The New South Wales Anaesthetics Continuing Education Committee conducted their 23rd meeting in Sydney on April 7–8, 1989. This was titled ‘Local Anaesthesia and Acute Pain’ and dedicated to the honour of Brian Dwyer who will retire from an illustrious clinical career early in 1990. We record the foreword to the proceedings of the meeting and addresses given at the associated dinner for the benefit of those whose lives and practice have been touched, whether they are aware of it or not, by a great anaesthetist and a great man.