Aireys Inlet’s Craig Rayner honoured with AM

AIREYS Inlet’s Craig Rayner has today (Sunday, January 26) been appointed as a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) in recognition of his significant service to pharmacology across a range of roles and organisations.

Among his long list of achievements is helping to develop the antiparasitic drug moxidectin, which became a key tool in treating river blindness in Africa; leading efforts to develop the breakthrough antiviral medicine Tamiflu, a now pharmacy staple across the world; and his ongoing work on MRNA-derived vaccines with pharmaceutical company Moderna.

Dr Rayner said the appointment had come as a shock, so much so when he first heard the news, he suspected it was spam.

He is also among 24 individuals to this year be inducted into Australia’s COVID-19 Honour Roll, in recognition of his contribution to the nation’s response to the pandemic.

During the pandemic, Dr Rayner – who at the time was working closely with the Gates Foundation on various global health projects – stepped into an advisory role, using his expertise to assist investigations into already available medicines to determine if any could be repurposed in the fight against the novel coronavirus.

With a ring of steel in place in Victoria, much of this work was done from Aireys Inlet at 3am in the morning.

“COVID was the best and the worst of everything,” Dr Rayner said.

“We’ve had probably one of the most impactful times in history, and to be one of many people to be recognised by the country that I did something that was helpful, or useful, is just amazing.

 

 

“For me, it’s like the cherry on the cake. You don’t ever think that you’re going to be recognised like that, you don’t go out do that, and so the fact that it is, it’s given me the opportunity to reflect and…[encouraged] me to give more back to Australia and to continue to try to positively contribute to this place.”

For such a significant impact, it’s hard to believe Dr Rayner’s career may have taken a different path had he not made a mistake filling out his university application form at the end of high school, shifting his direction from physiotherapy to pharmacology.

“The world works in mysterious ways,” he said.

The late Emeritus Professor Joseph Graffam has also been appointed an honorary AM today, for his significant service to tertiary education and to social welfare organisations.

The American-born academic and Torquay resident passed in July 2023 at the age of 74, leaving behind a significant legacy of accomplishments that span several leadership positions and organisations.

Of particular note is his globally recognised work in the community reintegration of former prisoners and his more than 30 years of service as a voluntary director for disability service WISE Employment.

Anyone can nominate any Australian for an award in the Order of Australia. If you know someone worthy, nominate them now at gg.gov.au