TH Pullar Address
Each year the NZIMLS Council invites a person who has made a significant contribution towards Medical Laboratory Science in New Zealand to deliver the TH Pullar Memorial Address at the Annual Scientific meeting. This prestigious address is in honour of Dr TH Pullar who passed away on the 29th August 1966. This memorial address is given at the opening ceremony of the NZIMLS ASM and is published the the Journal. From 1967 until 1974 a number of prominent pathologists presented the address however since 1974 the address has been delivered mostly by Members of the NZIMLS.
Thomas Pullar or "Thos" as he was affectionately called, was a champion and great friend of NZ Medical Laboratory Technologists. For many years he was involved in the development of professional laboratory standards throughout the country, and with the early formation of the NZ Medical Laboratory Technologists Board. He was intensely concerned and involved with the training and welfare of Medical Laboratory Technologists and helped to draft conditions of employment and prepared new syllabi for the intermediate examinations of the day.
In 1963, deteriorating health necessitated a lighter workload and he moved form Palmerston North to Tauranga where he was involved in private laboratory practice. During the last year of his life he visited medical laboratories throughout the country, supervising and setting up Technologist examinations and introducing new educational training schemes.
Thomas H Pullar was a friend, teacher and lifelong champion of NZ Medical Laboratory Technologists and thus it is fitting that the NZIMLS honours his many contributions to the profession through the annual TH Pullar address.
| Year | Name / Conference | Title of Address |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Philip Wakem, Hamilton | The Call of the Pacific |
| 2024 | Angela Brounts, Christchurch | Building Resilience: Keeping afloat during turbulent times |
| 2023 | Prof. Michael Legge, SPC, Auckland | Thos Pullar and the philosphers stone |
| 2022 | Dr Dianne Webster, Wellington | Neonatal Screening Programme |
| 2018 | Ken Beechey Christchurch | Show Your True Colours: Values in the workplace |
| 2017 | Jillian Broadbent Christchurch | Bringing Home the America's Cup |
| 2016 | Russell Cole Wellington | The Empowering Impact of Quality Systems |
| 2015 | Holly Perry Auckland | The value of people: taking charge of our destiny |
| 2014 | Dr Alex Dempster Dunedin | Looking forward with hindsight |
| 2013 | Don Mikkelsen | We have a Zero tolerance for mistakes |
| 2012 | Dr Robin Fraser Christchurch | Pathology: They Study of Structure and Function in Health and Disease |
| 2010 | Christine Pry Paihia | Believe in Yourself, and anything is possible |
| 2009 | Chris Kendrick Blenheim | Back to the future - are we headed there? |
| 2008 | Kevin Taylor Dunedin | Finding Rumplestiltskin by crossing the Southern Alps |
| 2007 | Dennis Reilly Auckland | Stairway to science |
| 2006 | Robin Allen Napier | Echoes from the past, implications for the future |
| 2005 | Christine Hickton Christchurch | From the back of beyond |
| 2004 | Rob Siebers Hamilton | Outside, looking in |
| 2002 | Shirley Gainsford Wellington | Symphony of Science - 1st Movement - Regulation |
| 2001 | Ross Anderson Auckland | What makes athletes super? Medical laboratory science has many answers |
| 2000 | Paul McLeod Rotorua | Controlling Change |
| 1999 | John Aitken Christchurch | Deconstructing the laboratory |
| 1998 | Ross Hewett Palmerston North | Trends, Technologies and the Medical Laboratory Scientist |
| 1997 | Mike Lynch Wellington | Training for Paradise |
| 1996 | Marilyn Eales Auckland | Going for Gold |
| 1994 | Walter Wilson Hamilton | Health Reforms - one year on the track |
| 1993 | Barrie Edwards Christchurch | Health Reform Opportunities and Appropriate (Change) Responses |
| 1992 | Ron McKenzie Wellington | Changes in Laboratory Services |
| 1990 | Jan Parker | The under-utilised potential of women in medical laboratory science |
| 1989 | Des Philip | Medical laboratory technology examined against Darwins Theory of Evolution |
| 1988 | John Whitely (AIMS) | CPF - Closer Professionadl Relations between NZ and Australia |
| 1987 | Bert Nixon | The challenges of change or Labcorp (1988) Ltd - fact or fantasy |
| 1985 | Brian Main | Future concerns for the profession: extra laboratory testing/education/role of laboratory assistants |
| 1984 | Dr T Miller | Contributions of Laboratory Technologists to Medical Research |
| 1983 | Janet Marsland | Education and the Hospital Board Association refusal to support the Massey Degree proposal |
| 1981 | Malcolm Donnell | Has 'Hight Technology' added ay more useful information? |
| 1980 | Bob Allan | The Journal |
| 1979 | Dr M B Gill | Back from Basics to the Tea Lady |
| 1978 | Rod Kennedy | Plotting a Proper Course |
| 1977 | Des Philip | Adaption or Engineering |
| 1976 | Dr J M Staveley | Representation of Mr Roy Douglas (MLT) paper proposing a suitable B.Sc qualification for Medical Laboratory Technologists |
| 1975 | John Case | A Look Towards the Past…. and a Glimpse in Levity Towards the Future |
| 1974 | Harry E Hutchings | Medical Technology Education: where is it going? |
| 1973 | Dr D T Stewart | Clinical Pathology and its Body Politick |
| 1972 | Dr P B Herdson | Education of Medical Laboratory Technologists |
| 1971 | Dr W L Kenealy | Laboratory Medicine |
| 1970 | Dr N P Markham | Changing Habits of Men and Microbes |
| 1969 | Dr S E Williams | Some Perspectives in Medical Technology |
| 1968 | Dr P P Lynch | The Development of Diagnostic Laboratory Services in New Zealand |
| 1967 | Dr F W Gunz | Cytogenetics |