ISLHD Anaesthetist recognised on King’s Birthday Honours List

Illawarra Shoalhaven Local Health District (ISLHD) is delighted to share the news that ISLHD Anaesthetist Trevor Gardner was recognised on the 2023 King’s Birthday Honours List, being awarded a Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) in the General Division for his service to medicine through a range of roles.

Dr Gardner was also acknowledged for his contribution in support of Australia’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic and will now be included on the ongoing and permanent COVID-19 Honour Roll, which started in 2021.

A senior career medical officer, Dr Gardner has worked across a range of Anaesthetic roles at Wollongong Hospital as well as being the Director of Trauma from 2013 -2022.

Dr Gardner’s nomination also highlighted details of his impressive career with the Australian Defence Force: He was a serving member in the Permanent Air Force from 1987 to 1996. Dr Gardner, initially based at 3 Hospital RAAF Base Richmond, was deployed on the first ADF rotation to the UN Mission in Rwanda in 1995 and was subsequently the Senior Medical Officer at RAAF Base Tindal in the NT. After commencing anaesthetic training, Dr Gardner transferred to the RAAF Specialist Reserve. During his time in the Reserves he undertook 3 tours of East Timor, twice as anaesthetist and once as an aeromedical evacuation officer. In 2004 Dr Gardner was deployed to the Iraq conflict and embedded in the United States Air Force 332nd Expeditionary Medical Group field hospital, Balad, where he was assigned the role of Clinical Director of ICU. Dr Gardner deployed to Iraq in 2007 and again in 2008 as a Staff Officer in the role as Senior Medical Officer for Middle East Area of Operations and Afghanistan. In 2010, Dr Gardner was deployed to Afghanistan as the Aeromedical Evacuations Officer at Kandahar Air Field with Force Support Unit, rotation 4.

Dr Gardner was part of the initial ADF aeromedical evacuation response to the second Bali Bombing terrorist attack (2005), leaving his wife in early labour to board a flight to Darwin. In 2009, Dr Gardner was part of the ADF component to a multi-agency response to the Ashmore Reef refugee boat explosion. Many seriously and very seriously burned patients were evacuated from the Kimberley air head to Royal Perth Hospital in a RAAF C-130 Hercules.

In 2012, Dr Gardner undertook a 12-month Medical Retrieval sabbatical with the CareFlight Top End Medical Retrieval Service in the NT. CareFlight provides the definitive medical retrieval capability to the numerous remote indigenous communities of the Top End.

Currently, Dr Gardner is undertaking research into improved ventilation strategies for COVID and other infectious diseases. His collaboration with the Sustainable Buildings Research Centre at the University of Wollongong Innovation Campus is providing scientific validation of ventilation strategies implemented during the height of the COVID pandemic. Dr Gardner remains a member of the RAAF Specialist Reserve, attached to No. 3 Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron based at RAAF Base Richmond. He also continues to provide locum services to the CareFlight Top End Medical Retrieval Service as a Medical Transport Specialist. He is a senior instructor on the Royal Australian College of Surgeons, Early Management of Severe Trauma course and the Australia and New Zealand Burns Association, Emergency Management of Severe Burns course.

During the pandemic Dr Gardner was the Co-Chair of the Wollongong Hospital COVID-19 Taskforce, which was instrumental in the District’s COVID-19 response in an ever changing and high-pressure environment.

Dr Gardner's vast clinical expertise and foresight during the pandemic enabled the establishment of specialist clinical infrastructure at short notice, including areas within the Emergency Department to better support procedures for infectious patients. He was instrumental in and personally oversaw the establishment of a specialist COVID Ward and Close Observation Unit for respiratory patients and was also involved in establishing Special Hotel Accommodation at Bulli.

Throughout the height of the pandemic, a situation with so much uncertainty, the calm reassurance Dr Gardner provided while the work required to keep the community and staff safe was being undertaken, was immeasurable.

Dr Gardner’s OAM adds to an already lengthy list of recognition including: ISLHD Chief Executive's Extraordinary Times SAVR Award, 2021; Various Service medals including Australian Active Service Medal with Clasps 'EAST TIMOR', ICAT', RWANDA' and, IRAQ03'; Australian Service Medal with Clasp Timor Leste; Iraq 03 Medal, Afghanistan Medal, Rwanda Medal, NATO Medal with Clasp ISAF, Australian Defence Medal, Meritorious Unit Citation, Clasp Rwanda 2004-2005, and Clasp Iraq 2004-2005 ; Joint Task Force 631 Commander's Commendation for Outstanding Achievement September 2006.

Trevor, our sincere thanks for all you have done for the country, our District and the community over many years. We are incredibly fortunate to have you. This award is well-deserved recognition of a stellar and selfless career. Congratulations.