Current President Sharan Westcott, paid tribute to Bob’s outstanding contributions to the profession of audiology in the following record of her presentation speech.

“Tonight I have the honour of presenting the inaugural ASA President’s Distinguished Service Award. This award has been developed to acknowledge distinguished and exceptional service, supporting the aims and objectives of the constitution of the ASA. The award is presented on the recommendation of the President, with the endorsement of the Federal Executive Council.

“Tonight’s recipient is an Australian with a strange accent – and a Fellow of the Society, Dr Robert Cowan – Bob.

“In presenting the inaugural award to Bob, we wish to honour his achievements and endeavours that have lead to national and international recognitions of the ASA as a leading professional body in the pursuit and promotion of the knowledge and practice of Audiology. Bob’s commitment to his profession has culminated in bringing the XXVI International Congress of Audiology to Australia, along with the inaugural ASA and NZ Audiological Society Conference.

“I’m sure you will find a little of Bob’s history fascinating, and enlightening with regard to his unusual accent.

“Bob came to both Australia and Audiology via a rather circuitous route. He was born in Canada, the son of a ‘flying’ doctor. His undergraduate degree was a Bachelor of Science, Physiology/Biology (Queen’s University, Kingston), followed by a Masters Degree in Science Kinesiology (Simon Fraser University, British Columbia).

“Following this, Bob took a job in a logging camp on Vancouver Island as a Class A Industrial Paramedic. Apart from patching up chainsaw cuts and knife wounds of drunken brawling lumberjacks, he also performed screening audiometry on them! It was Bob’s ‘stint’ as the New Zealand Women’s National Alpine and Olympic Team downhill coach that brought him Down Under. During this time, he met his wife Heather.

“In 1982, following his earlier interest in science and audiometry, Bob enrolled in the Postgraduate Diploma in Audiology at the University of Melbourne, where he impressed his fellow students with his tight silk shorts and his ability to finance rounds of drinks at the pub.

“On completion of the Diploma, Bob returned to NZ working as an Audiologist in the Christchurch area. He was finally enticed back to Australia in 1985 by Field Rickards with the offer of a lectureship and research appointment at the University of Melbourne.

“Bob soon became passionate about Audiology, and its future contribution to hearing health in Australia. In 1992, he became President of our Society, serving four terms (eight years). He is currently Past President.

“Bob continues to amaze us with his drive and enthusiasm. His many personal achievements include his contributions within the science of Audiology, clinical and professional services, but perhaps, most importantly, Bob’s greatest achievement has been in providing an outstanding role model to all Audiologists.”

Richard graduated from the University of Melbourne with a Bachelor of Arts in 1974 and commenced employment as an audiologist (psychologist-in-training) with National Acoustic Laboratories in 1975. He completed the Graduate Diploma in Audiology in 1981 at the University of Melbourne’s School of Audiology.

Richard has been a member of ASA since 1978.

In 1983, Richard moved to Ballarat and established Ballarat Hearing Clinic, providing clinical services for the Ballarat and western Victoria region. He became an early advocate of practising as an audiologist in the private sector and has developed a successful business.

Richard has lectured to Melbourne School of Audiology students in hearing aids. He has supported research within his clinical practice and has been an enthusiastic participant at ASA Conferences. He has presented seminars and continuing professional development activities on topics such as otoacoustic emissions, hearing aids and practice management.

Richard’s commitment to upholding clinical standards and ethical practice has been evident in his contribution to the wider audiological profession and hearing health care of the community. This includes his active involvement in Victorian ASA Branch activities and most recently with the working party for universal neonatal hearing screening in Victoria.

Richard showed commitment in making the return trip from Ballarat to Melbourne for Victorian ASA Branch meetings and he rarely missed a meeting in his time as Councillor.

Richard’s nomination is to recognise in particular the leadership and vision he has shown in raising the profile of audiology as a profession: in essence, promoting the knowledge and practice of audiology.

Over the years, Richard has encountered medical practitioners, administrators, politicians and, most importantly, general members of the public who did not fully understand what is an audiologist. Richard set about reviewing and developing a wider range of publicity and information resources for use by ASA members.

He was instrumental in surveying members on topics for a new range of information cards and enlisted the support of the Victorian committee in designing a consistent format.

Richard’s efforts have provided members with tools to educate their local community and to assist in lobbying government and other stakeholders. As ASA develops and enhances marketing resources even further, we recognise Richard’s achievement in developing the current range of resources.

Nominator: Paul Hickey

Jenny is a Fellow and Past President of the Audiological Society of Australia and was the first member of the ASA to attain a PhD in Audiology from an Australian University.

Jenny is a founding (1982) and honorary life member of the consumer support group SHHH Australia (Self Help for Hard of Hearing People). Jenny continues her support to SHHH as a serving member of the Professional Advisory Board.

In the 1980s Jenny worked with SHHH members to develop a community education package entitled "Hearing Loss: The Invisible Handicap". This package was a resource (containing presenter's notes and audio-visual material) for professionals and consumers to use in raising awareness of hearing handicap in the community and was distributed through SHHH.

Jenny was a member of the organising committee and Program Chairman for the International Conference on Hearing Rehabilitation, "Bridging the Hearing Gap", in Sydney in 1993. The concept for this conference was generated by Jenny and SHHH and was an example of consumer groups and professionals working together to make hearing loss an issue of national concern. The conference was hosted by the Australian Deafness Council, Better Hearing Australia and SHHH in conjunction with Macquarie University, Australian Hearing and the University of Sydney.

Jenny has continued to play an active role in supporting consumer organisations recently volunteering her support to the Broken Hill Hearing Resource Centre as Chair for the "Hearing in Isolation" Conference in Broken Hill NSW, 2001. This was the second time that Jenny had donated her professional knowledge to this conference.

Jenny is a member of the organising committee of the annual Libby Harricks Memorial Oration. The oration is to commemorate the community work of the late Libby Harricks, founding member of SHHH and inaugural Chairperson of Deafness Forum, and to promote the issue of hearing loss in the community.

Jenny has also being involved in the education of Community Nurse Audiometrists. In the curriculum development and application of skills, Jenny has been particularly vigilant in assuring that the skill differences between an audiometrist and audiologist are clearly defined. She has also been a member of the Australian Hearing Management Board since 1997.

Jenny continues to promote audiology to the community through her work as Head of the Department of Audiology, Hornsby Ku-ring-gai Hospital & Community Health Services.

Nominator: Sharan Westcott