nacchonews · a special tribute edition nacchonews – special tribute edition1. 2 nacchonews –...

NEWS

National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation

September 2001

No 10

NACCHO

Dr Arnold (Puggy) Hunter14.8.51 – 3.9.2001

One of Australia’s outstanding Aboriginal leaders

A Special Tribute Edition

NACCHONEWS – SPECIAL TRIBUTE EDITION 1

2 NACCHONEWS – SPECIAL TRIBUTE EDITION

Dr Arnold (Puggy)Hunter

14.8.51 – 3.9.2001

One of Australia’s most outstandingAboriginal leaders, Dr Arnold (Puggy)Hunter devoted most of his adult life toimproving the appalling state ofAboriginal health in this country. Hetook the fight for justice forward ingovernment offices, in Parliamentaryinquiries and at the grassroots level, andnever gave up hope for achieving abetter future.

Puggy was the elected chairperson ofthe National Aboriginal CommunityControlled Health Organisation,(NACCHO), which is the peak nationaladvisory body on Aboriginal health.NACCHO has a membership of over100 Aboriginal Community ControlledHealth Services and is the representativebody of these services. Puggy was theinaugural Chair of NACCHO from 1991until his untimely death aged 50.

Puggy was the vice-chairperson of theAboriginal and Torres Strait IslanderHealth Council, the Federal HealthMinister’s main advisory body onAboriginal health established in 1996.He was also Chair of the National PublicHealth Partnership Aboriginal andIslander Health Working Group whichreports to the Partnership and to theAustralian Health Ministers AdvisoryCouncil. He was a member of theAustralian Pharmaceutical AdvisoryCouncil (APAC), the General PracticePartnership Advisory Council, the JointAdvisory Group on Population Healthand the National Health Priority AreasAction Council as well as a number ofother key Aboriginal health policy andadvisory groups on national issues.

Puggy had a long and passionate role inthe struggle for justice for Aboriginalpeople. Born in Darwin in 1951, wherehis parents had fled Broome andWestern Australian native welfarepolicies, Puggy trained as a boilermaker-welder and worked in the NorthernTerritory and South Australia.Throughout these years, he establishedan active involvement in Aboriginalaffairs including youth sportinginitiatives and housing.

As a result of a growing interest inAboriginal community developmentand youth, he undertook studiesthrough the University of SouthAustralia in Aboriginal communitydevelopment. He subsequently took upa position in Kununurra, Western

Australia, with the state welfaredepartment and the WarringariAboriginal Corporation. His many yearsof work in Aboriginal welfare -- withfamilies in crisis, with child neglect,physical abuse and the consequences ofpoverty and exclusion – provided himwith powerful insights into the plight ofhis own people. He became increasinglyaware that the best way to address theseproblems was through comprehensiveAboriginal community-controlled healthservices and resource agencies.

He was involved in the establishment ofthe East Kimberley Aboriginal MedicalService in Kununurra, the Yuri YungiAboriginal Medical service in Halls

Creek, the Kununurra MiriwungConstruction Project, Warringari Arts,the Kununurra women’s crisis centres,the Aboriginal radio station, Broome’syouth centre and “modern dream-timedancers”.

He worked with Homewest, the WAstate housing authority, withresponsibilities for assisting inredevelopment of Aboriginal housingthroughout the Kimberley including thelong-neglected state Aboriginal welfarereserves. He was an ATSIC regionalcouncillor from 1993 to 1996.

Throughout his career, Puggymaintained an exhausting voluntarycommitment to a large number ofAboriginal organisations.

He was an elected Committee memberof the Broome Regional AboriginalMedical Service and the Chairperson ofthe regional Aboriginal health resourcebody in the Kimberley – the Kimberley

Aboriginal Medical Services Council.

He was elected the national Chairpersonof NACCHO in 1991. As Chair, Puggyplayed a critical role in driving theFederal Government policy onAboriginal health issues. Through hispersistent efforts some of the recentadvances to address the inequitablefunding of Aboriginal health include:

• The Framework Agreements onAboriginal health - designed toimprove the co-ordination of healthservice delivery by all spheres ofgovernment and improve access tohealth programs. These werenegotiated between NACCHO andeach State and Territory.

• Medicare Agreements – Puggynegotiated with the Federal HealthMinister Dr Michael Wooldrige togive Aboriginal CommunityControlled Health Services the legalability to bulk bill under Medicare.This measure has helped ensurethat these services have a moresustainable funding base.

• Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme –Puggy helped negotiate the Section100 arrangements for supply ofmedicines through Aboriginalhealth services in remote areas.

Puggy was known for his colorfulanecdotes, his generosity and hisperceptive insights into Aboriginalaffairs. He was a strong voice ofcommonsense, moderation andconsensus in the Aboriginal politicalmovement. He could sit in the dust andtalk to his countrymen and alsocommand an audience in Federalgovernment. He foughtuncompromisingly for the cause ofAboriginal health, yet was regardedrespectfully, even affectionately, by hiscounterparts in politics and government.He experienced terrible racism, yet wasdevoid of bigotry. He demonstrated anunwavering commitment over manyyears to improving Aboriginal health inthe face of hostility, disruption to hisfamily, financial hardship and poor health.

He had a passionate commitment toAboriginal community control andwould often say that it is no longeracceptable to “do” Aboriginal healthwithout Aboriginal people. Puggy wasawarded an Honorary Doctorate inApril 2001 from James Cook Universityof North Queensland in recognition ofhis exceptional contribution to theadvancement of human well being.

Puggy is survived by his wife Blondie,and his children Emily, Renae, Troy andAmber.

He fought uncompromisinglyfor the cause of Aboriginalhealth, yet was regarded

respectfully, evenaffectionately, by his

counterparts in politics and government.


I loved Puggy and I know we all loved him. There is no need to say more.

The words "Puggy Hunter" tell their own story.

Dr Naomi Mayers, NACCHO Deputy Chair, CEO Redfern Aboriginal Medical Service

“As an Aboriginal man of

may age, I’ve been saying

for some time that I’m

overdue for serious health

problems. The sad truth is

that what should be the

prime of life for many of

us, is often just the

opposite.”

Puggy, Feb 2001

Dr Hunter was a leading advocate andchampion of improved Aboriginalhealth policy and service delivery. Hewas a highly respected leader inAboriginal health who spoke frommany years of experience of the plightof Aboriginal peoples andcommunities. He made an invaluablecontribution to policy reform andprogram development across theDepartment of Health and Aged Care.

