History, Heritage and Archives
Activities
New History, Heritage and Archives Section
In late 2021, the RACS Board of Council approved a merger of the Heritage and Archives Committee and the Surgical History section, which will now be converted into the History, Heritage and Archives Section, sitting within Fellowship Services. The key aims of this change include to broaden the section’s membership as an interest group and to oversee activities including the Cowlishaw Symposium and plans for the RACS 2027 centenary celebrations.
The 2023 Cowlishaw Symposium has been cancelled.
Plans for the next Cowlishaw Symposium will be announced at a future date. Please contact history.heritage.archives@surgeons.org with any enquiries.
The new committee, taking effect in May 2022 is as follows:
Chair, Associate Professor Julie Mundy, QLD
Deputy Chair, Dr Su Mei Hoh, VIC
Committee member, Dr Pecky De Silva, NSW
Committee member, Dr Nicola Hill, NZ
Committee member, Professor Christopher Pyke, QLD
Committee member, Dr Tony Sparnon, SA
Committee member, Dr Phillip Truskett, NSW
If you are interested in joining the section, please contact Katherine.Walsh@Surgeons.org
The collection
The RACS building in Melbourne houses a rare books collection and an on-site museum, which displays historical surgical instruments, College memorabilia, and gifts and items from Fellows and affiliated organisations.
In this interview with the Medical Journal of Australia, curator of the rare and historic books collection, Mr Geoff Down speaks about his work at the College.