Don Beaven
Encyclopedia
Professor Sir Donald Ward Beaven, KNZM, CBE
(31 August 1924 – 4 November 2009) was a New Zealand
medical researcher in the area of diabetes treatment and prevention.
He commenced full-time teaching and research at the Christchurch School of Medicine in 1960, and was appointed Foundation Professor in 1971. The Beaven Lecture Theatre in the School bears his name.
Professor Beaven was made a Commander of the Order of the British Empire
in 1988 for "services to Medicine and the community", and a Distinguished Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit
in the 2005 New Year Honours list for "services to persons with diabetes". He accepted a knighthood in August 2009 after the restoration of the former honours system. In March 2009, Professor Beaven was commemorated as one of the Twelve Local Heroes
, and a bronze bust of him was unveiled outside the Christchurch Arts Centre
.
An advocate of the Mediterranean diet
, Don Beaven helped establish the South Island
wine industry, planting vineyards and olive groves around Christchurch
and Banks Peninsula
.
Professor Beaven died fighting a house fire in his bach
in Little Akaloa on Banks Peninsula. A memorial service for Prof. Beaven held in the Christchurch Town Hall
on December 19, 2009 was attended by nearly 1000 people. At the memorial, the chair of the Health Research Council of New Zealand
announced that the Emeritus Professor Sir Donald Ward Beaven Medal for Diabetes Research would be presented to the New Zealand researcher who makes the greatest contribution to diabetes research each year.
CBE
CBE and C.B.E. are abbreviations for "Commander of the Order of the British Empire", a grade in the Order of the British Empire.Other uses include:* Chemical and Biochemical Engineering...
(31 August 1924 – 4 November 2009) was a New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
medical researcher in the area of diabetes treatment and prevention.
He commenced full-time teaching and research at the Christchurch School of Medicine in 1960, and was appointed Foundation Professor in 1971. The Beaven Lecture Theatre in the School bears his name.
Professor Beaven was made a Commander of the Order of the British Empire
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
in 1988 for "services to Medicine and the community", and a Distinguished Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit
New Zealand Order of Merit
The New Zealand Order of Merit is an order established in 1996 "for those persons who in any field of endeavour, have rendered meritorious service to the Crown and nation or who have become distinguished by their eminence, talents, contributions or other merits."The order includes five...
in the 2005 New Year Honours list for "services to persons with diabetes". He accepted a knighthood in August 2009 after the restoration of the former honours system. In March 2009, Professor Beaven was commemorated as one of the Twelve Local Heroes
Twelve Local Heroes
The Twelve Local Heroes is a series of bronze busts located in the central city of Christchurch, New Zealand on Worcester Boulevard outside the Arts Centre to commemorate twelve local Christchurch people who were prominent in their respective fields in the latter part of the 20th...
, and a bronze bust of him was unveiled outside the Christchurch Arts Centre
Christchurch Arts Centre
The Christchurch Arts Centre is a hub for arts, crafts and entertainment in Christchurch, New Zealand. It is located in the neo-gothic former University of Canterbury buildings, the majority of which were designed by Benjamin Mountfort...
.
An advocate of the Mediterranean diet
Mediterranean diet
The Mediterranean diet is a modern nutritional recommendation inspired by the traditional dietary patterns of southern Italy, Crete and much of the rest of Greece in the 1960s....
, Don Beaven helped establish the South Island
South Island
The South Island is the larger of the two major islands of New Zealand, the other being the more populous North Island. It is bordered to the north by Cook Strait, to the west by the Tasman Sea, to the south and east by the Pacific Ocean...
wine industry, planting vineyards and olive groves around Christchurch
Christchurch
Christchurch is the largest city in the South Island of New Zealand, and the country's second-largest urban area after Auckland. It lies one third of the way down the South Island's east coast, just north of Banks Peninsula which itself, since 2006, lies within the formal limits of...
and Banks Peninsula
Banks Peninsula
Banks Peninsula is a peninsula of volcanic origin on the east coast of the South Island of New Zealand. It has an area of approximately and encompasses two large harbours and many smaller bays and coves...
.
Professor Beaven died fighting a house fire in his bach
Bach (New Zealand)
A bach is a small, often very modest holiday home or beach house. Alternatively called a crib, they are an iconic part of New Zealand history and culture, especially in the middle of the 20th century, where they symbolized the beach holiday lifestyle that was becoming more accessible to the...
in Little Akaloa on Banks Peninsula. A memorial service for Prof. Beaven held in the Christchurch Town Hall
Christchurch Town Hall
The Christchurch Town Hall, since 2007 formally known as the Christchurch Town Hall of the Performing Arts, opened in 1972, is Christchurch's premier performing arts centre. It is located in the central city on the banks of the Avon River overlooking Victoria Square. It is situated opposite the...
on December 19, 2009 was attended by nearly 1000 people. At the memorial, the chair of the Health Research Council of New Zealand
Health Research Council of New Zealand
The Health Research Council of New Zealand is a Crown agency of the New Zealand Government.It is responsible for managing the government's investment in health research for the public good....
announced that the Emeritus Professor Sir Donald Ward Beaven Medal for Diabetes Research would be presented to the New Zealand researcher who makes the greatest contribution to diabetes research each year.
External links
- Don Beaven Travelling Fellowship, Canterbury Medical Research Foundation
- Don Beaven publications on PubMedPubMedPubMed is a free database accessing primarily the MEDLINE database of references and abstracts on life sciences and biomedical topics. The United States National Library of Medicine at the National Institutes of Health maintains the database as part of the Entrez information retrieval system...
- Profile, Department of Communication Disorders, University of Canterbury