Christmas 2014

This time of year is used by many for reflection, sharing festivities and expressing goodwill and gratitude. This year, the MJA has been celebrating its centenary, culminating in a grand event at the University of Sydney in July. A good turnout filled the Great Hall as speakers recounted amusing anecdotes and experts provided thought-provoking ideas and commentary on open publishing and other advances. There was opportunity also for reflection on landmark MJA articles that influenced practice and policy over the century.

Throughout the year, Highlights from our archives showcased examples of advertisements for products that are quaint or even dangerous when judged against today's standards, as well as papers from the pre-antibiotic era and from times of war, and others covering matters of perennial concern, such as obesity. Fifty years ago (in the 4 July 1964 issue), Dr Ronald Winton, editor for many years, wrote “… the growing problem of publishing, storing and recalling contributions to medical knowledge and thought may be about to dictate radical changes in medical journalism” — which rings true today.

Looking to the future, we plan to progressively implement changes and provide more content online, responding in this way and others to suggestions made by panels of our readers this year. The first change is our new look cover.

Also, we will expand our MJA comments section and encourage readers to submit brief comments on any topic related to health. Our recent rural health Perspective from the President of the Rural Doctors Association of Australia has been well received, and this issue includes an update from the Queensland President. We also welcome contributions from those working at the grassroots of rural medicine. Our competitions continue to be well subscribed (https://www.mja.com.au/author-centre/awards).

We thank our Editorial Advisory Committee, which evolved from the prior Specialist Editorial Advisors' group. It has an expanded role of providing advice about our direction, and offering feedback on the Journal and information on what is new and topical in medicine.

As a peer-reviewed journal, the important, usually unseen, members in our team are our dedicated peer reviewers. The year cannot close without our warmest thanks to them, and they are listed on the following pages.

To all our readers, who encourage and support us, we offer our thanks and our sincere good wishes for Christmas and the new year from all of us at the MJA.