April 20 2010

Chief Justice announced as first patron of Lung Institute

The Lung Institute of Western Australia (LIWA) is proud to announce its first patron, the Chief Justice of Western Australia, the Honourable Wayne Martin.
The Chief Justice can personally identify with lung disease, having suffered from a lung health condition almost 30 years ago.

In the early 1980s, as a result of pneumonia, he had most of his right lung removed. The unforgettable experience sparked an interest in the field of lung disease.
‘Most people know about the significant killers in our community. They know about heart disease, cancer and strokes. More recently they know about the triple Ds; dementia, depression and diabetes. But very few people know about the significance of lung disease,’ said Chief Justice Wayne Martin.

 ‘Chronic lung disease impacts on one in four families in Western Australia, and in particular, diseases like emphysema, asthma, chronic bronchitis, cystic fibrosis, lung cancer and asbestos related diseases affect a significant number of people in our community.

‘Lung infections are a major problem and can affect the whole community as evidenced recently with the swine flu pandemic.  I am proud to be the first patron of the LIWA.  Lung health in WA is something I am truly passionate about and
I hope that I can help to highlight the effects of this 'silent' disease.’
The LIWA’s director, Professor Philip Thompson said:  'The Chief Justice’s appointment is a big boost for us. We are absolutely delighted that such a respected leader in Western Australia will be lending his support to the Institute. He will bring a valuable profile to our work, continuing his significant contribution to tackling lung disease in our society.’

The Honourable Wayne Martin was officially announced as patron of the LIWA at its Annual General Meeting held on March 25 2010.