1962ICI House and St Vincent's Hospital
Lecture theatre ICU House
Margaret Brown, Chairman (Scrub nurse for surgeon)
1963Royal Melbourne Hospital
Merlyn Myer HallProjection into the future: 10 years hence
• Opened by Mr Grayton Brown FRACS, Chairman Road Traffic Authority
• 200 delegates, including interstate
• Panel of 5 discussed nurse education in the operating suite
• Fees 4/- non members• Program printed courtesy
Johnson & Johnson
1964St Vincent's Hospital
Brenan HallJohn Citizen in the operating suite
• Patient progress from reception; pre-operative care; sterilisation and prevention of infection; anaesthetic care; operating room set up and operative procedures; clean up following an infected case; recovery room and intensive care.
Mirriel Jeffries, Chairman ( PHH)
1965Repatriation General Hospital
St John’s Lecture TheatreCommunication or conflict
• Opened by Brigadier Chiltern, CBE, DSO, Chairman, Repatriation Commission
• 400 delegates• Poster presentation• Fees 7/- for non members• Trade exhibit of
instruments & supplies Dorothea Burnett, Chairman (Repat)
1966Repatriation General HospitalIs the theatre sister essential?
• Opened by Jane Muntz OBE, Nursing Advisor, Minister for Health
• 400 delegates including interstate
• $200.00 profit and $$ donated to College of Nursing to buy textbooks for operating room nursing course
1967Repatriation General Hospital
Making the theatre work
• Opened by Mr B Rank, President RACS
• 300 delegates including interstate and country
• Fees $2 for members, $3 for non members
• Papers on – packaging & sterilisation– teaching the student nurse
• Demonstration of theatre technique
Mary Barry, Chairman (Geelong)
1968University of Melbourne
Prince Philip Theatre(in Architecture building)
Smiles not tears
• Opened by Ellice Lang, Retiring President, RVCN
• Focus on safety & efficiency
• Fees $2 full day, $1 half day for members
• $3.50 for lunch, morning and afternoon teas
Marge Bennetts, Chairman (Austin)
1969University of Melbourne
Prince Philip TheatreAnticipation - participation - progress
• Opened by Miss E Johnson, Nursing Executive Officer, Hospitals & Charities Commission
• Over 300 delegates , including New Zealand• Focus on looking to the future and preparing
to achieve goals• Four papers presented by nurses
1970University of Melbourne
Old Arts BuildingConsequences of speed
• Opened by Mary Evans, President, RVCN
• Papers on trauma and importance of speed in initial treatment; compound fractures; contaminated wounds, resuscitation and rehabilitation
1971Camberwell Civic Centre
Prostheses in surgery
• Space for 43 trade exhibitors with separate morning & afternoon tea rooms
• Keynote speaker Betty Thomas, Immediate past President AORN
• Surgical Dynamics provided pre-luncheon sherry and soft drinks
1972Camberwell Civic Centre
Patient centred care
• Keynote speaker Janet Lay, Theatre Coordinator, Prince Henry & Prince of Wales Hospital, Sydney
• Pre-conference exhibitor cocktail party for members
Sr. Mary Felix, Chairman (St Vincent’s)
1973Camberwell Civic Centre
Circulatory, chest & cardiac surgery
• Opened by Miss P Armstrong, Secretary RVCN
• Fees $4 full conference, $2 per session; Lunch $4
• Program & pre dinner drinks sponsored by Ethicon; morning & afternoon teas sponsored by Davis & Geck
