Order of Australia for Maltese anaesthetist

George Boffa, who has been involved with the Maltese community in New South Wales, has just been awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM).

The award was made "for services to the Maltese community and to medicine as an anaesthetist".

Dr Boffa has been at the forefront of welfare delivery and in educating the Maltese community in matters affecting their health. He has given over 1,000 talks about health and medical issues on SBS Radio. These were delivered over a period of years starting in 1978. He has also contributed articles and other information through various publications including The Maltese Herald.

The elderly are very close to Dr Boffa's heart and he was the president of the St Dominic Village Association between 1983-88. The association gave birth to the retirement village which rendered a sterling service to many elderly members of the Maltese community in Sydney. Dr Boffa is the chairman of the Visitation and Respite Care Scheme committee at the La Valette Social Centre. He belongs to several associations and groups and is often asked to address gatherings.

Dr Boffa has been a Justice of the Peace since 1991 and in 2003 was made a Knight of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta.

As an anaesthetist, Dr Boffa has given service as a clinical senior lecturer at the University of NSW and a visiting medical officer in various hospitals in NSW. He also spent many years as a consultant in charge of anaesthetic services at the Wesley and St John of God Private Psychiatric Hospitals and as director anaesthesia and intensive care at the Lewisham Hospital.

Apart from Australia, Dr. Boffa also practised in Malta, Denmark, England and in Africa between 1960 and 1970.