Medical research supporter honoured

At the Faculty of Medicine graduation ceremony held last month, long-time supporter of medical research Mr Ray Williams received an honorary Doctor of Laws for his significant contribution to medical science.

Founder and chief executive of HIH Insurance Ltd, one of Australia's top 100 companies on the stock exchange, Mr Williams has been an advisory board member of the Monash Institute of Reproduction and Development since 1997 and is one of its major benefactors.

Monash Institute director Professor David de Kretser said this was "well-deserved recognition for an unsung hero of medical research in this country".

"He has a genuine interest and desire to further medicine through financial support and encouragement," Professor de Kretser said.

In addition to supporting the institute, Mr Williams is deputy chairman of Macfarlane Burnet Centre for Medical Research, and vice-president of the Royal Hospital for Women Foundation. He is also a life governor of the Royal NSW Institute for Deaf and Blind Children and on the board of the Garvan Institute of Medical Research. As well, he is a major benefactor of Sydney's New Children's Hospital and has endowed a Chair in Cardiology at the North Shore Heart Research Foundation.

- Tracy Hocking

Young water scientist of the year

Dr Margaret Hellard from the Department of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine has won the Young Water Scientist of the Year Award at the WaterTECH Conference which took place recently.

Dr Hellard, who represented the CRC for Water Quality and Treatment, won the award with a presentation on 'A randomised controlled trial investigating the gastrointestinal health effects of drinking water'.

She received a certificate and $2000 from the CRC Water Forum.

The CRCs making up the Water Forum group are the CRC for Catchment Hydrology, the CRC for Coastal Zone, Estuary and Waterway Management, the CRC for Freshwater Ecology, the CRC for Waste Management and Pollution Control, and the CRC for Water Quality and Treatment.

Dr Hellard will present results from the study at a seminar in the Department of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, third floor, 553 St Kilda Road, Melbourne. The seminar will take place on 8 May at 3.30 pm.