Alumnus practises global giving

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Tags: community service, medicine, military, philanthropy, St John's College, summer-2011

UQ alumnus and donor Dr Peter Sharwood

It was 5am in late December 2004.

Travelling home from the Sunshine Coast, UQ alumnus Dr Peter Sharwood had just heard news that the devastating earthquake and tsunami in Indonesia were even more serious than initially expected.

In less than two hours, he had assembled a surgical team from across the country ready to tackle the chaos that awaited them in the crisis zone of Banda Aceh.

This no-nonsense approach exemplifies the orthopaedic surgeon’s philosophy to “get involved” and “get on with it”, and the many contributions he’s made to those in need around the world since graduating.

Dr Sharwood is a Colonel in the Australian Army, and at the time of the Boxing Day Tsunami was Director of Health Services Reserve Agency Queensland.

“The situation in Banda Aceh was total chaos – the medical system had collapsed and we had no surgical instruments – it was like a war zone,” Dr Sharwood said.

“We had to beg, borrow and steal to get what we needed – we improvised!”

Working in a conflict zone was not a new experience for Dr Sharwood, who has served continuously in the army since 1965 with postings to Rwanda, East Timor, the Solomon Islands, Iraq and Afghanistan.

He has operated in radically contrasting conditions: from a well-resourced, 20-surgeon team at the American Air Force hospital in Iraq, to being the sole surgeon in Bougainville, Papua New Guinea.

“There was one surgeon and one anaesthetist – so you had to deal with everything that came in the door,” he said.

This included a patient who had been in obstructed labour and would have died without an emergency caesarean section – the first Dr Sharwood had overseen in 25 years.

That experience was very different to Iraq.

“It was horrendous – the injuries were appalling, shocking,” he said.

“However, to work in a hospital with seven general surgeons; five orthopaedic surgeons; two neurosurgeons; a maxillofacial expert; ear nose and throat surgeon; ophthalmologist and a urologist was a great privilege and an exhilarating experience.

“You never knew what you’d be doing next – I once operated for 27 hours – you just did it.

“All this under the constant threat of mortar and rocket attacks that occurred almost daily. You often wore ‘battle rattle’ (personal protective equipment with helmet) over your clothes.”

Dr Peter Sharwood operates during a deployment with the Australian Army in Iraq

Having seen such trauma, Dr Sharwood said the camaraderie of working with a great team, not to mention “a good sense of humour”, helped.

His interest in studying medicine was never in question. The fourth son of the Warden of St John’s College, Dr Sharwood lived at the University from the age of nine.

“Mum wanted me to teach – I wasn’t interested as I’d been around teachers all my life, and medicine was a natural choice,” he said.

At University, he enlisted in the Queensland University Regiment because “it paid well”, and by age 19 was a Commissioned Officer in the infantry.

Dr Sharwood’s approach to life and his career is illustrated with examples of getting involved and giving back to his community.

He has been recognised for his community service with an Order of Australia Medal, a Humanitarian Overseas medal and multiple active services honours.

He attributes his achievements to his wife, Monica, and to their family (the couple have four daughters).

Dr Sharwood donates to a number of causes and has for many years been a donor and treasurer for the restoration fund at Holy Trinity Fortitude Valley, his parish church.

He has also given to UQ’s annual Chancellor’s Fund and to St John’s College for many years, including assisting the college’s restoration after a fire in 2005.

“I genuinely believe that giving is necessary. You get more back from doing it and people are very appreciative,” Dr Sharwood said.

“I’m happy to support the University’s broadest fund as they are in the best position to know how my donations should be spent.”

By Melissa Jeffreys

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