Courting the Greats

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Tags: Alumnus of the Year, awards and prizes, centenary, Sir Llew Edwards, summer-2010

2010 Alumnus of the Year winners (from left): Dr Nat Yuen, Robert Dann and Sir Llew Edwards

Two esteemed graduates who studied medicine together almost half a century ago were honoured at a University of Queensland gala dinner on July 3.

In front of several hundred guests, former long-serving Chancellor Sir Llew Edwards AC was named the University’s 2010 Alumnus of the Year, and Dr Nat Yuen became the International Alumnus of the Year.

The Courting the Greats Centenary event was held at the UQ Centre and featured popular actor and alumnus Bille Brown as Master of Ceremonies and award winning pianists Dr Liam Viney and Dr Anna Grinberg.

Sir Llew said he was “absolutely thrilled” that his long-term friend and former classmate had been recognised with the International Alumnus of the Year award.

“It couldn’t have gone to a nicer person,” Sir Llew said.

“When I became UQ Chancellor and started going to Hong Kong each year for graduation ceremonies about 17 years ago, Nat and I would always catch up, and we would do the same on his regular visits to Australia.”

Sir Llew, born and raised in Ipswich, said his father would allow him to pursue higher study only after he had completed a four-year electrical apprenticeship.

Sir Llew finished his medical degree in 1965 and worked as a GP for 10 years, in which time he delivered 2500 babies. He then went on to be the State Member for Ipswich, the Queensland Minister for Health, Treasurer and Deputy Premier.

He was Executive Chairman of World Expo 88, and served as UQ’s Chancellor for 16 years until his retirement in 2009.

He was Queenslander of the Year in 1988, and in June was named a “Queensland Great”.

Sir Llew said his UQ connections had always given him “very great pride”.

Dr Yuen said accepting his award was a great honour.

After receiving his medical degree in 1965, Dr Yuen worked at the Princess Alexandra Hospital and at the Bundaberg General Hospital.

He moved back to his hometown of Hong Kong in 1969 and opened a medical practice in 1975, which still operates.

Dr Yuen has served on numerous medical boards, professional committees and councils in Hong Kong. In 1995, UQ awarded Dr Yuen an Honorary Doctor of Medicine and, in the same year, Dr Yuen donated The Nat Yuen Collection of Chinese Antiquities to UQ to coincide with the re-opening of Customs House in Brisbane.

The collection spans more than 5000 years and is valued at more than $1.5 million.

Also recognised at the event was Robert Dann, a Middle East peace negotiator with the United Nations who was named UQ Young Alumnus of the Year.

Mr Dann is regularly engaged in negotiations and consultations involving Israel, the West Bank, Gaza, the broader Arab world and the UN Security Council.

Coincidentally, Mr Dann’s father Des worked at Princess Alexandra Hospital alongside Sir Llew and Dr Yuen, graduating a year ahead of them in 1964.

Supporting the Courting the Greats event were sponsors Peabody Energy, Theme and Variations, Tynan Mackenzie and Staging Connections.

By Fiona Cameron

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