Australian Dental Journal. October, 1980 249

OCTOBER. 1980 Volume 25 :: Number 5

Reflections

The President’s Message

As the end of my four years as President approaches, the time is opportune to reflect on the aspirations and hopes of what could be achieved and what actually was accomplished during this period.

Despite the effort and endeavour maintained in most enterprises. there is always a feeling that more might have been achieved. that problems may have been dealt with in a different fashion. that there may have been a better way to develop some project. Reflections (I

po.~/~vior . i inevitably have the trait of regret, no matter how one may try to put this aside. However, what has been accomplished, and I believe there is much to be pleased with. could not have been done without an efficient and loyal staff--the engine which provides the constant power. The President’s task is to ensure that the engine maintains this power, acceleration or retardation being applied when his judgement indicates the need for intervention or adaptation to changing conditions, much ;IS the Captain on the bridge has to remain alert. read the signs. assess the data, and take appropriate action.

When the Editor requested a contribution from me, my first reaction was: what can 1 write about? If every- thing that has been attempted and much that has been accomplished is to be mentioned then the reader will becomc tired and the aim of this essay would be lost. I have. therefore, selected a few important items that I believe admirably reflect the work of your Association ofwhich I have had the good fortune to be President.

H

Firstly, there was the Jubilee Congress which did much more than bring together your fellow members for the scientific presentations. clinical demonstrations. trade exhibition and social functions. I t marked the first fifty years in the history of our Association: it was a focal point drawing attention to what has been accom- plished despite our early isolation in both academic and professional fields.

With our vast distances and the need for a variety of solutions to local problems, the importance of the National Congresses cannot be denied. They afford our State Branches the opportunity and the responsi- bility of active participation in promoting the welfare of the Association and its members. The outstanding success of Convention Hobart, the first national event the Tasmanian Branch has promoted, completely mani- fested this.

The Association grew from humble beginnings and. concomitant with its development and increased re- sponsibilities. we have now established an excellent suite of ottices where the President and senior officers can receive visitors and conduct interviews and negotiations in an environment appropriate to the dignity expected from a national professional organiza- tion. The offices enable the various committees to meet and have the assistance of the staff, and they contain the Sir John Hall Best Memorial Library and the John M . Newton Council Room. The facilities within the office have been extended commensurate with the needs and

250 Australian Dental Journal. October, 1980

brief adequately the President who is confronted by a most difficult exercise in maintaining self-control.

One item of major importance to the practice of dentistry has been the implementation of the Pharma- ceutical Benefits Scheme for the benefit of dentists' patients. This is an example o f a project which required many years to bring t o fruition. I am sure that members become impatient for changes to take place. This is not unexpected since they are unaware of the necessity to convince political parties and Government departments. of the delays encountered by changes in officers within the Government, and the delays wrought by other matters: and if success is achieved. the further delays arising during the drafting of legislation, its introduction in the programme o f the parliamentary agenda. and then finally the establishment of administrative mechan- isms. In the case of Pharmaceutical Benefits, ten years were required to finalise this proposal during the last four years of which there was general agreement by all the parties involved

The Workshop, "Planning Dental Health Care". held during May 1978 absorbed a great deal of time in planning and organization. However. i t was a most worthwhile project since i t brought together the widest possible spectrum of members of the profession who were able to discuss specialised areas o f the subject. formulate proposals for dealing with snme of the problems currently existing. and anticipate future ones.

At least two Presidential visits to each State Branch have been made. Meetings have been held with senior officers in the Government services. with the Ministers for Health, the Director-General of Health. Dental Board Presidents, and Deans of Dental Schools. In addition. meetings have been held with representatives of the Department of Veterans' Afairs. Tertiary Education Commission, Department of Immigration. Health Funds. and Health Insurance Commission.

A matter ofsome importance to the profession and the community has been the imposition of tarilfs on dental materials. You will be aware ofthis item which has been the subject of discussion in the Neiix Btr//c,/in and has promoted controversy from one of the local manu- facturers. Careful submissions were prepared and made to the Industries Assistance Commission. but the outcome. as is now well known. resulted in an increase in tariffs on a wide range of dental materials.

I t is not possible within the ambit of this brief Report to enter into discussion on all aspects of the work and activities of the Association. but one cannot overlook the forum of international dental organizations the Federation Dentaire Internationale. The Australian Dental Association has gained recognition in its Council. Commissions, and from contributions to scientific programmes. This was patently obvious during my visits to the Congresses of the FDI held during the years 1975- 1980 in Chicago. Athens. Madrid, Paris. and Hamburg. As Vice-chairman of the Commission on

demands made upon the Association through the activities of its committees.

A major addition is the new "in-house" computer system which will permit rapid adjustment of member- ship records, more immediate and effective control of their reliability. and will expedite the processing of data acquired from various surveys. The computer system is also designed to perform such functions as word processing. accounting. printing of mailing labels. and other items as required by the Secretariat.

Furthermore, there is great potential for its use by State Branches and AHiliated Societies should these organizations have a need and desire to use the services.