Dr Hunter’s passion and devotion tothe advancement of Aboriginal healthwill be sadly missed. He was anextraordinary man whose presenceloomed large to all who met him.

As the Chair of NACCHO, Dr Hunterplayed a critical role in contributing toFederal Government policy onAboriginal health issues. He was alsodeputy chair of the Aboriginal andTorres Strait Islander Health Council,the Federal Government’s mainadvisory body on Aboriginal health.

Dr Hunter was also a keen advocatefor Aboriginal Community ControlledHealth Services which he saw ascentral to achieving better health andculturally appropriate service deliveryfor Aboriginal peoples.

Despite recent ill health, Dr Hunternever gave up his fight for improvedAboriginal health funding and servicedelivery.

Federal Health Minister, Dr MichaelWooldridge

Dr Hunter was a visionary, a giftedspeaker and a passionate campaignerfor recognition of the deplorable stateof Aboriginal health standards in thiscountry. His passing is a great loss andthe battle to keep Aboriginal health onthe national agenda will be evenharder without him. Our thoughts andprayers are with you all at this time ofgrieving.

Mutitjulu Health Service, via AliceSprings, NT

We will deeply miss this great man,known and respected the length andbreadth of this country, by both in theIndigenous, and the broader Whitecommunity. Not only a great leader forour people, but indeed a statesman inthe manner that he was able to unifypeople, in the struggle for the health ofour people.

The Australian Indigenous DoctorsAssociation

Without a doubt, the life of Dr Arnold(Puggy) Hunter had a profound effecton not only our people, but anyonewho knew this man. Puggy was one ofthe most respected crusaders ofAboriginal health issues in Australiaand will truly be missed.

The Management and Staff of the PortLincoln Aboriginal Health Serviceswish to convey their deepest sympathyto Puggy’s family, our thoughts arewith them all.

Port Lincoln Aboriginal Health ServicesInc, SA

Dr Naomi Mayers and Puggy


Farewell from theNACCHO CEO

I count myself one of the privilegedpeople who knew and loved Puggy. Iworked with him both during my timeas NACCHO Board member, and thenover the past two years in my role asNACCHO CEO. During that time, webecame close mates. I remember himtelling me when I was new on theBoard and a little hesitant aboutspeaking up, “just jump right in, withthis mob that’s the only way!” Puggynever made me feel as though mycontribution was not wanted orvaluable, and this ability to be inclusivewas one of his great strengths.

For me, Puggy was an ever-presentsource of support, friendship, guidanceand inspiration. He had an uncannyability to absorb, integrate and analyseinformation across a huge range ofcomplex subject areas. He would havecomplete command of the informationand could cut through the rhetoric tothe guts of the matter. I could ring himup anytime and, no matter how badthings looked, Puggy would alwaysfind a way to make me laugh. “There’smore than one way to skin a cat” hewould tell me and we’d get through theissue. Of course it wasn’t all work. Iremember him telling me that part ofmy joining the Board, and later theSecretariat, was to protect the integrityof the “NACCHO weight limit”. Healso expressed his concern for my

horse’s back while watching me eat,and many people became aware of hisinterest in my physical “fitness”!

Puggy’s capacity for sheer hard workwas awe-inspiring. His job entailed astaggering amount of travel, reading,negotiation, representation andcommunication. He took it all in hisstride, and still made individuals feelhe had the time to listen to their views.Even in the last few months of his life,he continued to juggle his workcommitments so successfully thatpeople from external organisationswere often surprised to learn he was ondialysis. With a lot of finessing fromSherrin, Puggy’s Executive Assistant,somehow dialysis appointmentsthroughout the country were squeezedin around his busy schedule.

Puggy had an ability to makeAboriginal health real to people. Hetold the story of injustice and inequityin words that cut through the walls ofindifference and apathy. Puggy couldmake people see that shockingmortality statistics weren’t just figureson a page. They meant that ‘we’realways planning our lives aroundfunerals’, and that targetting healthmeasures for the over-55s was uselessbecause ‘they’ll have to go and dig usup out of the cemetery to give us that.’

Puggy was a real leader. Someone hasdefined leadership as influence. If thisis true, and I think it is, Puggy was oneof the truly outstanding leaders of ourtime. Without being the slightest bitpompous or self-important, Puggycould move people in a way that is not

often seen. Often in ways that wouldshock me at the time, but later wewould roar laughing about. I amthinking of course of some of hisfamous turns of phrase. I recall sittingwith Puggy at a media launch in May2000 and him delivering one of those

“one liners” and the entire front row ofjournalists looking at each other andasking “are you going to write that?” –they did – classic Hunter! He led in thesense of the example he provided, andthe respect he earned, rather thandemanded. He led also in the sense thathe was a man of vision and even in ourlast conversation, just hours before hispassing, he was telling me about thethings he wanted to do in NACCHO,the upcoming meeting of the Board andhis excitement about the proposals forreform that would come before thisyear’s AGM.

On a personal level I miss him terriblybut am also aware that our greatesttribute to Puggy is to carry on hiswork, and I know that’s what he wouldhave wanted.

Craig Ritchie

NACCHO CEO

Puggy, Craig Ritchie and Dr RichardMurray

Dr Naomi Mayers, Craig Ritchie and Puggy

Puggy had an ability to make Aboriginal health

real to people. He told thestory of injustice and

inequity in words that cutthrough the walls of

indifference and apathy.


With the death of Arnold “Puggy”Hunter Australia has lost a very specialperson and a dedicated advocate ofAboriginal Health. Under hisleadership, the community controlledhealth movement made manysignificant advances. Because of hisadvocacy, Aboriginal medical servicesacross the country can better meet thehealth needs of their people.

His commitment, extraordinarycapacity for hard work and colorfulturn of phrase were a constant,unifying force. He never let us forgetthe common goal - to improve thehealth of Aboriginal people, no matterwhere they lived.

Puggy was the voice of Aboriginalpeople who have been left behind bythe Australian health system. Hisefforts were recognised at home andinternationally and he never shirkedhis responsibilities even though itmeant he was often away from hishome community of Broome.

Bob McMullan MP and Jenny MacklinMP, Australian Labour Party

“Puggy spent his life working toimprove health conditions forAboriginal people across this country.He took this battle to the meeting tablewith the leaders of this country, toSenate Inquiries, to communities at thegrassroots level, and never backeddown.