Marea Fennell, Chairman
(St Vincent’s)
1974Camberwell Civic Centre
The road to casualty
• Keynote speaker, Dr Peter Bush, Director Casualty, RMH
• 330 delegates• Fees $6, lunch $3 &
members cocktail party $1.75
• 45 trade exhibitors
1975Camberwell Civic Centre
All chips & chisels ( no bone unturned)
• Keynote speaker Elizabeth Franks, Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Adelaide & sponsored by Davis & Geck
• 309 delegates & 45 trade exhibits
• Surgical Dynamics sponsored the luncheon wine Lyn Root, Chairman (RWH)
1976Camberwell Civic Centre
Progress in a woman’s world
• Opened by Betty Lawson, Matron, RWH
• Topics related to gynaecology & infertility
• Fees $10, lunch $6, morning or afternoon tea $3
• Presentations by nurses proved very popular
1977Camberwell Civic CentreSurgery in renal failure
• Opened by Mr R Ansell, Administrator of Australian Kidney Foundation
• Topics addressed dialysis, kidney donation & transplantation
• Fees $12 for full day• 45 trade exhibitors Pauline Bennett, Chairman
(Maroondah)
1978Camberwell Civic Centre
Plastic & reconstructive surgery
• Opened by June Stewart, President, Directors of Nursing Association
• Topics addressed congenital defects, skin cancer & trauma including microsurgery
• 344 delegates paid $12 for conference
Education session
Lunch
Morning tea
1979Camberwell Civic Centre
ENT surgery & Anaesthetics
• Opened by Rae Anstee, DON, Austin Hospital– Spoke about the largely
unnoticed dedication required to be an operating room nurse & importance of professional membership
Note: the Six C’s – colour, circulation, chest movement, carbon dioxide, cough and
consciousness
1980Camberwell Civic Centre
Colorectal surgery
• Opened by Sir Edward Hughes, FRACS, Professor Surgery, Alfred
• Fees $15 full day; $7 half day
• Trade exhibit stand $150• Satchels were filled for
delegates• Dinner dance held on
completion with 140 attending
First coloured brochure & use of new logo
Lorraine Rome, Secretary for 16 years (right) at the registration desk with Leonie Lorenz, Ass
Treasurer
1981Camberwell Civic Centre
Neurosurgery
• Opened by Judith Cooney, Federal Secretary, RANF
• Papers covered trauma & intracranial lesions
• 370 delegates & 53 trade exhibits
• Proceedings made available on tape Front cover of first
conference bookletChloe Forsyth,
Chairman (RMH)
1982Camberwell Civic Centre
Keeping pace with the 80s
• 21st Annual conference• Keynote address Miss
June Allen, DON, Alfred & inaugural President of the Group
• Papers covered computers in the OR & pacemakers
• Satchels featured ORNG logo & 21st key
1983Camberwell Civic Centre
Burns & Orthopaedics
• Keynote speaker Miss Elaine Orr, DON, RCH
• 390 delegates & 53 trade exhibits
• Fees $26 for conference & cocktail party
• Five nursing papers• Happy hour concluded
the conferenceJacquie Dalzell, Chairman (Austin)
& Elaine Orr
1984Camberwell Civic Centre
Vascular surgery & Safe Practices in the OR
• Keynote speaker Miss Mona Menzies, Chief Nursing Officer, VNC
• 442 delegates ‘squeezed’ into civic centre
• Fees $30 full day; $12 half day
• Trade exhibits cost $250• Last conference at
Camberwell after 14 yearsMarea Fennell, Chairman
(St Vincent’s)
1985Southern Cross Hotel
New parts for old
• Keynote speaker Dr Larry Osborne, EO, Repatriation General Hospital
