125 stories for 125 years

Irvine Newton OAM

Irvine Newton graduated from the college in 1970. A community pharmacist and pharmacy owner, Irvine was a Pharmaceutical Society of Australia (Victorian Branch) councillor for many years and served as President in 1998-99. He is also a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Pharmacy Management and a Fellow of the Pharmaceutical Society of Australia. He won an Alcohol and Other Drug Council of Australia (ADCA) Australia Day Award in 2002.

According to ADCA, Irvine has ‘devoted much of his professional career as a pharmacist to implementing services for illicit drug users. He has been instrumental in creating a culture of change within pharmacy and he has unstintingly worked to eliminate prejudice towards drug users’. He was also awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) in 2005 for service to the pharmacy profession and to the community, particularly through promoting harm minimisation programs.

Irvine has been Chair of the Pharmaceutical Society of Australia’s (Victorian Branch) Harm Minimisation Committee and Practice Committees. He was spokesman of the National Pharmacy Illicit Drug Training Project and was awarded the coveted Professional of the Year 2003 by Professions Australia. He was the Chair of the PAC2005 organising committee.

On receiving the OAM Irvine said, ‘I was overwhelmed but very proud to have received the medal. I take it as an acknowledgement of the role pharmacists are playing in so many ways. We have helped move attitudes toward drug and alcohol treatment and programs. I have always enjoyed serving our great profession and my local community.’