8 Aust Vet J Vol 80, Nos 1 & 2, January, February 2002

News

AVHS/Novartis essay: winner

The Australian Veterinary History Society (AVHS) andNovartis have awarded their inaugural $500 essay prize toa student from the University of Queensland, Carl

Hockey, of Lake Placid, Qld.His winning paper was entitled: “The History of Cattle TickControl in Australia”.As part of the prize the winner may present his paper to theAVHS Annual Conference (May 6), to be held in conjunctionwith the AVA Annual Conference in Adelaide this year.Novartis and the AVHS offer the contest winner return airfaresand accommodation if he accepts the invitation to present thepaper to the conference.It is expected that the essay competition – on a specified aspectof the veterinary history of Australia – will become an annualevent.The AVHS and the AVA urge all students to submit entries tofuture competitions.

Double science trial edition

This issue of the AVJ is a trial edition, combining theJanuary and February editions into one volume.

It carries double the usual level of scientific and clinical articles.The sheer size of the science/clinical material has meant that wehave had to expand the Contents list over two pages instead ofthe usual one.Unfortunately, production of this issue was delayed byunforeseen circumstances created by the widespread bushfires inNSW for three weeks in January.The AVA and the Managing Editor apologise for anyinconvenience caused by that unavoidable delay in finalising thisspecial issue.Efforts are being made to quickly return our publications to theirplanned production schedules for the remainder of the year.

NSW Governmentcondemns electronic

collars

The NSW Government has angrily denouncedthe sale or use of electronic dog control collarsfollowing recent moves by three Queensland

companies to advertise the devices in rural publicationssold across the NSW/Queensland border.The Minister for Agriculture, Mr Richard Amery,stressed these devices were illegal in NSW and their usecarried heavy penalties: six months jail and/or a $5500fine for individuals and a fine of $27,500 forcorporations.“These types of devices are banned under ourprevention of cruelty to animals legislation, followingdirect recommendations from the NSW AnimalWelfare Advisory Committee,” the Minister said. “”Ihave written to the three companies concerned,advising them that the sale or use of these electroniccollars is illegal in NSW. I also urged them to be morecareful about how and where they advertised - ordistributed - their products in future. I remind all dogowners in NSW of the legal situation - these devices arecruel, they are banned and their use or sale carries veryheavy penalties in the State.”

AVA plays hostto vet leaders

The AVA will host thisyear’s meeting of theInternational Veterinary

Officers Council (IVOC) inSydney in March (7 to 9).IVOC is a structure established toenable the veterinary associationsin the UK, US, Canada andAustralia to meet regularly andexchange ideas.This year’s gathering will also beattended – as observers – by theNZVA and the WVA. The two-day meeting will he staged at theIntercontinental Hotel in Sydney,which has some spectacular viewsover the harbour and thebotanical gardens.The AVA will be represented bythe President, Dr Robert Baker,and the Chief Executive Officer,Mr Bryce Wynn.Other delegates will be:AVMA – President, Dr JimBrandt; Executive Vice President,Dr Bruce Little. BVA – President,Dr Andrew Scott; Assistant Chiefexecutive, Mrs Ailsa Edwards.CVMA – President, Dr MichaelBaar; Interim Executive Director,Ms Suzanne Lavictoire. NZVA –President, Dr Lewis Griffiths;CEO, Dr Murray Gibb. WVA –President, Dr Jim Edwards.Among the agenda items for

discussion are: The prudent use ofantibiotics; Animal Welfare;Exotic Disease Management;Food Safety; the Economics of theProfession; Veterinary Education;Government Animal HealthPreparedness; the Public Image ofVeterinarians; the Way Forwardfor Associations; Streaming andLimited Licensure of theProfession; Student Membership;and Governance.Following an early meeting ofIVOC the participants issued thefollowing statement of purposefor the grouping. “The purpose ofIVOC is to promote dialogue andcooperation among the chiefelected and chief executive officersof a small number of veterinaryassociations with a view toharmonise policies and optimiseresources. IVOC does this by:exchanging information on anongoing basis on policies andprograms; complementing and/orsharing resources on cross-borderissues; and when appropriate, takecommon positions or action oninternational matters, includingmatters related to the policies andoperations of internationalveterinary associations”.

AVA’s third Pro Bono Survey

The AVA will shortly launch its third survey to calculatethe value of Pro Bono work done by Members incaring for sick and injured stray animals and wildlife.

A special survey form is currently under development by DrRoger Clarke, a former AVA President. The previous surveyfound that AVA Members ‘spent’ $34m in providing free careto animals without identified owners. More details of thesurvey are expected to be published next month.