Two long-standing Interplast volunteers, Dr Ian Carlisle and Dr Tim Cooper, and strong supporter Dr Gill Hicks were honoured for their achievements with Australia Day honours this year.
Dr Carlisle joined Interplast at its inception in 1983, and has since volunteered his time and skill to change futures in Indonesia, Fiji and the Philippines.
He told The Age newspaper that he finds it satisfying to treat those with cleft palates, burns or disease who otherwise would not be helped.
Dr Cooper is based in Western Australia, and fits in volunteering between both public and private practice, and between general plastic surgery and reconstruction after trauma or cancer.
“It’s not hard. you just make time. We live in a very privileged society and it reminds me every time I goes to places, like hospitals in Indonesia and throughout the Pacific, how privileged we are here in Australia,” Dr Cooper told The West Australian newspaper.
