Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
Review
. 2022 Spring;70(1):47-70.

Christensen House: A Case Study for Inclusive Decision-making within Professional Associations

H F Akers  1 , M A Foley  2 , J P Brown  3 , V Woodford  4 , A Boi  5
Affiliations
  • PMID: 35468053
Review

Christensen House: A Case Study for Inclusive Decision-making within Professional Associations

H F Akers et al. J Hist Dent. 2022 Spring.

Abstract

Accounts of dental history in Queensland are few and almost invariably authored by those who either held or hold power. The focus is 'who, what, when' rather than 'why and how'. House-related developments as a case study provide an opportunity to assess aspects of the Australian Dental Association Queensland Branch's (ADAQ) model of administration in the early 1970s. The authors use literature review and historical methods. The ADAQ's articles of association, codes of conduct and memoranda centralized Brisbane-based authority and elite leadership into its management. The ADAQ council's decision to build Christensen House in Brisbane, prompted by the posthumous benevolence of George Christensen, was informed, logical, measured and appeared timely. The advocates for the house were innovative, optimistic, resolute, and well-intentioned, with their design and selected location of the building being appropriate. However, the decision occurred at a time of latent discontent within the membership, many of whom did not support the project financially. Distance in Queensland dictates that provincial members either accept or tolerate Brisbane-based centralized authority within ADAQ administration. Nonetheless, when it comes to policy warranting membership subscription, the Christensen House experience demonstrates that the modus operandi of the ADAQ council should be, as far as possible, inclusive, and representative.

Keywords: Australian Dental Association Queensland Branch; Centralized Authority; Christensen House; George Christensen; James Croker; Queensland Regionalism.

PubMed Disclaimer

References

    1. Jones HG et al. A History of the Australian Dental Association (Qld Branch) 1906–1992. Brisbane, Qld: ADAQ, Brisbane. 1997.
    1. Johnston WR. The Call of the Land – A History of Queensland to the Present Day. Milton, Qld: Jacaranda Press. 1982.
    1. Clark C. Queensland Year Book 1939. Brisbane, Qld: The Government Statistician. 1901.
    1. Murphy D et al. (Eds) The Premiers of Queensland. St. Lucia, Qld: University of Queensland Press. 2003.
    1. Lewis G. Queensland Nationalism and Australian Capitalism. In: Essays in the Political Economy of Australian Capitalism (eds.) Wheelwright EL & Buckley K. Sydney, NSW: ANZ Book Co. 1978.