Last week I had the pleasure of filming an interview with John Langford OA who worked at Lachlan Park Hospital in the early 1960’s. John went to the UK to study in 1966 -70 and returned to the Royal Derwent Hospital to assist Dr Eric Cunningham Dax regionalise Mental Health services in Tasmania Cunningham Dax Report. As part of that work he started an organisation called Community Hostels Inc in Tasmania.

A trained Psychiatric Social Worker, John, at the age of 80 years took the time off his full time job to speak with us. He recently opened an accommodation centre in Mackay Queensland to assist people in crisis and has been awarded the highest honour you can get from Rotary Australia the ‘Paul Harris Award’.

This now matched his 2014 member of the Order of Australia as part of the Queen’s Birthday honours list. It was a delight to meet and talk with this gentleman who has dedicated his life’s work to people with mental health issues.

John’s 80th Birthday and Rotary award         John’s Queens Birthday award

Above: left, John Langford O.A. right, Paul Mayne (c) 2016 Mark Krause