His determination and commitment tothis difficult task inspired so many ofus in the Indigenous community.Puggy will be mourned and missed bycommunities across Australia, but thelegacy he leaves in terms of raisingawareness of Indigenous health issueswill last a lifetime.

Puggy’s colleagues in Indigenoushealth must now take up the fight toimprove Indigenous health standardson his behalf, because that is simplywhat he would want us to do.

Senator Aden Ridgeway, AustralianDemocrats Deputy Leader

I had the greatest respect and affectionfor Puggy as a person with apassionate and abiding commitment toimproving the health of his people.Puggy was enormously generous in thetime he made available to me andmany people across the Office forAboriginal and Torres Strait IslanderHealth, providing advice and guidanceon a wide range of issues aboutAboriginal health and services.

Ms Helen Evans, Office of Aboriginal andTorres Strait Islander Health

Helen Evans and Puggy

“My advice to the Minister was that he can talk to

whoever he wants, but at the end of the day, if you want

real advice about Aboriginal health issues, then speak to

those who have been voted by Aboriginal communities

to represent them on health matters. NACCHO has the

mandate to do this. Don’t simply talk to individuals who

will agree with what the government of the day wants.

NACCHO’s role is to advocate for better outcomes for

Aboriginal people, so there will be times when

NACCHO and governments don’t agree.“

Puggy on: Community Controlled Health Service, May 2001.

Puggy was a leader in every sense ofthe word. He was compassionate,dedicated, generous and workedtirelessly to improve Aboriginal healthall over the country. His colorful andhumorous phases will be foreveretched in our memory.

You will be remembered as a proudKimberley man, whose vision was aninspiration to Kimberley people.

Thank you for your guidance, supportand encouragement. You will be sadlymissed.

Derby Aboriginal Health Service CouncilCommittee, members and staff, WA

Yvette Roe and Puggy

Farewell to Puggyfrom the NACCHOSecretariat staff Puggy was larger than life, and not justphysically. Some of us knew Puggy foryears and had lots of direct contactwith him. Other staff may have onlyhad a few face to face meetings withhim. But somehow Puggy made animpact that cannot be measured inhours or minutes.

To many of us, he was more than justthe Chairperson of NACCHO. Hebecame a friend, a mentor and anunfailing source of inspiration.

More than most of us, Puggy had goodreason to be frustrated and angry withthe slow pace of change in Aboriginalhealth. But he wasnít a sad or bitterperson. He never failed to lightentough moments with a joke. Eventhough he sometimes must have felt hewas bashing his head against the samebrick wall, he never gave up hope ofchanging life for the better.

Puggy never expected or demandedany trappings of his position. Youcould sit down and talk to him withoutfeeling overawed, and he was alwaysapproachable. In spite of this, or maybepartly because of it, the respect peoplehad for Puggy was immeasurable. Peoplestopped and listened when he talked.

Over the past week there have beenmoments of laughter, as well as tears,as we remember the Puggy who couldhave us in fits of giggles one minute,and fired up for action the next. Ourthoughts are with Puggyís family, aswe can only imagine their loss.

Puggy, your inspiration will live on inour work.


So many words to describe such agreat man - mentor, friend, inspiration,true leader, fighter, believer. A sourceof never ending dedication. Youtouched my heart and you will live onforever in my memory.

It is foolish and wrong to mourn themen who died. Rather we shouldthank God that such men lived.

–George S. Patton, Jr.

"Some are born great, some achievegreatness and some have greatnessthrust upon them"

–William Shakespeare

With love

Kirsty Glanville

Kirsty Glanville

NACCHO Secretariat, AGM 2000

Richard Murray, Sophie Couzos, Puggy,Lexie and Henry Councillor.

Puggy Hunter was one of the greatestmen of our time. He was an Aboriginalleader who inspired thousands toquestion and reform the efforts of thisnation to improve the health ofAboriginal peoples. His moderatevoice of influence over the politicalagenda and witty intellect willcontinue to echo in the hearts of allthose who could see the wisdom in hiswords. It is a very strange thing thatthis nation appropriates Aboriginalvirtues and the gift of such culture, yettears the heart out of Aboriginalpeoples and their self-determinedfuture. It does this covertly - a defunctforce of inaction and rhetoric. Toexpose this takes great patience,compassion, and strategy. Puggy wasable to move the nation and the will ofthe people to improve Aboriginalhealth because it takes a great leaderlike him, but the challenge must be metby Ministers even if they only havehalf the courage that Dr Hunter had.

Dr Sophie CouzosNACCHO Public Health Officer


Puggy with his four children,Renee, Amber, Emily and Troy

Puggy with his wife Blondie

Puggy and Troy

HealthWorker graduation at the KAMSCschool of health studies,1999. Didi Cox,

Puggy and Ubbie Clifton.

Professor Ian Wronski, Puggy and his mother,Dora Hunter, celebrate Puggy’s honorarydoctorate from James Cook University

“God’s Garden”

God looked around his garden

And found an empty place

He, then, looked down upon the earth

And saw your tired face.

He put His arms around you

And lifted you to rest,

God’s garden must be beautiful

He always takes the best.

He knew that you were suffering

He knew you were in pain,

He knew that you would never

Get well on earth again.

He saw the road was getting rough

And the hills were hard to climb,

So he closed your weary eyelids

And whispered, “Peace be thine”.

It broke our hearts to lose you

But you didn’t go alone,

For, part of us went with you

The day God called you home.


A Personal TributeMy association with Puggy began manyyears ago through family and communitylinks. Puggyís family, like mine, are long-time members of the Darwin Aboriginalcommunity. Itís fair to say that I had moredo with Puggyís younger brothers, Kimand Troy (also deceased) as I wasgrowing up given that Puggy was in anolder age group.

Following my move to Canberra to takeup employment with the AustralianMedical Association, I became re-associated with Puggy in his role asNACCHO Chair. Soon after, I commencedas the inaugural CEO of NACCHO andbegan a close working relationship withhim. Puggy became not only a valuedleader and colleague to me, but as ourrelationship progressed, he also became amentor and close friend.

