Although he found out he would be receiving the Order of Australia about a year ago, Dr. Roger Strasser said he still has to pinch himself to realize it's true.
Strasser, the dean of the Northern Ontario School of Medicine, was appointed as a member of the Order of Australia at a ceremony held at the medical school Dec. 20.
He was actually supposed to be presented with the award earlier this year, but was unable to travel to Australia at that time to receive the honour.
“Government House in Canberra asked if we could conduct a ceremony here in Canada,” Bruce Soar, the acting high commissioner for Australia in Canada, who presented Strasser with the award, told Northern Life in an interview after the ceremony.
“We contacted Dr. Strasser, and he came up with the idea of doing it here, which seemed like a tremendous idea to us.”
Northern Ontario School of Medicine dean Dr. Roger Strasser (left) was presented with the Order of Australia by Bruce Soar, acting high commissioner for Australia in Canada, at a ceremony held at the medical school Dec. 20. Photo by Heidi Ulrichsen.
All five of Strasser's children, his wife, Sarah, and several other relatives attended the ceremony. Strasser said his siblings were also able to watch the ceremony from Australia, as it was broadcast live on the Internet.
The Order of Australia recognizes the achievements and service of Australian citizens, with nominations submitted directly from the community. It is one of the highest civilian honours in Australia.
Strasser received the award for his service to medicine, specifically for improving health care for people living in rural and remote communities in developed and developing nations as an educator, researcher and practitioner.
“This is a very special recognition from Australia for various activities I've been involved in over many, many years,” Strasser, who wore a kangaroo-print tie for the occasion, said.
“I really didn't see this coming.”
Strasser, who has started the process to become a Canadian citizen, was appointed to develop the yet-to-be-opened Northern Ontario School of Medicine in 2002. He oversaw the medical school's opening in 2005.
Some of the medical school's first graduates are now practising family medicine in northern Ontario.
Before moving to Sudbury, Strasser worked as a professor of rural health and the head of the school of rural health at Monash University in Australia.
Soar said although he didn't know of Strasser before learning he was being presented with the award, he said “the more I've learned about him, the more I've come to appreciate what a difference he's made to the lives of Australians and the difference he's making in northern Ontario.”
Sarah Strasser said it's “absolutely fantastic” to see her husband receive the citation.
“We're very proud of him,” she said. “It's very exciting as a family to see him being recognized in this way. It's particularly wonderful, as an Australian in Canada, that he's still able to get these awards. It's a very special moment for us.”
Posted by Heidi Ulrichsen
