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When we started this column we hoped it would be fun and we expected a few well-connected dental professionals and dental suppliers – and that’s what it’s delivered. However, this entry takes us to another level: the work of the volunteer.

Dr Janet Scott is specialist oral and maxillofacial surgeon with practices in Adelaide, Reynella and Mount Gambier in South Australia.

She is also a Colonel in the Army Reserve, holding two positions: Chairman of the Consultative Group in Dentistry; and the Director of Army Health Reserves in South Australia.

In her role she looks after dental officers in the Defence Reserves and acts as a liaison between them. She also coordinates Army Reservists in the health fields. She has been in the Army Reserve for 25 years.

Last June Dr Scott was awarded the Conspicuous Service Cross, “For outstanding achievement as the Commanding Officer, 3rd Health Support Battalion and as the Senior Dental Officer, South Australia.”

She was also the first dentist to be appointed to command a Health Support Battalion (essentially a mobile field hospital). Dr Scott received her Conspicuous Service Cross from Princess Anne at Buckingham Palace. The Queen was due to officiate but she had to cancel due to a very bad cold and sore throat, so Princess Anne presented the award.

Dr Scott’s father was in the British Navy in WW2, the military flowed through her blood and she has a strong “sense of civic duty to give back what I can.” So joining the Army Reserve was a natural step. When she was awarded the Conspicuous Service Cross she was invited to receive it at Government House, Adelaide but her father, at 92, was not able to travel from England to attend. Then she received a letter from the Central Chancery of the Orders of Knighthood saying that she was eligible to receive the award at Buckingham Palace. A few delightful (possibly once in a life time) dream-like moments stand out in the whole experience.

When asked at Immigration (at Heathrow) the purpose of her visit to England she replied, “To visit the Queen!” They still let her in! Sitting in a taxi she stated the obvious, “Buckingham Palace, please.”

While she was about to receive the award all she could concentrate on was the thickness of the carpet and whether she would be able to execute a crisp military left turn on the deep lush pile of the carpet.

When Dr (then Captain) Scott started as a dental officer she performed dental checks on solders. Often the unit would set up the field dental equipment and treat Aborigines in the Flinders Ranges. In return, the Aboriginal kids would teach the soldiers about bush tucker. Through the Army

Reserve she also attended courses on leadership, management and command, learning how to plan campaigns and plan health services delivery. She was the first dentist to attend these courses and then was appointed to command a Health Support Battalion. She served in Bougainville and East Timor as Commander of the Health Element. Looking after the health of military personnel has been an incredibly rewarding experience.

“As dentists, we have the capacity to heal and educate. On the whole, dental disease is preventable, so we can go out and spread that message. Or we can help in other non-dental ways, such as emergency organisations,” says Dr Scott.

“I would recommend it to anyone. In my field I have learned so much about leadership and management which has helped me in my practice, but I have lasting, humbling memories.

“It sounds corny but that’s the honest truth: I’ve loved my role in the Army Reserve and will continue to do it. As dentists we are very lucky to earn a reasonable income, but there is more to life than money.”

She doesn’t recall exactly what Princess Anne said to her, something about how well she had done and that we needed more people like her.

And we do!