We did all the things you would expect anational chairperson and CEO would do– we shared views and opinions, plannedand problem solved, shared the frustrationsand disappointments, and celebrated thewins and successes. We used each otheras sounding boards and confided in eachother when things weren’t going well orwhen we were confronted with thenumerous challenges working inAboriginal health provides. I can tell youthat this process continued even after Ileft NACCHO up until the time of hisdeath. He would always ring me when hecame to Canberra ñ on the last occasionthat I saw him, I attended a dinner here inCanberra with a small group of closefriends to celebrate his 50th birthday andas usual, we were entertained by Puggyand his incredible sense of humour!

I want to state on the record that I wasvery proud to have had the privilege towork alongside Puggy. I cannotremember the amount of times that I feltreassured by the fact he was sitting nextto me at the table in the vast number ofmeetings we attended together. It was myobservation that others oftenunderestimated Puggy. I knew better ñPuggy read everything that he was sentand had an extraordinary understandingof the issues and the health system.Puggy always fought to achieve anoutcome for the member organisations ofNACCHO quite often in complex andprotracted negotiations. I can personallyattest to his resolute determination toachieve something better for our people.

He was also more politically astute thanmany gave him credit for. He hadinsights into people and their behaviourthat were usually accurate and precise. Icame to trust his judgment completely.

Iím convinced that Puggyís greateststrength lay in his leadership. This was,of course, underpinned by his warm andfriendly personality. It was difficult to not

like Puggy. He was inclusive of everyone,rarely was anyone excluded eitherpersonally or professionally. He neverexpressed hate in my presence or carrieda grudge – he was more disappointedwith some and expressed the hope thatthey might change.

He was a very generous person andwould do all he could do assist when arequest was made of him. I can count onone hand the number of times when I sawhim really angry and lose his temper – ittook a hell of a lot to make him feel this way.

Puggyís death was sudden and quite ashock. It was no secret that those of uswho were close to him had always beenworried about his health and well-beingbut there was a belief we shared that hewould hang in there. Sadly, he has nowgone and has left an enormous void inAboriginal health leadership in this country.I donít think we will fully realise theenormity of his contribution to the fieldfor some time. I have no doubt that anotherAboriginal person will step up into thisrole but whoever it is, theyíll need to realisethat Puggy set the bar very high and thesame standard will be expected from them.

Personally, I have a great sense of lossthat has followed me around from thetime I was informed of his death. I canítseem to shake this feeling just yet. I findmyself thinking about Puggy occasionallyeach day particularly about the manygreat times we had together. Iímespecially reminded of his sense ofhumour and the all of the funny things heused to say (!!) and this has been a usefulway for me to deal with his passing.

When my time comes, I’m sure Iíll meetup with Puggy yet again, we’ll share aBundy and Coke and start planning abouthow we will fight the fight, whatever thatmight be ‘up there’.

In the meantime, I miss my dear friendvery much and wish he were back.

Steve LarkinNACCHO CEO1997-1999.

Ian Ford, Jodie Lew Fatt, Puggy, Henry Councillor, Kathy Bell and Steve Larkin on a coldand snowy day in Canberra.

Puggy Hunter was a very special person,the kind of person you are lucky to meeteven once in a lifetime. Though he hadexperienced great hardship and struggle,he was a happy and optimistic personwho made the most of each day. Thoughhe had experienced racism, he nevershowed any bad feeling towards non-Aboriginal people. He made us all feelwelcome and part of his life and work.

I was fortunate to work with Puggy overthe last four or five years. I saw him inaction at many meetings and gatherings,and saw the huge impact he had on somany people. He could attend anycommittee meeting and fire people upwith a real concern and desire to make acontribution to Aboriginal health. Hewould also be the person who could pullpeople together in tense and factionalisedgatherings, and get everyone toremember that we were all working forthe same thing.

One of the extraordinary things aboutPuggy was that he was always the sameperson no matter who he was with,whether it was a group of VIPs, twohundred NACCHO members, or a fewclose friends and colleagues. Heconnected with people in a special way,and had the gift of being truly himself -funny, warm and genuine with everyonehe met. A great number of people all overAustralia will miss Puggy, but hismemory will live on through his manyachievements, and through the way hetaught and inspired so many of us.

Kathy Bell


We would like to express our deepestsympathy at the passing of our dearbrother and friend Puggy Hunter.Although no words can take away thesorrow that you bear, may it becomforting to you all to know thatothers care. May this message of hopebring you peace and comfort at thisdifficult time.

Duruk Aboriginal Community ControlledMedical Service, Sydney, NSY

We here at Awabakal have beensaddened to hear of such a great loss.Please pass on our sincerestcondolences to the Hunter family, ourfellow affiliate members, your staff andthe Board of NACCHO, on behalf ofthe Board, Management, Staff andCommunity of Awabakal NewcastleAboriginal Co-operative Ltd.

Awabakal, Newscastle Aboriginal Co-Operative, NSW

Over the past eight and a half years Ihave held a number of positions onBoard’s of Management andCommittees, and in this time I havenever seen such respect held by anyoneas I have seen held for Puggy in hisown right as a man and a chairperson,leader and voice of Aboriginal people.

I will miss his text joke messages,which could arrive at any time of theday or night. These little mentions helpme through some very rough times. AsI always said when we parted, loveyou babe take care.

Florence Williams ,CEO, Kambu MedicalCentre, Ipswich, QLD

Dr Hunter devoted his life to raisingawareness about the complex issuessurrounding Indigenous health both atthe national level and in his homeregion, the Kimberley. He never missedan opportunity to point out that lifeexpectancy for Indigenous people atthe beginning of the 21st century iscomparable to that for the totalAustralian population in the earlyyears of the last century.

He will be remembered as a dedicated,articulate and forceful advocate for hispeople who like so many of his friendsand constituents, relied on kidneydialysis treatment. Tragically his lifeended far too early. He will be sorelymissed.

ATSIC

Dr Hunter made an invaluablecontribution to policy reform andprogram development across theDepartment of Health and Aged Care.He was a key adviser

to the Federal Government and directlyto the Minister for Health, Dr MichaelWooldridge. Over the last five years Igot to know Puggy very wellpersonally. As Deputy Chair of theNational Aboriginal and Torres StraitIslander health Council, he workedvery closely with me.

Passionate as his advocacy was forIndigenous health and wellbeing, hewas also able to work withgovernments and bureaucrats. Hespoke plainly and directly, but he alsoput a lot of emphasis on friendlypersonal relationships. He was alwaysgood company, full of stories.

