JCU professor honoured with Australia Day Ambassador role

James Cook University’s Professor Peter Leggat AM has been named as a 2014 Australia Day Ambassador for Queensland.

He is among 47 Queenslanders in the Ambassadors Program, who help to capture the spirit of Australia Day by encouraging communities across Queensland to come together and celebrate Australia’s national day, Jan. 26.
Ambassadors are high-achieving, inspirational Queenslanders from diverse fields and backgrounds, and travel throughout the state to attend local council celebrations on Australia Day.
Professor Leggat, who is based in Townsville, is Head of JCU’s School of Public Health, Tropical Medicine and Rehabilitation Sciences, and Associate Dean for Faculty Affairs, Faculty of Medicine, Health and Molecular Sciences.
This weekend, Professor Leggat will travel to Richmond Shire in Western Queensland—a centre for sheep and cattle farming, but also growing in popularity for tourism as part of the Australia’s acclaimed Dinosaur Trail.
“I was surprised to be asked to be an Ambassador, but did not hesitate to agree,” Professor Leggat said.
“I am looking forward to joining the people of Richmond to celebrate our national day and also to thank them for their contribution to JCU, especially through health placements and workforce development.”
Professor Leggat will spend the Australia Day weekend in Richmond and will be hosted by the Richmond Shire Council.
Professor Leggat said he was initially approached by the Department of Premier and Cabinet in the Queensland Government to participate and they matched him with his host council.
The Australia Day Ambassador Program is now in its 10th year.
Professor Leggat is a highly respected medical educator, who has been teaching medical and other health science students for nearly 30 years.
He helped to establish the popular Australian Postgraduate Travel Medicine course, which has been conducted at James Cook University for more than 20 years, and more recently started JCU’s inaugural expedition and wilderness medicine course.
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