Published on: 22 February 2018


The Father Frank Sheehan Award for Service to Community was launched in 2017 to recognise and celebrate outstanding service by a member of the Christ Church community. Last week, Christ Church old boy Dr Grant Fergusson Stewart (’56) was announced as the inaugural winner of this award for his ongoing volunteer work in the area of medical surgery.

The award recognises Dr Fergusson Stewart’s surgical care for the underprivileged in remote areas of Thailand, Philippines and China, and the assistance he provides at remote medical centres where he has helped improve local surgical systems and standards of care. His dedication has ensured local community health workers are trained and upskilled, enabling sustainable health solutions to evolve in such regions as local expertise grows.

Speaking at our recent Senior School Assembly, Dr Grant Fergusson Stewart quoted “Sixty-five years ago I was here and I wasn’t good at school, but I loved all sport. My poor efforts to study were rewarded with poor marks when it came to examinations, but I wanted to become a doctor. My advice to you is, if you want something badly, go do it and work at it.”

Following graduation from Christ Church Grammar School in 1956, Dr Grant Fergusson Stewart completed a degree in medicine at the University of Toronto Medical School which then led to a professional career in medical surgery. Dr Fergusson Stewart has led many medical organisations during his career and has travelled the world extensively lecturing and teaching in his areas of expertise.

“Dr Fergusson Stewart embodies the values of a good man who has been an outstanding global citizen since the late 1950s. He exhibits compassion and empathy and strives to help those in need by volunteering his medical expertise in remote and disadvantaged communities around the globe. Grant changes the lives of many with his surgery and care – helping children to walk and lead normal lives which many of us take for granted,” says Christ Church Principal, Mr Alan Jones.

“In retirement, Grant continues to volunteer his time to help others – making him an exceptional and deserving winner of the Father Frank Sheehan Award for Service to Community.”

The Award is named in honour of Father Frank Sheehan who has been at Christ Church Grammar School since 1985, and recognises the remarkable inspiration he has provided to many through his leadership and service to community.

Anyone wishing to nominate a remarkable individual for the Father Frank Sheehan Award for Service to Community can do so by visiting awards.ccgs.wa.edu.au.