By Kath Gannaway
A big Aussie breakfast with world-renowned medical researcher Professor John Funder has to be the most exhilarating start to any Australia Day.
After 50 years in medical research it would be fair to expect that Prof Funder would be talking about high blood pressure or obesity, but on this occasion Brexit and Trump will trump the exciting world of medical research.
The Australia Day Breakfast is hosted each year by the Rotary Club of Wandin and never fails to provide a thought-provoking start to the day – not to mention a great breakfast.
On Australia Day in 2015, Prof Funder was himself recognised by being made a Companion of the Order of Australia, recognising his half-century of ‘eminent service to medicine’.
Over the past 15 years he has kept retirement at bay by writing, lecturing, teaching, sitting on boards and foundations and engaging in a series of interesting part-time jobs and consultancies.
When the Mail spoke with Prof Funder two years ago, he was working towards publishing his 600th scientific paper and was as passionate then about his life’s work as when he began.
He is also passionate about the broader context of the world we live in and will talk about Brexit, Trump, and what they mean for Australia, and issues of ‘the people’ against ‘the elites’.
His talk will address the trends in Europe and the US and pose the question of how Australia will chart its course into the future.
Prof Funder and his wife Valerie moved to a vineyard in Wandin East in 2013.
There are still some places at the breakfast table. To book phone Rotarian John Sanders on 0433 174 298 or 9737 9425, or email to wandinrotarytreasurer@gmail.com
The breakfast is from 8am to 10.30am at Wandin Hall, Clegg Road, Wandin North, on Thursday 26 January.
