The James Hardie Neil Lecture
James Hardie Neil CBE, DSO, FRACS, FRCS, QSM
- Distinguished War service
- Otolaryngology - League for the Hard of Hearing
- Otolaryngological Society of New Zealand
- Vigorous campaign against unscrupulous hearing aid salesmen
- Collaborator Bronchopulmonary tree ‘Bilkeyscope’
- RACS - The leading advocate for surgical standards, professionalism and surgical education in Australia and New Zealand
Each year an esteemed colleague is invited to present an NZSOHNS Eponymous Lecture - the James Hardie Neil Lecture.
Criteria for the James Hardie Neil lecturer:
• Trained or worked as an Otolaryngologist in New Zealand
• Major contribution to Otolaryngology or related Specialties
• A person who is held in high regard by the NZSOHNS members at large
• A recognised expert in their field
• “Expertise” may relate to surgical skills, academic achievements, administrative or organisational activity, or “outside” achievements.
Criteria for the James Hardie Neil lecturer:
• Trained or worked as an Otolaryngologist in New Zealand
• Major contribution to Otolaryngology or related Specialties
• A person who is held in high regard by the NZSOHNS members at large
• A recognised expert in their field
• “Expertise” may relate to surgical skills, academic achievements, administrative or organisational activity, or “outside” achievements.
Previous James Hardie Neil Lecturers
- 2025 - Dr Cathy Ferguson, Otolaryngologist, Wellington, NZ ~ On Giant’s Shoulders – Values To Aspire To
- 2024 – Dr Rebecca Garland, Otolaryngologist Head and Neck Surgeon, Te Whatu Ora Health NZ - Wellington, NZ ~ Scientific Knowledge and Narrative
- 2023 - Nick McIvor
- 2022 - Professor Raymond Sacks, Otolaryngology - Head & Neck Surgery, Macquarie University, Sydney, Australia ~ “30 Years of a Changing Rhinological World”
- 2021 - Dr Subhaschandra Shetty, Consultant Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgeon, Northland DHB, Whangārei, NZ ~ "Burnout"
- 2020 - Professor Bruce Haughey, Otolaryngology, Head & Neck Surgery, University of South Florida, USA ~ "HPV Mediated Oropharyngeal CANCER"
- 2019 - Professor Hisham Mehanna, Chair of Head and Neck Surgery, University of Birmingham, UK ~ "Common Mistakes in Surgical Research"
- 2018 - Mr Colin Barber, Senior Paediatric Otolaryngologist, Starship Child Health, Auckland, NZ
- 2017 - Lecture not given
- 2016 - Professor Randall Morton, Otolaryngologist, Counties Manukau DHB, Auckland, NZ ~ "Clinical Outcomes in Practice"
- 2015 - Mr Paul White, Consultant ENT Surgeon and Rhinologist, Dundee, UK
- 2014 - Mr Bill Baber, Otolaryngologist, ENT Surgeon, Auckland, NZ
- 2013 - Mr Ru Douglas, Retired Paediatric Otolaryngologist, Honorary Consultant ORL Specialist, Starship Hospital, Auckland, NZ
- 2012 - Lecture not given
- 2011 - Professor Michael Rutter, Director of Clinical Research, Division of Pediatric Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, Cincinnati Children's Hospital, Cincinnati USA
- 2010 - Ron Goodey, Otolaryngologist, Honorary Senior Lecturer, The University of Auckland, Auckland, NZ - The inaugural James Hardie Neil Lecture.
James Hardie Neil Medals
James Hardie Neil's medal group comprises as follows:
Some details worth mentioning in regard to some of the medals:
Many DSOs were 'administrative' awards i.e. awarded because of who the recipient was, rather than what they did. This one on the other hand, has a proper and lengthy gallantry citation relating to James Hardie Neil's commanding of the 3rd NZ Field Ambulance on the Western Front, specifically at Bapaume & Bancourt. This same citation further mentions gallantry and owes a successful evacuation to James Hardie Neil's supervision.
The Queen's South Africa Medal (QSA) is noteworthy, with Dr Neil being the Surgeon Captain of the famous 4th Contingent. This Contingent was known as the 'Rough Riders' as they consisted of citizen volunteers with natural riding and shooting skills, rather than being trained soldiers like those in the earlier three contingents. Medals to the later contingents (5-10) are much less collectible.
The Oak leaf on the WWI Victory Medal denotes a Mention in Despatches. Dr Neil received three of these mentions, all relating to different periods of the war. Notably, the second mention related to the commanding of an Advanced Dressing Station at Messines whilst subjected to heavy bombardment.
Another medal worth mentioning is the 1902 (King Edward VII) Coronation Medal. This one is the St John Ambulance Brigade variant and according to a recent write up by the President of the NZ branch of Orders, Medals Research and Librarian of the NZ branch of the Order of St John, Dr Neil is believed to be the only New Zealander issued with this medal.
The Belgium Croix de Guerre, being a foreign award, is another nice component.
- Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (CBE)
- Companion of the Distinguished Service Order (DSO)
- Queen's South Africa Medal (Cape Colony, Rhodesia, Transvaal, South Africa 1901 clasps)
- British War Medal (1914-1920)
- Victory Medal with oak leaf (3x Mentioned in Despatches)
- War Medal 1939-1945
- New Zealand War Service Medal
- Coronation Medal 1902 (St John Ambulance Brigade)
- Coronation Medal 1937
- Coronation Medal 1953
- Colonial Auxiliary Forces Decoration
- New Zealand Territorial Service Medal
- Croix de Guerre (Belgium)
Some details worth mentioning in regard to some of the medals:
Many DSOs were 'administrative' awards i.e. awarded because of who the recipient was, rather than what they did. This one on the other hand, has a proper and lengthy gallantry citation relating to James Hardie Neil's commanding of the 3rd NZ Field Ambulance on the Western Front, specifically at Bapaume & Bancourt. This same citation further mentions gallantry and owes a successful evacuation to James Hardie Neil's supervision.
The Queen's South Africa Medal (QSA) is noteworthy, with Dr Neil being the Surgeon Captain of the famous 4th Contingent. This Contingent was known as the 'Rough Riders' as they consisted of citizen volunteers with natural riding and shooting skills, rather than being trained soldiers like those in the earlier three contingents. Medals to the later contingents (5-10) are much less collectible.
The Oak leaf on the WWI Victory Medal denotes a Mention in Despatches. Dr Neil received three of these mentions, all relating to different periods of the war. Notably, the second mention related to the commanding of an Advanced Dressing Station at Messines whilst subjected to heavy bombardment.
Another medal worth mentioning is the 1902 (King Edward VII) Coronation Medal. This one is the St John Ambulance Brigade variant and according to a recent write up by the President of the NZ branch of Orders, Medals Research and Librarian of the NZ branch of the Order of St John, Dr Neil is believed to be the only New Zealander issued with this medal.
The Belgium Croix de Guerre, being a foreign award, is another nice component.
