Abstract
Winding up volume 33 of the Journal provides an opportunity to thank many people who have made a notable contribution in diverse ways during 1999. It has been a gratifying year during which, I believe, we have met our basic objective of promoting the intellectual life of the College. Thank you to:
First and foremost, our authors who have chosen to publish with us and participated in a truly collegial process. We should not forget here commentators on articles, reviewers of books and contributors to our correspondence column.
Our peer reviewers, a team of experts who offer their services voluntarily and effectively. One of the great pleasures as Editor is to read scholarly reports which have the potential to enhance the quality of papers eventually published. Periodically, I think of mounting a competition for the best peer reviewer of the year, but judging would be exceedingly difficult.
Eric Dax, now in his tenth decade, who continues to select pictures for the back cover from his renowned collection of psychiatric art. Eric has done this since 1993 without fail and has never disappointed us. We wish him well in 2000 and express the hope that his links with the Journal will continue to flourish.
The crew at Blackwell Science Asia who have been remarkably hard working, helpful and congenial: Anne Bittner (Editorial Assistant), Mandy Naylor (Production Editor, who is moving on to greater things and to whom a special vote of thanks is due), Shirley Green, (Vice President of Publishing) and Mark Robertson (a director who always makes himself accessible).
The binational advisory board members who continue to lend a hand in a variety of ways; their efforts are much appreciated.
The international advisory board for their willingness to promote the Journal in their part of the world. One eminent member wrote recently: ‘The Journal is looking more and more substantial with each issue … hearty congratulations’.
College staff—Angela Hill has proved her worth many times over as we attempt to achieve a higher
profile in the general media. Mary-Rose Morgan handles our finances impeccably. Eric Ratcliff, as chairman of the Publications Committee, has always been a staunch supporter of the Journal and a fountainhead of wisdom.
Assen Jablensky, David Ames and Simon Strafrace who have taken on guest editorial roles this year. The April symposium on classification was described by one eminent colleague as a ‘dazzler’. The symposium on psychogeriatrics is bound to earn similar plaudits.
Philip Mitchell who has taken on an editorial role by guiding the production of the supplement on bipolar disorder which is being distributed with the December issue. He developed the wonderful idea of commemorating John Cade's discovery of lithium in 1949; the supplement will go a long way to bring this notable development in world psychiatry to our attention.
The focus groups convened in Brisbane, Newcastle and Dunedin whose members offered me constructive feedback on how to enhance the Journal's quality.
Last, but not least, the editorial board. You know well who they are. They do a splendid job in an atmosphere typified by creativity and true collegiality, and with a sensitivity to the immense challenges facing our profession. What is particularly impressive in all their endeavours is the pride they take in producing a journal of quality and integrity. It may not be fully appreciated that the board is a ‘hands on’ group which meets regularly and fulfils several vital roles. The complex paper requiring careful adjudication, the policy decision that needs to be carefully unravelled, the delicate problem of a sensitive author are but a few of their many tasks.
I hope that you, the reader, have found this year's issues interesting, worthwhile and entertaining. I wish you good reading over the holiday period and look forward to providing the best quality journal we are capable of in 2000.