last 13 months, just as you have always fought

through life , with dignity and grace. Not once were you discouraged .

You knew you were loved, you knew you were loved by me.

You knew that you were admired; you knew that I admired you.

You were and will remain, the core of this family and I do not know what

we will do without you.

Thank you for being my guardian and protector.

I know that you will watch over from above, and I will take care of Jackson,

he is his father's son , and for that we are most grateful.

You are my hero.

You were, quite simply, one of life's true gentlemen.

You were to good for this world.

My love eternally, until we meet again, your niece,

Chanel x x x x　

Uncle Dave, recently it has seemed that every day gets a little bit longer

and that yesterday I was a little bit stronger.

But I have a lifetime of tomorrows to say thankyou for the way you

brightened my life.

You were more than my uncle , you were the mould I built my own life around.

It's only now that you're gone that I can truly appreciate what I am now without.

I've learned the hard way that some poems don't rhyme and some stories don't

have happy endings.

Life is not always about rainbows and butterflies, but you

blessed me with knowledge that it means far more than I can ever express.

I know that eventually this pain, which I'll never forget will fall drop by drop and

my heart with no longer be filled with sadness but with wisdom and strength.

I will always feel cheated that you were taken from us so young and yet I will

be grateful you came along at all.

No matter what, just know that I will always love you and that you have given

me more than I could ever repay. Also know, that I will do for Jackson as you have done for me.

My Love For All of Eternity

Justin

Loving Husband of Margie Southern and Devoted Father to Amanda and Natasha ... More >>

Loving Husband of Margie Southern and Devoted Father to Amanda and Natasha.

We love and miss you everyday, but know you are still looking after us. xx

DAVID SOUTHERN, AFCHSE, CHE, AAIM, JP.

15th August 1944 – 18th March 2005.

The untimely death of our valued colleague and Vice President, David Southern, saddened College members and all who knew him.

David was Vice President of State Branch Council and was a highly respected and valued member of Council. His professional commitment to the College and to the wider South Australian health system over a lifetime knew no bounds. His wisdom, experience, diplomacy and gentle humour will be sadly missed.

One of the longest serving and most respected health executives in the South Australian health system, David Southern’s career spanned more than 30 years and encompassed a variety of positions in both metropolitan and country areas.

David commenced in the health system in the early 1960s and had fond memories of his work experience at many public hospitals in rural South Australia. These included, Whyalla, Port Augusta, Port Pirie, Barmera, Mt Gambier and Wallaroo Hospitals. All featured in providing a valuable learning experience for David early in his career.

David’s early experience at Port Augusta was particularly noteworthy. He booked in to the local hotel for what was to be an eight week maximum posting. He was still there 18 months later. “I think they forgot I was up there,” he recounted wryly.

“The experience was terrific. You got a good grounding in all aspects of the service and had total management responsibility for the running of everything. The organisations weren’t so big that you felt isolated; you knew everyone and made it your business to know how the place ticked. It wasn’t uncommon…. to have to go out with the ambulance if they had a tricky issue to deal with. You were really close to what was happening.”

In 1972, David was part of the original commissioning team for the development of a new hospital in the north eastern suburbs of Adelaide, Modbury Hospital. In 1976 he was appointed Senior Administrative Officer with the Western Rehabilitation Service. Other assignments in which David was involved include setting up the satellite renal dialysis unit in North Adelaide for the Queen Elizabeth Hospital and the establishment of the first rehabilitation service specialising in industrial injury, the Alfreda Rehabilitation Unit.

In 1983, David was appointed Deputy Chief Executive Officer of Modbury Hospital, and assumed the position of CEO of the Modbury Hospital Board in 1995, which he held until his death.

David gave unstintingly of his time and expertise in all his professional roles and his wise counsel, gentle humour and dedication were much appreciated by all that had the privilege to have known him. In addition to his role as Vice President of the South Australian branch of the ACHSE, David held executive positions with the Australian Healthcare Association, theRoyal District Nursing Service (SA), Northern Metropolitan Community Health and the Adelaide North Eastern Division of General Practice.

In 2003 David was awarded the Centenary Medal in recognition of his contribution to the health industry in South Australia.

In a Member Profile for the College Newsletter in 2003 David, reflecting on his career, provided some revealing and valuable insights for new and aspiring managers in health.

• Focus on the positives of your experiences.

• Life is a journey – it is what you make of it.

• Many problems can be seen from two perspectives (is the glass half full or half empty?)  Turn the problem around and focus on the positive.

• If you are confronted with a major problem, break it down. Solve the problem in portions –if you attempt to resolve it in one mouthful you will choke.

• Learn to work with people – value them, recognise the strengths.