Mr Andrew Podger, Secretary of theDepartment of Health and Aged Care

“Puggy has been a strong advocate forAboriginal people over manychallenging years. His tenaciousdetermination to improve the healthand wellbeing of Aboriginal and TorresStrait Islander peoples was reflected inthe energy and vibrancy that hebrought to every forum of his work.He will be greatly missed by all whohave worked with him.

Australian Division of General Practice

“If you want to be

involved in Aboriginal

health, my best advice

honestly is to involve

Aboriginal people in a true

partnership. And when I

say true partnership, I tell

people don’t come to us

asking what colour car we

want after you bought it.

Come to us when we talk

about what sort of vehicle

we need to actually get to

where we want to go. Let’s

sit down and talk from

there because we can work

that out with you.”

Puggy on: PartnershipsI respected and admired Puggy’spassion and concern for AboriginalHealth and wellbeing. Such wasPuggy’s passion, that he put the needsof his people before his needs. It hasbeen a privilege and pleasure to knowhim.

Gloria KhanSouth West Aboriginal Medical ServiceCommunity, Bunbury, WA

Kevin Cox and Puggy

“I went to the Committee

for Fat people and they

were all skinny! I was the

only person who could

speak from experience.”

In reference to attending theNational Obesity PreventionGroup (1999) on NHMRCsStrategic Plan for the Preventionof Overweight and Obesity.

Puggy’s lighter moments...


Puggy was an exceptional person whowas always fighting for the bettermentof our people. He took up the difficultchallenge of changing the system toimprove Aboriginal health andachieved many important things. Hewas much loved and respected and it isa sad loss for all of us here atWinnunga Nimmityjah.

Julie Tongs , CEO, staff and Board ofWinnunga Nimmityjah, Canberra, ACT

From the start of his career inAboriginal affairs, Dr Hunter played aenergetic and passionate role in thestruggle for Aboriginal rights. Thecontributions he has made toAboriginal affairs, and in particularAboriginal health have inspired ageneration.

During the years that Dr Hunterworked in Aboriginal affairs, hebecame increasingly aware that theway to address the many challengesour people face is though Aboriginalcommunity controlled health servicesand resource agencies.

In the last few years of his life, DrHunter’s commitment to his peopleremained unwavering, despite hisstruggles with illness.

He was much loved by his family andfriends. In fact, it is a testament to DrHunter’s caring and inclusivepersonality, that a wide circle of peoplecan rightfully call Dr Hunter theirfriend. I know I speak on their behalfwhen I say that it was truly a pleasureand a privilege to have known thisexceptional man.

Dr Hunter will be remembered for hiswarmth and generosity and for hisperceptive insights into the complexand challenging field that is Aboriginalaffairs.

ATSIC Kullarri Chairperson, RosettaSahanna-Pitt, on behalf of the ATSIC WACommisioners and Chairpersons.

Puggy Hunter was an inspiration toeveryone involved with or interested inIndigenous health. He was admiredand respected by the AMA.

Puggy was a tireless worker for hispeople. Plagued by ill health for muchof his adult life, he always put thehealth of others ahead of his own. Hetravelled the country championing thecause of Indigenous Australians withsome of the worst health outcomes inthe world. He was a fearless advocate,not afraid to take on politicians andbureaucracies. And he was a man ofgreat compassion and commitment toimproving the health of IndigenousAustralian.

Puggy Hunter leaves an importantlegacy that must be carried on ifIndigenous Australians are to everenjoy health services and standardsthat other Australians take for granted.

Dr Kerryn Phelps, president of theAustralian Medical Association (AMA)

The example set of Puggy has been aninspiration to both the Board ofManagement and staff of GoondirHealth Services. He was well respectedby all Australians. To us he was a greatambassador, a fighter for AboriginalHealth and a person who related wellon a social level. We will mourn hispassing.

Brian Riddiford, CEO, Goondir HealthServices, Dalby, Queensland

“The bottom line is no matter how good our intentions are, or how hard we work, and

how much we concentrate on best practice, ACCHSs can't do all they need to do without

adequate resourcing.”

Puggy on: Resources Feb 2000.

My memories of Puggy includegrowing up in Parap Camp (Darwin)at the age of nine years he won a pie-eating contest. I also remember himtrying to convince a nun, by statingthat he only threw the stone into thetree, and the bird just fell down deadhimself. And the memories of his fightsand demand for the betterment ofAboriginal and Torres Strait Islanderhealth. Sadly missed my brother. Mylove to Blondie, Aunty Dora andfamily.

Mick Adams Queensland Aboriginal and Islander HealthForum

Puggy and Dr Kerryn Phelps

Doctors are like ticks

around a dog’s arse in the

city, but out in remote

areas, you need to go out

spot lighting to find them!



The North Coast AboriginalCorporation for Community Health(NCACCH) on the Sunshine Coast ofQueensland would like to pay specialtribute to Puggy for all the hard workhe put in to improving the health of allIndigenous people across the nation.He will be sadly missed and is a greatloss for our people. Our thoughts arewith his family at this time and he willbe remembered always.

The North Coast Aboriginal Corporationfor Community Health Committee andmembers, QLD

He was a very dedicated manregarding the improvement of healthoutcomes for his people. He will besorely missed.

Centre for Rural and Remote Oral Health

He has been such a strong andarticulate advocate for Aboriginalcommunity control in Aboriginalhealth matters and will be sorelymissed. This man’s death will not passunnoticed. His struggles against thosein political power who have continuedto resist Aboriginal peoples rights tocommunity control and selfdetermination will have a continuinginfluence on Aboriginal-non Aboriginalrelations into the future. Hiscontribution to strategies that will leadto the eventual attainment of equity inhealth in Australia is immeasurable.

Some may not have acted on themessages he so forcefully put but fewcould say that they had not heard him.I look forward to the time when theactions that he has called for areimplemented in more substantial waysthan has occurred in the past.

David Paul, University of WesternAustralia

“Everybody feels a bit sad

and sorry for the status of

Aboriginal health. It’s like

a trophy that you pull

down once a year and

polish it up and then you

put it back in a glass

cabinet because you don’t

want to do anything with

it, but you still own it.”

Puggy on: Statistics and Reports

The Board, management and staff ofPika Wiya sincerely extend ourcondolences to the family of Puggyand to all the NACCHO staff who hadthe privilege of working with such adetermined advocate for thebetterment of Aboriginal health.

