About The Author

Barry L. Hicks was born in Adelaide in 1939. Educated at One Tree Hill primary and then the Adelaide
Boys High School, he studied medicine at the University of Adelaide. Graduating MBBS in 1961, he
did a year as a resident medical officer and then a year in general practice prior to doing his surgical
degree. He was granted his fellowship with the College of Surgeons (FRACS) in 1967. After 6
months in India he went to Ethiopia and over the years and in 3 periods worked there for sixteen
years. Most of his surgical life in Australia has been spent in Townsville firstly as Director of Surgery
and then as General and Thoracic VMO.
He was granted his fellowship in tropical medicine at the founding of the College of Tropical
Medicine in Australia (FACTM). He was awarded Queensland Public Hospital Doctor of the Year, in
1995. It reads ‘a humanitarian, scholar, and role model for his younger colleagues’. He was
recommended as Australian of the Year in 2004 (an honour which was not his but he was proud to
have been recommended for it.)
He is married to Robin, the mother of their 5 children. They also have an adopted Ethiopian son. They
have fourteen grand children and many more who call them ´Pa and Grandma.
Barry lives in semi-retirement in Palmwoods on the Sunshine Coast north of Brisbane in Queensland,
Australia.