• I try to get people to work with me – not for me.

• He also supports the advice of Bill Gates: “Be nice to nerds. Chances are you will end upworking for one.”

David’s other passions were his family, of whom he was extremely proud and his classic cars. He was the proud owner of an original 1950 FX Holden and his Jensen Healy which he had lovingly restored.

The SA Branch of the Australian College of Health Service Executives extends its deepest sympathy to David’s wife Margie, and to Natasha, Amanda and Tim on their loss.

 Vale David.

Sections of this article were taken from a Member Profile based on and interview with David Southern conducted by Mark Diamond in 2003.

Author Felicity Griffith

THE AWARDS

Two types of student awards are available, viz., The ‘David Southern Merit Award’ and a ‘Learning Award’.

A. DAVID SOUTHERN MERIT AWARD

This is an award offered in memory of David Southern who was a long-standing senior member and Fellow of the College. David was one of the longest serving and most respected health executives in the South Australian health system, with a career that spanned more than 30 years and encompassed a variety of positions in both metropolitan and country areas. The untimely death of our valued colleague in 2005 saddened College members and all who knew him. His professional commitment to the College and to the wider South Australian health system over a lifetime knew no bounds. His wisdom, experience, diplomacy and gentle humour will be sadly missed. The College is proud to name this award in David's memory.

You are invited to "Become a Friend" & help create this LIFEBOOK of David Gordon 'Slim Dusty' Kirkpatrick. Share your memories & celebrate his life & music ... More >>

You are invited to "Become a Friend" & help create this LIFEBOOK of David Gordon 'Slim Dusty' Kirkpatrick.  Share your memories & celebrate his life & music.

David Gordon "Slim Dusty" Kirkpatrick was an Australian country music singer-songwriter. He sold more than seven million albums and singles in Australia.

 Slim was born David Gordon Kirkpatrick on June 13, 1927 in Kempsey, New South Wales, the son of a cattle farmer. He adopted the stage name "Slim Dusty" in 1938 at eleven years of age. His earliest musical influences included Jimmie Rodgers. Slim released his first record in 1945 at the age of eighteen. In 1946 he signed his first recording contract with Columbia Graphophone for the Regal Zonophone label.

 In 1951, Slim Dusty married Singer-Songwriter Joy McKean and with her help, achieved great success around Australia. In 1954, the two launched a full time business career, including the Slim Dusty Travelling Show. His 1957 hit "A Pub With No Beer" was the biggest-selling record by an Australian to that time, the first Australian single to go gold, and the first and only 78 rpm record to be awarded a gold disc.

Over the course of his career, he collected more gold and platinum albums than any other Australian artist. (The "Pub with No Beer" is a real place, in Taylors Arm, not far from Kempsey where Slim was born). In 1959 and 1960 Dutch and German cover versions of the song became number one hits (even evergreens) in Belgium, Austria and Germany, brought by the Flemish country singer-guitarist and amusement park founder Bobbejaan Schoepen.

1964 saw the establishment of the annual Slim Dusty Australia-round tour, a 48,280 kilometres (30,000 mi), journey that went on for ten months.

Dusty not only recorded songs written by himself and other fellow Australian performers, but also recorded classic Australian poems by Henry Lawson and Banjo Paterson with new tunes, to call attention to the old 'Bush Ballads.' An example is The Man from Snowy River by Paterson.

In 1970, he was made a Member of the Order of the British Empire for services to music. In 1971 he won Best Single at the Australian Country Music Awards at the Tamworth Country Music Festival (Slim's wife Joy McKean won Song of the Year as writer of the song for which he won best single). In all, he won a record 35 "Golden Guitars" over the years.

Slim Dusty and his wife were patrons of the National Truck Drivers' Memorial located at Tarcutta, New South Wales. The General Manager of the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville, Tennessee invited him and his wife to perform in 1997, recognising 50 years contributing to Country Music. The following January, he was awarded an Officer of the Order of Australia for his service to the entertainment industry.

Slim recorded and released his one-hundredth album in 2000 and became the very first music artist in the world ever to do so. He was then given the honour of singing Waltzing Matilda in the Closing Ceremony of the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games, with the whole stadium singing along with him.

When he died in 2003 he had been working on his 106th album for EMI Records. The album Columbia Lane - the Last Sessions debuted at number five in the Australian album charts and number one on the country charts on 8 March 2004. It went gold after being on sale for less than two weeks.

Columbia Lane is a tribute to the laneway juxtaposed to Parramatta Road in Strathfield (near the railway bridge link), where the EMI studios once stood and it's where he traversed to crack the national country music market from Kempsey.

He died at home in St Ives, New South Wales on 19 September 2003 after a protracted battle with cancer.