Princess Alexandra Hospital’s 40 Years of Liver Transplant Celebration

Retired Australian transplant surgeon, Professor Russell Strong AC CMG RFD; ladies and gentlemen; girls and boys.

I would also like to acknowledge the Original Custodians of the lands around Brisbane, the Turrbal and Jagera people, and pay my respects to Elders past, present and emerging, and to any First Nations people here today.

Thank you, Juanita, for your kind introduction. I am delighted to be coming “home” to the Princess Alexandra Hospital – where I spent so many wonderful years – to celebrate 40 years of the Queensland Liver Transplant Service with you all.

In my role as Director of Medical Services here, I worked closely with the liver and renal services, and saw firsthand the incredible impact transplantation has—not only on seriously ill patients who have been given hope of a healthy future, but also on their grateful families.

I also saw how this second chance at life was delivered so capably, through the extraordinary expertise of the transplant surgeons, and the skilful dedication of healthcare staff.

In fact, donation and transplantation truly require a team effort:

• From the brave families who, in the face of immense personal heartbreak, make the decision to help others;
• The committed people who encourage organ donation, provide support and manage the donation process through the DonateLife program, frequently assisted by the Government Airwing;
• The remarkable surgeons who operate through the day and night to perform the transplant, with the invaluable support of the anaesthetists;
• And the intensivists, physicians, radiologists, pathologists, nurses, allied health professionals and scientists working to ensure that this complex process can proceed and the recipient recovers.

Each member of this team is a crucial contributor, and it makes me very proud to be associated with such an exceptional group of individuals—many of whom are here today—as I acknowledge, with tremendous gratitude, the beneficial impact they are all having on organ and tissue donation and transplantation in our state.

Of course, pivotal to today’s 40-year celebration, is the life-saving work of Professor Russell Strong—who on the 30^th of January 1985 made history, when he and his team performed Australia’s first successful liver transplant.

Just 6 weeks later, Professor Strong set another medical milestone—performing our nation’s first liver transplant on a child, the then 2-year-old Rhonda, before going on to develop the ‘Brisbane Technique’ for splitting livers, which is still used world-wide today.

He forged the path for the Princess Alexandra Hospital to become internationally recognised as a leading hospital for liver transplantation, and it is fair to say that there are many in this room who would not be here today, if not for his tenacity and prowess.

His contribution to our state and nation’s medical capabilities is as outstanding as it is significant, which is why I am so happy he has written a book, so more people can learn about how our state’s liver transplant service came into being.

And while much progress has been made over these 40 years—with the advancement of techniques, immune-suppression drugs, and the increased specialisation of care—what remains ever-central is compassion: an outstanding example of science and humanity working together to help save lives.

It is an absolute honour to be here today officially launch Professor Strong’s book entitled Queensland Liver Transplant Service—the First 40 Years, as I take this moment to commend him, for his trailblazing legacy, and to thank each of you for being part of this inspirational story.