The Royal Life Saving Society Australia informed that their National Medical Adviser, Professor John Pearn has been selected as Queensland’s Senior Australian of the Year.

Professor Pearn is being recognised for a lifetime of achievements, including 34 years (and counting!) of working in Paediatrics at Brisbane’s Royal Children’s Hospital.

Professor Pearn’s numerous achievements also include an eminent teaching career with the University of Queensland, a distinguished military career which saw him as the first reservist appointed as surgeon general of the Australian Defence Force, active service as a physician in Vietnam in 1970 and Rwanda (1974-75) and two years each with the Green Jackets and parachute Regiment in Britain.