John Grant (neurosurgeon) facts for kids
John MacDonald Falconar Grant (born August 14, 1922 – died November 10, 2013) was an important Australian neurosurgeon. He was also a leader in sports for people with disabilities. He helped organize the Sydney 2000 Paralympic Games. He played a big part in growing disability sports in Australia.
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About John Grant
John Grant was born in Sydney, Australia, on August 14, 1922. His parents were Chesborough Grant Falconar Grant and Henrietaa Thelma Leary. In 1945, he married Enid Llewlyn. They had three children: Stuart, Mandy, and Catherine.
In 2005, he wrote a book about his life. It was called Different Theatres: From Neurosurgery to Sport for People with disabilities. This book shares details about his work in medicine and disability sports.
John Grant's Education
John Grant went to several schools in Sydney. These included Roseville Public School and North Sydney Boys High School. In 1945, he finished his studies at the University of Sydney. He earned degrees in Medicine and Surgery.
He continued his education to become a specialist. He became a Fellow of the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons. He also became a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons. Later, he joined the Faculty of Rehabilitation Medicine.
His Medical Career
John Grant started his medical career at the Royal Prince Alfred Hospital in Sydney. There, he trained to become a surgeon. He specialized in general surgery and orthopaedic surgery. Then, he focused on neurosurgery.
In 1952, he joined the Royal North Shore Hospital. He helped start the Department of Neurosurgery there. He also helped create the Spinal Injuries Unit. He gave expert advice on neurosurgery to many hospitals. He also worked with rehabilitation centers. These included Mt Wilga Rehabilitation Centre. He stopped performing surgeries in 2002.
Helping Disability Sports Grow
John Grant became very interested in how sports could help people with spinal injuries. He was inspired by Sir Ludwig Guttmann. Sir Ludwig was a neurologist at Stoke Mandeville Hospital. In 1957, Grant visited this hospital. He saw how important sports were for recovery.
In 1958, Grant helped organize the First Royal North Shore Hospital Games. These games were for patients with spinal injuries. They were held at Gore Hill Oval. Grant also helped add sports to programs at Mount Wilga House. This center held yearly Sports Days. The Australian team for the 1960 Rome Paralympics included eight athletes. They had been patients at Mt Wilga. Kevin Betts and Eileen Perrottet trained them.
In 1961, Grant and Jack Ferguson started an organization. It was called the Paraplegic and Quadriplegic Association of New South Wales. Grant was its president from 1968 to 2000. During this time, he helped create the Junior National Wheelchair Games. He was also the Medical Officer and Team Manager for Australia. He led teams at the 1966 and 1970 Commonwealth Paraplegic Games.
Grant also helped start the FESPIC Games. These were major sports events for people with disabilities in Asia and the Pacific. In 1977, he led the committee for the 2nd FESPIC Games in Sydney.
In 1980, he wrote to the Minister for Sport. He argued for a national plan for disability sports. Because of this, the Australian Government created a special committee. Grant was a member of this committee.
In 1993, he led the Sydney Bid Committee. This committee worked to bring the 2000 Paralympic Games to Sydney. Their bid was successful. Grant then became the President of the Sydney Paralympic Games Organising Committee. He held this role from 1994 to 2000.
Grant also held important roles in international disability sports groups. He was President of the International Stoke Mandeville Wheelchair Sports Federation. He was also Chairman of the International Co-ordinating Committee of World Sports for the Disabled. He was a member of the International Paralympic Committee.
Awards and Recognition
John Grant received many awards for his work.
General Awards
- 1973 – He received the Order of the British Empire (OBE). This was for his service to the community.
- 1992 – He became a Member of the Order of Australia (AM). This was for his work in sports for disabled people.
- 2002 – He became an Officer of the Order of Australia (AO). This was for his service to sport, especially the Sydney Paralympics. It also recognized his work to improve medical and social services for people with disabilities.
Medical Awards
- 2001 – He won the Best Individual Contribution to Healthcare Award. This was from the Australian Medical Association.
- 2001 – He received the ESR Hughes Medal. This was from the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons.
- 2007 – The University of Sydney gave him an honorary Doctor of Medicine degree.
Disability Sport Awards
- 1988 – He received the Maengho Medal from the President of South Korea.
- 1992 – He won the Sir Ludwig Guttman Award. This was for his important work in Wheelchair Sport in Australia.
- 2002 – He received the FESPIC Order.
- 2002 – The International Paralympic Committee gave him the Gold Paralympic Order.
- 2009 – He received the Wheelchair Sports New South Wales Champion Award.
