Xaverian Award to Dr John Boffa

Dr John Boffa (OX 1979) recently received the prestigious “Xaverian Award” presented by the Principal Dr Hayes, before a whole school assembly at the Senior Campus.

Dr Boffa (the Northern Territory nominee in the Australian of the Year Awards in 2012) has spent the past twenty four years in the Territory committed to indigenous health development and alcohol-based reforms.

It is with great pride that Xavier acknowledges the life’s work of this esteemed Old Xaverian, Dr John Boffa.

Dr Hayes Assembly Presentation

Since 1960, our nation has celebrated the achievement and contribution of eminent citizens through the Australian of the Year awards. The awards profile leading Australians who are role models for us all. Our special guest today is Dr John Boffa, who is the Northern Territory nominee for Australian of the Year for 2012.

After graduating in Medicine from Monash University in the mid 1980s, Dr Boffa knew he wanted to help the disadvantaged. He arrived in Tennant Creek in 1988 and was shocked at the cycle of alcohol and violence which he found there. Six years later, he moved to Alice Springs as a GP. He was also the Public Health Medical Officer at the Central Australian Community-controlled Aboriginal health care service. Twenty-four years later, he is still working there in pursuit of his lifelong commitment to indigenous health development and alcohol-based reforms.

He was appalled when, as the spokesperson for PAAC, the Peoples’ Alcohol Action Coalition Reform Group, he saw the statistics which showed that Northern Territory residents over 15 years of age drank 15 litres of pure alcohol per head a year on average compared with 10 litres for other Australians, while in Alice Springs the average was 20 litres per head. Campaigns such as ‘Beat the Grog’ and ‘Thirsty Thursday’ highlighted the need to look beyond the individual to focus on the systems and structures that contribute to peoples’ behaviour.

He worked for reforms such as changes to trading hours, and a floor price for alcohol. He is deeply committed to evidence based alcohol reforms, especially through supply reduction, and is a strong advocate for improving the lives of Aboriginal children through early learning and maternal health programs.

Before he went to work in the Territory, Dr Boffa was very close to the Jesuits, particularly at Xavier, where he was an all-round performer, a fine academic, a talented sportsman and a keen participant in cocurricular activities. He performed as a singer in the popular Gilbert and Sullivan opera “HMS Pinafore”, and as an actor in the Shakespeare Club’s successful production of “Romeo and Juliet”.

For four years he competed capably as a sprinter in relays in his age group at APS level. In 1977 the Under 16 4 x 100 metres relay team won their event and helped Xavier win the Athletics for the third year in a row. In his final year he was also Vice Captain of the Hockey 1st XI.

The Jesuits taught him the value of achieving a balance in life’s activities – family, work, play, helping others and living one’s faith.

Over the years, Dr Boffa has played an active and inspirational role in the Northern Territory. He saw alcohol dependence as a great barrier to a good education, training, an apprenticeship, getting to work and having a decent and dignified life. He knew that the supply tap must be turned down!

Xavier salutes this passionate and extraordinary social reformer.

THE XAVERIAN AWARD

The Xaverian Award is presented to a past student who has shown a deep commitment to the ideals of St Ignatius of Loyola.

Primarily amongst these is a generosity of spirit manifested in a dedication to making a difference in the wider community through compassion, competence and conscience – a person who has shown willingness, over a sustained period, to share his God given gifts with others.

This is a highly prestigious Award, valued by the School Community, not necessarily to someone who has simply achieved success, but who has lived a life, no matter how simply, for others.