• Papers covered, intraocular lenses, breast reconstruction & kidney transplantation
• 66 trade exhibits @ $500 per stand
• 420 delegates paid $40 for full conference
1986 Victoria hosted ACORN Conference
Mara Fennell, Justice Kirby, Jacqui Dalzell
L-R Back: Andrea Brien (Western) Michelle Cullen, Pamela Waite (Cabrini) Jenny Dyason, Mary Newton (Vic Clinic) L-R Front: Carmel Gagliardi, Marian Kilvert, Winsome Salway, Brain Newton
Prince Henry’s Hospital and other delegates 1986 conference dinner
ACORN Board. Judith Cornell front right
1987Southern Cross Hotel
New faces- a new outlook on life
• 25th Conference• Opening address Miss
Lucy Jo Atkinson, Editor, Point of View
• Papers covered cochlear implants & craniofacial surgery
• 340 delegates & 63 exhibitors
• Five educational grants @ $400 awarded
(Western Hospital)
1988Southern Cross Hotel
All in a day’s work
• Opening Mr John Clareborough, OBE, FRACS
• Theme focused on day surgery
• Fees $55 for members; $60 for non members
• 450 delegates & trade exhibitor paid $660 for a stand
Claire Collins, Chairman (RCH)
1989Southern Cross Hotel
Organ transplantation
• Keynote speaker Mr Nicholas Tonti-Filippini, Director of Bioethics, St Vincent's Hospital
• Davis & Geck, Ansell, Johnson & Johnson & Stelmara sponsored name badges, satchels, pens & pads, and printings costs
1990Southern Cross Hotel
Laser surgery & neurosurgery
• Keynote speaker Ms Peg Higginbottom, Manager, Nursing Advisory Unit, DOH
• 600 delegates & 65 trade exhibits
• Fees $65 for members; $75 for non members
• New evaluation form captured data that led to revision of conference format
1991Southern Cross HotelENT & Orthopaedics
• Keynote speaker Ms Chris Game, Director of Education , RCNA
• Research papers presented• Plenary & concurrent
sessions held, including workshops
• Surgicare, Fisher & Paykel, CIG, & Medtel provided equipment for workshops
• Windcheaters with the new logo for sale
1992World Congress CentreThe world is your oyster
• 30th conference• Keynote speaker Megan
Jane Johnson, Nurse Ethicist, RMIT
• Fees $120 for members; $150 for non members
• 580 delegates; 75 trade• Call for abstracts in ANJ• Open forum & debate re
single use items
Leonie Lorenz, Chairman (Repat)
1993World Congress Centre
Victoria before the world- a spectrum of caring
• Keynote speaker Penny Smalley, Laser Consultant
• Research papers, forums & workshops
• VSPAAN presented a session
• 500 delegates• Fee to attend cocktail party• Speakers & committee
used identifying ribbons
1994World Congress Centre
The art & science of perioperative nursing
• Keynote speaker Barbara Horner, Consultant in Education & Training
• Fees $160 members; $180 non members; $25 cocktail party; $27 lunch
• 550 delegates & 80 trade exhibits
• Clive Alsop hosted a hypothetical on partner presence during caesarean section
1995World Congress CentreA new lamp is burning
• Keynote speaker Catherine Taylor, Head of School of Nursing, Deakin University
• Theme depicted changes in health care models & the need for perioperative nurses to preserve their identity
• Open forum depicted a law court & nurse & expert witness being cross examined
• Graduate certificate students presented on caring for ourselves & our patients
New A4 size brochure
1996World Congress CentreLook what do you see?
