News Archive

*This article was not reviewed by the subject prior to publication. Corrections have now been made.

When Michael McGuiness flew to Melbourne last month for an Australian Dental Council retirement dinner, he was surprised to find himself suddenly being awarded a prestigious medal presented only twice previously in 21 years.

Dr McGuinness had served on the Council for 11 years - including as Vice-President in 2010 - and had grown weary of flying several times a year to Melbourne while running what he calls a retirement practice in Toodyay and Goomalling with 4,500 patients.

"I was shocked," he said. "The rabbit was pulled from the hat, the citation and medal suddenly appeared and there was the President (Dr John Boucher) on his feet making a speech!" Dr McGuinness said.

The honour is a highlight in a highly distinguished career, starting in 1977 when as a final-year student at UWA  he volunteered to help operate on young Australian soldiers severely injured in the Vietnam War.

"Some had lost their eyes and noses and had just a feeding hole in the front of what was left of their faces," Dr McGuinness said. "I helped in five-hour operations at Royal Perth Hospital to conduct oral surgery through an opening the size of a 50-cent coin."

It resulted in a citation from Australia's Z Force commandos - forerunners of Australia's elite Special Air Services Regiment - which hangs among several awards, medals and citations in the hall of his busy Stirling Terrace practice.

His association with ex-services personnel continues with dental care for local war veterans and active support for the Sandakan Scholarship for Children.

Dr McGuinness was Head of UWA's Dental School 1998-2000, President of Dental Board of WA and ran a successful Perth practice in St George's Terrace for 29 years before spotting a newspaper ad for a Toodyay property in 2002.

"My wife Alison and I bought it initially as a weekender and now it is our home," he said.

His latest citation reads in part: "Dr McGuiness has displayed exemplary decision making based on ethical principles and embraced high standards of corporate governance.

"His time as Chair of the Finance Audit and Risk Management Committee has seen continuation of the ADC's strong financial position. He has been active in negotiations with the Dental Board of Australia on behalf of the ADC.

"Dr McGuinness has managed to achieve all of this from a position of a general practice in rural Western Australia, travelling to Melbourne on a regular basis over an extended period.

"Dr McGuinness has the respect and admiration of the ADC Governing Board and staff."

*This article has been corrected.  It was initially wrongly reported that Dr McGuinness served in Vietnam, carrying out his dental work there.