Pika Wiya Health Service Incorporated,Port Augusta, SA

Ian Ring

As a man and a leader, Puggy was atowering figure. I last spoke to himwhen he phoned me in Moscow abouta soon to be released report, and hadno inkling then that this immenselylikeable man with great warmth, charmand wit would be taken from us sosoon.

As a leader, he was a voice ofmoderation and wisdom. He had aunique way of expressing controversialand complex ideas with greatsimplicity and humour. People turnednaturally to him for direction andadvice on the contents and politics ofAboriginal health. He gaveunstintingly of himself and till the endmade the trip across Australia toTownsville to chair our James CookUniversity Indigenous HealthAdvisory Committee – a functionwhich he filled with great distinction.

He was loved as a man and his passingleaves a huge void that will be hard tofill.

Farewell and God bless Puggy Hunter.

Professor Ian Ring

Puggy Hunter I am a better person forknowing you.

Thank you for teaching me so much,your patience and inspiration.

We always demanded so much fromyou.

That bloody mobile of yours wouldring constantly. (I remember frustrationat trying to get through to it!)

Whether you were giving a keynote ata conference or at yet another meeting,during the breaks people wouldclamour to speak with you, eager todiscuss what you were saying. Youwere always so giving of your valuabletime.

I remember being with you atParliament House and on the way outyou’d always call in on MPs orSenators (without an appointment)who’d drop whatever they doing forthe chance to ask you what the realproblems and solutions were.

When you were in Canberra, a few ofus from the Secretariat would go towhere you were dialysing, papers inhand. You’d pass me over yoursunglasses – teasing me for not beinggood around blood. I’d only bewanting you to clear a media release orarticle – but I would get much morethan that. Laughter, encouragement,awareness, outrage, friendship. And I’dhead back to the office full of ideas.

I’m angry you died at just 50 years ofage.

Australia has much to answer for.

Kirstie HansenMedia Officer, NACCHO

‘like pissing on a bush fire’

Referring to incremental increasesin funding for Aboriginal health.Puggy and Kirstie Hansen



The Board of Management and staff ofthe Aboriginal Health Council of SouthAustralia pays tribute to the late DrPuggy Hunter for his dedicated effortsto work

towards an improvement in Aboriginalhealth status. Puggy had a keen

interest in the affiliate organisationsand was a frequent guest at meetings

of the AHCSA. He contributed greatlyand will be sadly missed by all.

Les Kropinyeri, Acting ChairpersonAboriginal Health Council of SouthAustralia, WA

“What Aboriginal health

means to Aboriginal

people is being sick and

disabled is normal. We are

constantly losing family

and friends. Our young

people are losing hope. We

are constantly planning

our lives around funerals.

We are tired of burying our

people.”

Puggy on: The urgency for action, July

1999

Puggy was a vital force in placingAboriginal health high on the Collegeagenda. He worked tirelessly with theRACGP Aboriginal Health TrainingWorking Group , providing inspirationand direction in developing ourAboriginal health training program.His wisdom and advice enhanced theCollege’s understanding of thecomplex issues surrounding Aboriginalhealth and ensured our Aboriginalhealth training was delivered inpartnership with Aboriginalcommunity controlled healthorganisations.

Puggy also assisted us with thedevelopment and launch of our policyon Aboriginal health and it was underhis leadership that we established aneffective working partnership with theNational Aboriginal CommunityControlled Health Organisation(NACCHO) on Aboriginal health. Wewill miss Puggy’s keen insight, hiscourage and determination and mostof all his ability to “tell it like it is.”

Dr Paul Hemming, President, The RoyalAustralian College of General Practitioners

‘hug a blackie courses’

Referring to superficial cross-

cultural training programs.

You talk about funding

holistic health. You’ve got

funding for the kidney,

funding for the eye,

funding for the ear – tell me

have you got funding for

the arsehole?

‘one meeting, people!’In Board meetings, when more thanone conversation was happening.

The first time I brushed shoulders withPuggy was at the Cairns NACCHOmeeting in 1993. He was up on thedais; there was a couple of us and Iwas chairing the meeting too, we’d hada series of national workshops on theNACCHO secretariat – anyway therewere microphones with a sound baseon the table, because it was a fair sizedroom and he pointed to the bottom andon it someone had written a joke. Itgoes something like this.

Q. How can you tell how manyAboriginals there are in the pub?

A. Drive past it and count the numberof red Falcons.

That is my first memory, my lastcontact was when he was in theCanberra hospital (having dialysis) justprior to my going to New Zealand andKirstie Hansen put him on the phoneand I had the chance to have a laughwith him. He wanted me to bring himback a Maori woman and I said to himwhat would I do with a woman? ThenI said that well, he could have a Maoriwoman then I could have a man andwe had a good old laugh together. Wellyou could always get a laugh out ofPuggy. And when he got sick after thecat scratched him -– you could justimagine the ‘pussy’ jokes!

There are so many things I want to saybut I just wanted to share thesememories with you all.

To me you were kind and gentle andsincere and I shall miss you Puggy.

Mary MartinCo-ordinator Workforce IssuesQAIHF

Our thoughts and hearts go out to thefamily of the later Dr Arnold (Puggy)Hunter both at a personal level and asan ardent fighter for the cause ofAboriginal health in this nation. Hewill be sadly missed.

Ceduna/Koonibba Aboriginal HealthService, Ceduna, SA

If it wasn’t for Puggy Hunter, JurrugkHealth Service would not be where it istoday. He was able to get better healthservices for our people along the GibbRiver Road.

Puggy understood and worked in atruly Aboriginal community controlledway. He was really good at talking topeople on the ground in remotecommunities.

In this sorry time, we are thinkingabout his family.

Jurrugk Health ServiceCommittee, members and staff.

Kupungarri, Ngallagunda, Dodnun andImintji Communities

Gibb River Road, WA


The least they could do is

ask us before they jump in

bed with us. Instead we

wake up with them

screwing us.

Referring to organisations thatdon’t properly consult withAboriginal people.

I’m going to get gudyaas

to sit on the NACCHO

Board – at least those

gudyaas come to meetings

on time!

“Getting the Framework

Agreements signed was

like pulling teeth. We are

not holding our breath that

they will suddenly solve

all the problems, but they

are a step in the right

direction. We hope the

benefits will flow through

to communities – racism

and lack of national

political leadership on

Aboriginal issues means it

is often two steps forward,

one step back.”

