Outstanding Service Medal Awarded To Dr Barry

18 October 2004

Outstanding Service Medal Awarded To Dr David Barry

The Asthma and Respiratory Foundation honoured Dr David Barry this weekend for his outstanding service over the past 20 years. The award was presented at the Foundation's 40th anniversary celebration at a Mayoral function in Wellington on Friday evening.

Dr Barry thinking he was having lunch with his daughter instead found himself on a plane to Wellington. Upon arrival at the Wellington Council Chambers he noted coincidentally that there was an Asthma and Respiratory Foundation event on and so it was with great surprise that Dr Barry found himself the recipient of such an honour.

Gerald Hensley, Asthma and Respiratory Foundation of New Zealand President says that Dr Barry's commitment to improving the health of children with asthma and other respiratory illness has been exceptional.

"Medicine has very much been the focus of his life and he is passionate about giving children the best future possible."

Dr Barry is humourously known by his family to be dangerous with a hammer or other household tools but incredibly has a very safe pair of hands for babies.

Dr Barry, a paediatrician in Hawkes Bay, began his service with the Foundation as a member of the Medical Advisory Panel in 1985. As well as his commitment to the work of the Foundation since this time, Dr Barry has also made a huge contribution to the Hawke's Bay Asthma Society, including time as president.

Dr Barry was involved in developing the Child Asthma Plan for the Foundation and has worked on epidemiological studies such as the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood (ISAAC). He is a member of the Respiratory Committee of the Paediatric Society of New Zealand, has made contributions to the Paediatric Asthma Guidelines Group and his research interests include exercise-induced asthma in children.

"Honouring David on this occasion was a great way to celebrate not only his accomplishments but also the Foundation's achievements - forty years on", said Mr Hensley.

Also present at the 40th celebration were the Foundation's founding members, life members, asthma societies from around the country, those who have supported the asthma movement in various ways over the years and members from the Eastern Hutt Rotary Club (previously the Naenae Rotary Club), from which the first asthma society sprung in 1964.

The Foundation is very grateful to Dr Barry's family for ensuring his surprise trip to Wellington to receive his medal.

ENDS

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