Abstract

Biography

Dr Gavin Ellis ONZM MA PhD is an honorary fellow in the School of Social Sciences at the University of Auckland.

A former editor-in-chief of the New Zealand Herald, he has six decades of experience in the practice and study of journalism and communications.

He lectured on media, communications, and propaganda at the University of Auckland for a decade.

He is the author of three books and numerous research papers on the current and future state of New Zealand media, media ethics, propaganda and disinformation. He is the co-author of a series of papers on the Christchurch mosque attacks and the author of a forthcoming paper on rising incivility in society.

His private consultancy practice has undertaken projects on behalf of government agencies (including the Ministry for Culture & Heritage, Ministry of Justice, and the New Zealand Police), regulatory bodies (such as the Broadcasting Standards Authority), and media organisations (including Television New Zealand).

Abstract

2026 JAMES NEWMAN LECTURE

Having worked for 11 years at what was The Ranfurly Veterans Home and Hospital in Three Kings, I became very aware of the human cost of combat. Either in or close to active combat the human cost is considerable. Then as now there was little effective support for the veterans as the transitioned to civilian life. This became the basis for my doctoral research. How did the combat experience affect the veterans over the life course. I concentrated on Royal New Zealand Air Force WW2 aircrew who served in Europe or the Pacific. All the interviewees were in their 80^thor 90^th decade of life at interview. The Interviewees were 24 in number and family and friends of each were also interviewed. Intensive training, the fear of failure, camaraderie, devastating loss, humour, resilience, survival and lady luck were dominant themes.

This presentation reflects the results of that research, which is being published by Heritage Press.

men: extraordinary times. An exploration of the impact of combat experience in World War Two Royal New Zealand Air Force Crew. The impact of was across the life course from the perspectives of veterans, their spouse/ partner, siblings, children and grandchildren. 

Biography

Barbara Smith  

Registered Nurse [RGON], BA (Dip.N) Diploma of Education, Massey University, Masters of Health Science, University of Auckland; Doctor of Philosophy, University of Auckland

Barbara was a nurse, nurse educator and remains an enthusiastic historian. She was the last charge tutor of a hospital board three-year general nursing programme in New Zealand, and co-authored the book, Nurses of Auckland, 1883-1990. She worked as a quality coordinator in residential care for 22 years, and during this time pursued further post graduate education through the School of Nursing at the University of Auckland.

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THE JAMES NEWMAN LECTURE

This annual commemorative lecture acknowledeges with gratitude the generosity of Dr James Lister Newman MD (Cam) DPH(Eng) FRCP FRACP 1903-1983

James Newman's family established the James Newman Fund which generously supports the Society.

James Newman was born in London in 1903. Educated at Shrewsbury School, he was a brilliant classics scholar and left Magdalen College, Cambridge with Hons. National Sciences Tripos. After qualifying in Medicine at Kings College Hospital in 1927, he became a Visiting Physician in Chichester and was later given wartime responsibility for the Coventry Ambulance Services.

He emigrated to New Zealand in 1947 to the Department of Health in Whangarei but tired of the bureaucracy and moved to Green Lane Hospital as medical registrar, 1951, then Medical Tutor and Physician there, and later Medical Superintendent, Cornwall Geriatric and Green Lane Hospitals. He championed the cause of the elderly and became known as the “Father of Gerontology” in New Zealand.

For many years, James, was also Editor of the New Zealand Family Doctor, and wrote a weekly Medical Column in the New Zealand Herald until the time of his death on October 17, 1983.

He presented a number of papers to the Society, which is generously supported by the James Newman Fund, established by his family in 1984. His interest in medical history is given substance in his fascinating collection of old Apothecaries’ Jars which graces the foyer of the Ernest and Marion Davis Library.