Australian Veterinary Association Annual Conference 2007 Awards Ceremony
The Australian Veterinary Association held its annual conference in Melbourne in May 2007. Several of the recipients of awards were alumni or staff of the Faculty of Veterinary Science at The University of Melbourne. The Faculty is proud to be associated with such outstanding veterinarians
Gilruth Prize awarded to
Associate Professor Kevin Whithear, HAD, BVSc, PhD
This prize, established in 1953, is awarded for meritorious service to veterinary science in Australia. It is the highest ranking award of the Australian Veterinary Association.
Associate Professor Whithear was the key scientist responsible for the production, development, successful registration and commercial release of two vaccines, ts-11 and MS-H, to control major diseases of poultry.
These vaccines have controlled two significant causes of disease in Australian poultry flocks, and thus made considerable contributions to the profitability of this industry. In addition, the successful control of these diseases had a dramatic effect on use of antibiotics that were previously administered to poultry to control these diseases. As a result of the development and commercialisation of these vaccines, there has been a 90% decline in the use of macrolide antibiotics in poultry, which will reduce the likelihood of the development of antibiotic resistance in bacteria in poultry, and thus a continuing public health benefit to Australians. In addition to his commitment to the commercial success of these two discoveries, he has led a research team committed to further improvements in diagnosis of infectious diseases.
Associate Professor Whithear was the first person to introduce computer-based multimedia into veterinary education, in a pioneering effort to transform teaching and learning in veterinary science undergraduate courses. The methods used have attracted interest from veterinary schools throughout Australia, the United Kingdom, the United States and Canada.
He has also played an important role in the administration of the Faculty of Veterinary Science at The University of Melbourne, and has been a valuable, generous and unselfish mentor of a number of junior staff, playing a key role in the development of both their teaching and research careers.
Kendall Oration and Medal awarded to
Professor Ivan William Caple, BVSc (Hons), PhD, MACVSc
The Kendall Orations are presented at the Annual Conference of the AVA when held in Canberra or Melbourne. A medal is presented to commemorate the occasion.
Professor Caple received the Kendall Oration and Medal in recognition of his long service and contributions to the veterinary profession in a variety of areas. He was Dean of the Faculty of Veterinary Science at The University of Melbourne for sixteen years, retiring in December of 2006. Professor Caple’s research areas include trace element nutrition and disorders of grazing livestock. He has conducted research on grass tetany of cattle and calcium and magnesium metabolism of sheep and cattle. His initial observations and experiments led to the discovery of PTHrP has a key hormone involved in foetal calcium metabolism.
During his term as Dean, he oversaw a major restructuring of the undergraduate curriculum, the acceptance of full fee paying students into the course and maintained excellence in teaching. He maintained and increased the practicing arm of the profession by ensuring the best possible training and preparation for life after graduation of undergraduates. He also endeavoured to increase the graduate training to provide better professional services to the sheep and cattle industries. Despite his personal achievements and his very heavy workload, he continues to be approachable, willing to give advice and assistance to his veterinary colleagues throughout Australia.
Honorary Membership extended to
Dr Neville J McCarthy, MA, MM.BS, LL.D (Hons), MAdmin, FTSE, FRACGP, FAICD, FRACMA
Honorary Members of the Australia Veterinary Association are eminent persons (non veterinarians) who have been appointed to that position as a token of respect for their services to the Association in particular or to the veterinary profession in general.
Dr Neville McCarthy holds a special place in the Faculty of Veterinary Science at The University of Melbourne. Neville and his wife Margaret established the Robert McCarthy Memorial Scholarship in honour of their son. Rob completed his BVSc in 1984 and his PhD in 1989 and then worked as a Research Fellow in the Faculty until 1993. This scholarship enables those students who, after completion of the preclinical years of the BVSc course, are selected to participate in research projects related to equine health and performance during summer holidays.
In addition to this meaningful contribution, Dr Neville McCarthy has been a Director or Board Member of several key organizations that impact on members of the veterinary profession, including the Australian Meat and Livestock Research and Development Corporation and the Victorian Meat Authority. He was Managing Director of Commonwealth Serum Laboratories (CSL) from 1974-1990. CSL, established in 1915 during World War 1 to provide Australia with an independent supply of sera and vaccines, commenced the production of veterinary vaccines in 1922. Dr McCarthy has had a long-term interest in cattle through his cattle property at Yea in Central Victoria, and a personal interest in veterinarians.
Meritorious Service Awards presented to
Dr James Gilkerson, BVSc, BSc (Vet) (Hons), PhD;
Dr Matthew Makin, BVSc, CMAVA;
Dr Bernie Mason, BVSc;
Dr Michael Sheedy, BVSc; and
Dr Colin Trengrove, BSc, BVMS, MVS, CPAg
The Meritorious Service Awards may be made to members who have rendered special or long-term service to the Australian Veterinary Association and its Divisions, Branches, or Special Interest Groups.
Dr James Gilkerson is a Senior Lecturer in Veterinary Microbiology, Head of Laboratory, and Associate Dean (Students). His current responsibilities include teaching virology to the undergraduate veterinary students and managing several research projects into equine infectious diseases. Dr Gilkerson has made a sustained contribution to the veterinary profession through his involvement with Equine Veterinarians Australia and the Australian Veterinary Association. He has been particularly active in building better links between the AVA and veterinary students.
Dr Matthew Makin graduated with a Bachelors Degree in Veterinary Science from The University of Melbourne in 1998. He commenced work at Flemington Racecourse, Melbourne, in a practice servicing the thoroughbread racing industry, and is currently employed in a predominantly large animal practice specialiazing in Dairy Cattle Medicine, Farm Management Consultancy and Education Service. Dr Makin has been the recipient of two Australian Federal Government leadership scholarships and one National Farmers’ Federation scholarship.
Dr Bernie Mason received his Bachelor of Veterinary Science degree from The University of Melbourne in 1976. He has been the backbone of the Rural Veterinary Practitioners Branch of the AVA for more than twenty years. Through his efforts, the Branch remained active and provided a focus for country members. He was responsible for the organization of stimulating professional development sessions in large animal topics at Branch and Divisional meetings. Dr Mason specializes in dairy cattle and livestock.
Dr Michael Sheedy has been an active member of the AVA since his student days and his graduation from The University of Melbourne’s BVSc programme in 1971. Along with being President of several branches and groups, Dr Sheedy has assisted in and represented the AVA at the annual World Animal Day Dog Walk around Lake Wendouree for over ten years. He is currently the President of RSPCA Ballarat Branch and has held this role in 1982.
Dr Colin Trengrove graduated with a Master of Veterinary Studies degree from The University of Melbourne in 1991. He specialized in Clinical Sciences and has worked mainly in rural South Australia. Dr Trengrove was recognized for playing a major role in ensuring the on-going activities of two country-based Branches of the AVA. He is currently President of the South Australia Division.