• Theme reflected advancement in minimally invasive surgery
• A debate on ‘any nurse can be a perioperative nurse’ facilitated by John Jost, broadcaster
• 74 trade exhibitorsFirst glossy brochure
1997World Congress CentrePrepare to be noticed
• No workshops but two surgical product presentations on breast biopsy system & flash sterilisation monitoring
• Passport incentive introduced
• ACORN President Carolyn Webster gave closing address
Michelle Cullen, Chairman (Box Hill)
1998World Congress Centre
The future is within our reach
• Theme reflected desire to create opportunities & take responsibility
• 235 delegates and 68 trade attended
• Committee wore polo shirts to distinguish them
1999Melb Convention Centre
Kaleidoscope
• Theme reflected a wide variety of topics– VRE– Pre admission clinics– Complimentary
therapies– Sentinel node biopsy– Management of teams– CPD
Jorge Acevedo Rodriguez, Chairman (Eye & Ear)
2000Melb Convention Centre
Going for Gold
• Ass Prof Kate Burridge, Linguist, spoke at welcome breakfast
• Nicole Livingstone, Olympic swimmer gave keynote address
• Sir Murray Rivers QC (satirist Bryan Dawes) entertained at welcome reception
• Victorian Nurse's Choir sang at closing ceremony
2001Melb Convention Centre
Sea Change
• Keynote address Belinda Moyes, Principal Nurse, Nurse Policy Branch, DHS
• Plenary session panel spoke on recruitment & retention
• Cocktail reception at Melbourne Aquarium
2002Victoria hosted the ACORN Conference
• Inaugural Judith Cornell Oration delivered by Judith Cornell, AM as an future event for perioperative nurses to share their vision for the future
• A masquerade ball was held for the 783 delegates and 100 trade
Marilyn Schroder, President (Mercy) with Betty Schulz, incoming AORN President
2003Moonee Valley Racecourse
Horses for courses: diversity in the OR
• New venue was designed to cut costs but delegates numbers were down
• Stryker donated $1500.00 best paper prize won by Carollyn Williams (Barwon Health)
Lesley Gilbert, President (Freemasons)
2004Docklands Stadium
Everyone's a winner: kicking goals for perioperative nursing
• Keynote address Marcia Griffin, business entrepreneur
• Ian Cover, sport commentator was MC
• Fees $375 for members, $475 for non members
• Two workshops preceded the conference, one at RACS simulation centre
2005Docklands Stadium
Flying the flag: tradition, innovation & the future
• Keynote speaker Robyn Moore, changing perception through the ‘power of the word.’
• Closing speaker, Jane Clifton, comedian
• Full registration $375.00 members, $475.00 non members. Cocktail reception $60.00
2006Melb Convention Centre
Passing the baton
• Theme reflected innovation in clinical practice; research impact; management strategies & strategies for change
• Opening speaker Olga Kanitsaki, RMIT University
• Keynote address by Col Beverley Wright, Director of Defence Force Nursing
2007Melb Convention Centre
Perioperative nursing: a golden career
Judith Bridges, President with Alan Gentry, Multigate
• Celebrated 50 years of the Group
• Opened by Dr David de Krester, Governor of Victoria
• Opening ceremony featured Victoria Police Band, past Presidents & Life members
• Keynote speaker Dr Ross Walker, cardiologist
• A Gold & Black Ball
2008Melb Convention Centre
The future is you … the next evolution
• Keynote speaker Li Cunxin ‘Mao’s Last Dancer’
• Hypothetical: ‘The Big Bang.’ Weekend, skeleton staff, terrorism, multiple trauma
• Debate: ‘The future of the perioperative nursing as we know it’
2009The Sebel
The courage to care
• Venue change to reduce costs
• Opening speaker Belinda Moyes, Chief Nurse, Vic
• Keynote address Peter Davidson, RAV & the rescue of 8 men during 1998 Sydney to Hobart yacht race
• Launch of the History of VPNG project Nan Lundie, President (Latrobe Uni)
2010The Sebel
Working together for success
• Opened by Adj Prof Belinda Moyes, Principle Nurse Advisor, DHS
• Keynote speaker Ass Prof Linda Starr, Dean School of Nursing Flinders University
• Paper on separating conjoined twins Trishna & Krishna
• Interactive workshops featured
2011Flemington Racecourse
Building on our Strengths
• MC Sam McCool, comedian
• Keynote address Amanda Gore, speaker to inspire creativity and laughter
• Open forum discussed standards of practice as a template for quality care and risk management
Daniel Scholtes, President (Warragul)
2012The Sebel
Everyday heroes: making a difference
• Opening address Prof Michael Grigg, Vice President, RACS
• Keynote speakers – Peter Hughes, Bali bombing
survivor on ‘Life beyond Bali’– Avril Henry, ‘Working with
generations’– Professor Peter Choong, Chair of
Surgery, St Vincent's Hospital on ‘Cancer surgery - what teamwork is all about’