Four of Australia’s most well-known medical professionals who grew up face-to-face in the Covid-19 war have been awarded their role in controlling the disease.
Among them is a scholar who has always demanded severe restrictions, raised concerns about the ‘poor handling’ of the tragedy by the government and was a critic of one of his fellow recipients.
The four are among the 992 Australians identified in the Queen’s Birthday Honor List, including 92 recognized for their contribution in supporting the national response to Covid.
New South Wales chief medical officer Dr Kerry Chant has been appointed Australian Order Officer (AO) for his role in dealing with Covid-19. Dr. Chant who is normally unchangeable was widely known for announcing daily press conferences about Covid
Dr Brendan Murphy, who was the nation’s chief medical officer at the time of the tragedy, has been appointed Co-ordinator of the Australian Order of Defense (AC).
She joins Dr. Jeannette Young, former Queensland chief health officer and now governor of the province, to receive the highest honor in the Queen’s Birthday Honors List.
New South Wales’ directly speaking chief medical officer Dr Kerry Chant has been appointed Australian Command Officer (AO), under AC.
Covid pathologist and media analyst Professor Mary-Louise McLaws from NSW University has also been nominated for AO.
Victoria’s chief medical officer Professor Brett Sutton and former deputy chief medical officer Nick Coatsworth were not included in the list.
All four recipients were identified during the epidemic, with Dr. Chant, Dr. Young and Dr. Murphy presiding at daily press conferences with Professor McLaws becoming a specialist pathologist.
Covid pathologist and media analyst Professor Mary-Louise McLaws from NSW University has also been appointed Australian Order Officer. He was portrayed as a terrible man when he was critical of some of Covid’s actions
Regarding his new popularity, he once told ABC: ‘I had people on my street who knew me for 20 years saying, “I saw you on TV – is that what you do?”‘
Although Dr. Chant and his grandfather Murphy were not severely affected by the decision-making process in the worst case scenario, others were not.
Dr Young was impressed by the federal government and commentators in June last year when he advised no one under the age of 40 to get the AstraZeneca vaccine because of the low risk of freezing effect.
In August he allowed a plane carrying more than 100 NRL wives, girlfriends, children and officers to fly to Brisbane from Sydney destroyed by Covid when the government was closed to foreign visitors.
Professor McLaws who spoke openly was shown as a shock when he was criticizing some of the measures to prevent and control Covid’s response to the federal government and NSW.
Dr. Jeannette Young, former Queensland chief health officer and now governor of the province, in receiving the highest award in the Queen’s Birthday Honors List. Dr Young was shocked when he advised no one under the age of 40 to get the AstraZeneca vaccine due to the low risk of blood clots.
He objected to Dr. Chant’s advice about time and severity and locks – demanding more and more – and in August demanded mandatory rules for wearing bracelets.
Professor McLaw’s quote reads: ‘For outstanding service in medical research, especially in epidemiological and preventive education, higher education, and health management.’
Serves a number of roles within the World Health Organization, is a consultant for Commonwealth organizations and is the author of more than 180 publications.
Professor McLaw, who has appeared regularly in the media to discuss Covid including Leo and The Project, was diagnosed with a brain tumor in January.
Sunday Project presenter Lisa Wilkinson burst into tears as she praised the scholar and thanked him for ‘being very generous with his knowledge’ as he shared Professor McLaw’s plight with the audience.
Dr Brendan Murphy, who was the nation’s chief medical officer at the time of the tragedy, has been appointed Co-ordinator of the Australian Order of Defense. He is now the secretary of the Commonwealth Health Department
“This evening we wanted to take the time to send our love to a dear friend of the period, epidemiologist Professor Mary-Louise McLaws,” Wilkinson said.
‘Mary-Louise, I think it’s fair to say that all of us here at The Project were disappointed to hear that news.
‘In these troubled times, your calm, well-informed information has been invaluable to millions of Australians across the country.
‘We would like to thank you very much for being generous with your knowledge, time and we wish you and your beautiful family all the strength in the world at this difficult time.’
‘Make sure you put your good husband in a good job.’
During his investigation Professor McLaws revealed he would be taking sick leave from his work with WHO and NSW University.
‘Thank you media for helping me spread knowledge. Now is the time with my family. All the best to you all, ‘he wrote on Twitter.
Earlier this year Professor McLaws said the refusal to distribute free antigen-free tests across Australia showed ‘state explosive control failed.’
Last June Professor McLaws criticized Dr. Chant’s decision and then NSW Prime Minister Gladys Berejiklian not to send Sydney immediately closed as the Covid Delta dialect was spreading.
In August he called for the extension of the locks to the number of new daily cases that are not completely excluded to zero, and for the mandatory use of an external mask.
Professor McLaws also demanded that more be done to prevent the spread of the Omicron variant over the Christmas period, saying more attention was paid to vaccination standards and not to social isolation measures.
The Dr. Murphy Award is for ‘outstanding service to medical and community health management, particularly as Chief Medical Officer, and nephrology, research and innovation, and professional organizations.’
Victoria’s chief medical officer Professor Brett Sutton (left) and former deputy chief medical officer Nick Coatsworth (right) did not participate in the awards.
His appointment as secretary of the Commonwealth Health Department was delayed until July 2020 when he was in charge of the early days of Covid-19.
Dr Young was recognized as ‘a major provider of public health administration, medicine and medical research, to the higher education sector, and to the 27th Governor-elect in Queensland.’
He served as Queensland’s chief medical officer from 2005 to 2021 when he took over as vice president.
Dr. Chant’s honor recognizes ‘his distinguished service to the people of New South Wales through public health management and administration, and medicine.’
He has been the chief medical officer and deputy secretary general of Population and Health since 2008 and a member of the Cabinet Committee on Covid-19 Crisis since 2020.