Puggy on: Framework Agreements,

Sept 1998


Puggy was from our nation, the nationof survivors in Australia. He workedtirelessly and relentlessly to make achange. You would call him a‘catalyst’, maybe he wouldn’t approveof that word, he probably describedhimself differently. As one of our greatleaders the thing which made himdifferent to others was how he worked.He had an ability to make us laugh athimself, ourselves and at others. Hegave us those moments of laughterwhen we most needed them.

He has left a “space” which may not befilled. Maybe his funny side of thingswill help us to keep up the fight forbetter health and conditions, for ourmob and those ‘busted-arse clinics’.

Western Australian AboriginalCommunity Controlled HealthOrganisation

The Governing Committee and Staff ofthe Riverina Medical and DentalAboriginal Corporation Wagga WaggaNSW, take this opportunity to conveytheir deepest sympathies to the familyand friends of the late Dr PuggyHunter. Dr Hunter will be rememberedfor his tireless commitment toadvancing the cause of Aboriginalpeople. His motivation and resolveremain an inspiration.

With deepest respect.

The Governing Committee and Staff,Riverina Medical and Dental AboriginalCorporation, Wagga Wagga, NSW

Dr Arnold “Puggy” Hunter had asignificant impact on the response ofthe National Public Health PartnershipGroup to the health issues ofAboriginal and Torres Strait Islanderpeople.

Puggy’s involvement in thePartnership began with representationof NACCHO on the Partnership’sAdvisory Group. A substantial IssuesPaper from NACCHO in 1999influenced the Partnership Group’sdecision to establish the Aboriginal andTorres Strait Islander Working Group.The Working Group was Chaired byPuggy and had recently obtainedendorsement for a work programlooking initially at injury prevention;public health law; oral health; publichealth workforce; and environmentalhealth.

The support given by Puggy Hunterhas been invaluable in thedevelopment and implementation of amore strategic focus in the Partnershipon Aboriginal and Torres StraitIslander public health issues. It is acredit to Puggy and the NACCHO thatthis work can be progressed throughboth the formal and informal networksthat are part of his legacy.

National Public Health Partnership


Puggy and Henry Councillor

Puggy with two of his children Amber and Troy


“We are still waiting for the day when there are ACCHSs in all communities that need them.

Many of us are growing tired of waiting, sitting in meeting after meeting trying to get

politicians, bureaucrats and health professionals to see the light can be discouraging.”

March 1999

‘We're the two fat bastards

of Aboriginal health!’

Talking about himself and LouisPeachey, President of theAustralian Indigenous DoctorsAssociation

My staff and I wish to express ourdeepest condolences to Puggy's family,the NACCHO Board and Secretariat.

Puggy was an inspiration to us all. Ourmemories are of a great man, a friend,a big heart and a huge agenda forAboriginal people. His work andachievements have benefited us all andwill not be forgotten.

We will strive forward in Puggy'smemory.

Basil Sumner, Chief Executive Officer Aboriginal Sobriety Group Inc, Adelaide,SA

Puggy – a friend and supporter of allAboriginal Community ControlledHealth Services, big or small, heextended a helping hand to all of us.He will remain in our hearts and livesforever. We share the sorrow.

Puggy, a man of vision and depth whoachieved his goals, how honored weare to have known and been inspiredby you.

Our deepest expression of sympathy isextended to Puggy’s family andfriends.

The mob from the Bourke AboriginalHealth Service, NSW

Miwatj Health Aboriginal Corporationextends our deepest sympathy to thefamilies of Dr Arnold "Puggy" Hunter.

Puggy was a close friend to many ofthe Board and Staff of Miwatj and hiscontribution to Aboriginal Health willbe sorely missed.

Puggy, we will miss your good humorand wonderful personality. It was aprivilege and an honor to work withyou.

We will miss you mate.

Miwatj Health Aboriginal Corporation, NTDr Hunter represented NACCHO in anumber of different HIC forums overthe years, most recently on the HICConsumer Advocacy Committee. Heprovided invaluable insight as amember of the Steering Committee forthe Keys Young report on Aboriginaland Torres Strait Islander access to HICprograms including Medicare and thePharmaceutical Benefits Scheme. DrHunter continued to provide supportto HIC in implementing initiatives toaddress the report’s recommendations.

Dr Hunter’s passion for health issuesfor Aboriginal people and communitycontrol of Aboriginal Health Serviceshas had a positive influence and willlong be remembered.

Dr Geoff Harmer, Health InsuranceCommission

Puggy was nearing a half-century – thetime of life when most non-Indigenousmales are at the peak of their career,with two or three decades at least tolook forward to.

Although he was the first toacknowledge that the statistics werenot on his side, his passing is a greatloss, especially in the field ofIndigenous health.

I have known and worked with Puggyover a number of decades now andalthough we didn’t always see eye-to-eye on issues, I had considerablerespect for him and the amount ofwork he undertook in Indigenoushealth and community affairs right upto the present.

Puggy was not one to let his ownhealth shortcomings stop him.

He was, as his name suggests, apugnacious and forceful advocate onthe need to address Indigenous healthissues.

Philip RuddockFederal Minister for Reconciliation andAboriginal and Torres Strait IslanderAffairs.


NACCHO Executive Committee Members, February 1999


Monday 3rd September marked a hugeloss in the national cause forAboriginal health.

It was on that day that our dear friendand colleague, Dr Puggy Hunter,passed away.

No one was more highly regarded inNACCHO than Puggy. He was ourundisputed leader; a man who notonly guided the organisation with afirm and caring hand, but who wasthere for each and every member on anindividual basis whenever he saw theneed. Nationally, there was no onemore respected for his honesty andunique negotiating style. He wouldchip, chip away at the politicians and,slowly and surely, over time, he wouldmove mountains. There is not oneAboriginal Medical Service that has notbenefited from his tireless efforts.There is not one Aboriginal MedicalService who will not feel his loss.

It is with the greatest regret that wemark the passing of Dr Puggy Hunter.Our hearts go out to all his familymembers in their loss, and also to hismany friends and associates at theKimberley Aboriginal Medical Service.

… a generous heart feels others’ ills asif it were responsible for them.

Rachel Atkinson, Director NACCHO Board of Directors, and staff Townsville Aboriginal and Islanders HealthServices Limited, QLD.

