Donations in honour of Mr Ron Boswell AO
The Critical Care Research Group is honoured to be the beneficiary of donations in the memory of The Honourable Ronald Boswell AO (1940 – 2026).
Established by Professor John Fraser AO in 2004, the Critical Care Research Group is one of Australia’s leading critical care research facilities.
Our clinician-driven research aims to improve clinical understanding of the many issues that face critically ill patients and to find new and revolutionised treatment methods for hard-to-treat diseases and critical illness.
Your donation will help us continue research that aims to improve survival rates and the quality of life for patients with heart disease, lung disease, sepsis and other critical conditions. Read more.
Mr Ron Boswell AO pictured with CCRG Founder and Director, Professor John Fraser AO. Photo: Lyndon Mechielsen, The Courier Mail December 2025.
A message from CCRG Founder, Professor John Fraser AO:
In adversity, People's true spirit shines through.
I first met Ron in 2019 when he was critically ill in intensive care at St Andrew’s War Memorial Hospital, where he tried to die many times. With the love of a great family and the outstanding care he received from the ICU and surgical teams at St Andrew’s, he survived against all the odds.
As he recovered, so did his sense of humour and the pugilistic passion for his beloved National Party.
Over the years we would intermittently catch up and joust about all things political - his beloved National Party, climate change and anything else he thought would get a rise. I took the bait every time.
Whilst Ron opposed my political opinions, he was a true stalwart and advocate for anything he could do to assist myself and our group to improve outcomes of patients in intensive care – a place where he suffered from delirium and its long-term ramifications - he still described the hallucinations and terrors six years later.
True spirit is seen when two people can go on well despite disagreeing, respecting each other’s point of view and working for the greater good.
As one of Ron's grandchildren (whom he was absurdly proud of) said, “He was a great man.... but an even better Grandpa.”
I would add to that – A great adversary, but an even greater ally.
Rest in peace, Ron.