In an endeavour to assist members of the public in providing appropriate dental care for themselves, the Association had explored and obtained advice on the possibility of establishing a contributor scheme for defraying the costs to the individual for dental treatment either for himself or for his dependents. As a result Australian Dental Plans was established and. although this fund made some useful progress with most organiza- tions, i t was unsuccessful primarily due to one specific contract and difficult employer-employee problems at the time. Obligations were accepted by the Association and the profession, and the fund was terminated satis- factorily. The response of the profession in honouring these obligations ensured that its image remained untarnished. and I wish to record my admiration for the generous support of so many members in this difficult situation. The fund had been established in good faith and was a courageous attempt to assist patients in re- ceiving good dental service. However, we did learn about many of the problems of administering a dental benefits fund and that has been invaluable to the Association in dealing with other health funds who have subsequently entered into dental schemes.

The perennial subject of fluoridation of community water supplies has aroused. at times, great disputation despite its acceptance public health measure by the National Health and Medical Research Council. the World Health Organization. the Federation Dentaire Internationale, the Australian Medical Association, and our own Association. Unfortunately, those opposed to the use of this measure, because they are experts in arousing controversy, gain ready access to the various communications media and consequently, much time is devoted to refuting their statements which appear to be c.\- cur/wclra announcements, but are in fact based on unsound assessment of scientific data and lack of knowledge of the subject. The problems are exacerbated from time to time when people supported by flamboyant publicity, skilled in the art of implanting anxiety in the minds of others, and promoted by radio, television, and newspapers, come to our country having been dis- credited in their own. In these situations the President must make appropriate comment from time to time and this requires constant and detailed research by the staff on current aspects of the issue involved in order t o

Australian Dental Journal. October, 1980 25 1

Dental Practice, papers were presented on the Survey of Dental Technician Training and Licensure, Working Relationships, and Denturist Legislation. Papers have also been presented to the Osaka Dental Society in 1978, to the Scientific Meeting in Dublin 1979. and to meetings in Madrid. Kuala Lumpur, and Hamburg.

An important task was that of representing the Association at the Centenary Celebrations of the British Dental Association held in London. July 1980. Here the opportunity was taken to express the good wishes of the Australian dental profession and to demonstrate the ties which bind us to our heritage. A practical expression of the appreciation was made in the form of a gift-a Could print of two Australian native birds, Eastern Shrike Tits /Fa/iuncu/us frontcrtusl-to the British Dental Association. A most pleasant interlude during this visit was in meeting His Royal Highness the Duke of Edinburgh who had accepted the position of President of Honour for the Centenarv Year.

As President of the Australian Dental Association I have been accorded a level of recognition which would not have been possible without the efforts of those officers and members who have participated in former years and have demonstrated the quality of professional achievement reached in Australia. This quality has been recognized by the international lecturers and visitors who have come to our country over a number of years.

A further item. which is sometimes overlooked, bears comment. I refer to the co-operation the Associa- tion has received from the ethical members of the dental trade. They have demonstrated from time to time that their interest in the dental profession extends well beyond the commercial parameters and that they have a genuine concern for the advancement of the profession in Australia. Special mention must be made of their support and participation in the Australian Dental Research and Education Trust. During my terms as President I have represented the Association as a Trustee and I have been in a position to appreciate the value of the co-operation from the dental trade and the excellent use made of the funds that have been accumulated since the inception of the Trust.

I have mentioned but a few of the major matters which engaged my attention during the four exciting years of office and I hope that from these you will gain a broad view of what your Association has achieved, of the experience and expertise its officers and staff

have acquired over the years and which helped me enormously.

As to the future: a decline of standards is evident in contemporary society and this has come about, in part, because sensitivities are dulled, a little at a time-like a cancer the crosion creeps into life unnoticed and unchallenged. The best defence against this decline of standards is a personal set of values and principles. and a resolution that they will not be affected by outward decline. The purveyors and promoters of a decline in standards respect no person and feel no responsibility to principles. Their main motive is money, and the real losers are the recipients of their services. In our Associa- tion there is still a solid and respected majority of members who have high standards and who give ex- pression to them in their daily work. They are the greatest defence against decline.

The one aspect I have really come to appreciate is that the Australian Dental Association is its members. Everything that is achieved is a team effort, some activities use a small team. some a large team. There are members who give much time and expertise while others contribute only by silent support-to varying degrees we all play a part, and the President receives the brickbats and the accolades as the titular head.

In summation, as my term of otfice closes. may I say the experience has been unforgettable. 1 have been enriched in character. 1 have been graced with new friendships, I have received help from sources I never expected, and I have been treated with the greatest of respect by all with whom I have been associated. Concerning this last aspect, I am indebted to the previous Presidents who had established the integrity and sincerity of the office and I know that my successor will benefit from this heritage.

For the four most valued years of my life, I thank my family, my partner, the stam, executive officers, Councillors, committee members, the dental traders. Government servants, Ministers of Government. Dental Faculties. Dental Boards. and other government agencies. At all times I have tried to serve faithfully in the best interests of dentistry and the community.

August 20, 1980.