To Puggy's family, the NACCHO Boardand Secretariat.

My staff and I are greatly saddened bythe passing away of our friend andrespected leader, Puggy Hunter.

We were priviledged to enjoy hiscompany on numerous visits toNunkuwarrin Yunti. Whilst I will misshim as a colleague on the NACCHOBoard, my staff will miss him for thefriendship he bestowed to all. Puggyalways took the time to say hello toeveryone.

Puggy, we at Nunkuwarrin Yuntiintend to make your spirit live on inour endeavour to ensure the deliveryof equitable health services toAboriginal people in a culturallyappropriate and community controlledmanner. Your tireless empathetic andstrategic disposition will be ourguiding light.

Polly Sumner, Chief Executive Officer Nunkuwarrin Yunti of South AustraliaInc, Adelaide, SA

To reflect on the impact of the life ofour dear brother has made to us anindividuals, members of our communityand more importantly working in anAMS, leaves many of us at a loss forwords to describe the most importantfeature or memory that we have.

I clearly recall his quick wit, having ananswer for whatever issue was beingdiscussed. This often calmed any tensionthat may have existed at the time, butalso gave all of us the opportunity tohave a good belly laugh. This skill israre and us in AMSs often waited forthe comment that would bring us backto the issue being discussed.

His view on all health and social issues,finger on the pulse with everyone andeverything, and his utmost commitmentto the progress of Aboriginal affairs isequal to and above what averagepeople can achieve in their lifetime.

The memory of Puggy will remain inour hearts and in our minds. Our sincerethoughts are with the family, relativesand friends of a man who meant somuch to all of us in the fight for accessto health services for our people.

To our brother and friend‘Though life’s journey is at endYour humour and smileWill be with us each mileAs you are now at restWe have lost one of the best

Christine CorbyCEO, Walgett Aboriginal Medical ServiceCo-operative Ltd, NSW

Lee Anne Daley, the former CEO of the Wellington Aboriginal Corporation Health Service

(WACHS) recollects when Puggy visited Wellington, NSW, with the House of Representatives

Standing Committee Inquiry into Indigenous Health.

“The Committee arrived at WACHS in several limousines, the next stop was Nanima Village.

Outside of WACHS there was much discussion with Puggy and myself about who was going

in what car. Puggy was quick to jump in one of the WACHS vehicles. I asked Puggy how was

it driving around in the big flash limos? He said, ‘it makes you shamed, like I am Elvis Presley,

I sit up front and make out I am the body guard’. That was Puggy, never any airs and graces.”

“The Australian thought

of giving a fair go to

everybody seems to fall

away when we’re talking

about Aboriginal people.”

Puggy on: Human Rights



Bi-partisan approach needed

In a year where six elections will be heldthroughout Australia, including theFederal election, we urgently need allpolitical parties to commit to bi-partisansupport for Aboriginal health.

We've all experienced it, a program –say a men's health program to deal withanger management – gets up andrunning but all too soon a newgovernment comes to power. Thatservice is then dumped in favor ofsomething the new government thinkswill work. The resources or tools for theprogram are left to gather dust or rust,and the expertise and skills developedby those running the program wasted.As for the clients – we do our best tocontinue to provide that same carewithin our existing services.

Of course this scenario does not justoccur when new governments winoffice, but it is also often the case whenpilot projects are run but get no ongoingfunding, or successful programs are cutbecause the purse strings are pulledclosed after 12 months.

But in a year when so many electionswill take place, we need to put an end tothe zigzagging and change in thedirection of Aboriginal health that goeson every time our governments change.We urgently need cross partycommitment to long term strategies thatwill improve our people's health.

Earlier this year, the Federal ShadowDefence Minister Dr Stephen Martin said,"if there is one issue which generallyenjoys something like 97% or 98% bi-partisan support in this Parliament it isAustralia's National Defence".

So when it comes to policy direction inDefence, as Dr Martin says, it continuesto be reflected "over a long period oftime through a number of differentgovernments of different politicalpersuasion".

This approach needs to happen inAboriginal health. We can not afford toreinvent the wheel every time a newparty wins government. The Maori,American and Canadian Indianexperience has shown that – with thepolitical will – significant improvementin life expectancy rates can be achievedin just a few decades. For this tohappen in Australia, we need ourpoliticians to think beyond three-yearelections cycles and adopt a bi-partisan

approach to Aboriginal health, whichensures long term strategies andfunding for improvement.

We must also lock in mechanisms to'keep the bastards honest'.

In the past 20 years, there have beencountless inquiries and reports intoAboriginal health.

The recommendations they make time

and time again are about the need forself-determination and communitydevelopment for Aboriginal people at alllevels of health service delivery, and tostop the buck passing between theCommonwealth and State governments.The problems in Aboriginal health arewell know and there is widespreadagreement about what needs to be done.What we need now is for our politiciansto start acting.

Take for example the Health is LifeReport on the Inquiry into IndigenousHealth, which was conducted by aHouse of Representatives Committeecomprising members of both majorparties. The Government responded tothe report in May this year, on the sameday that the Federal Budget was handeddown. (What better way to avoid mediascrutiny of its response than to release itwhen the press was focused onreporting Budget news).

One of the key recommendations of theHealth is Life Report was that:

"The Commonwealth accept it has themajor responsibility for the provision ofprimary health care to IndigenousAustralian".

The Government's response:

"The Government accepts thisrecommendation but notes that thisresponsibility is shared with State andTerritory Governments."

Another key recommendation was that:

"Consistent with internationalexperience Australian governmentsmust recognise the need to commit

adequate resources, including tocommunity controlled primary healthcare and environmental health services."

The Government accepted therecommendation.

But when the Budget was announcedlater that night, there was no newfunding for Aboriginal communitycontrolled health services, despite theoverwhelming need.

Our sector must meet six monthlyperformance indictors in order to getfunding – where are the penalties forgovernments not meeting performanceindicators and implementing agreedplans and recommendations?

AMSs need to be able to get on withwhat we do best, providing culturallyappropriate primary health care to ourpeople.

What we need from ourparliamentarians is long term certainty,accountability and the political will tobring our health status in line with therest of Australia.

Puggy Hunter,NACCHO Chairperson

A last message

The following ‘Message From the Chairperson’ was written prior to Puggy Hunter’s untimely death, it wasintended for publication in NACCHO News.

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