Robin Condron, BVSc 1969, who received a silver University of Melbourne medal in  recognition of his outstanding service to the University.

Jim Parsons, BVSc 1975, who has gone to work for CSIRO Australian Animal Health Laboratory (AAHL) in South East Asia for a year. He has taken on the position of Veterinary Investigation Leader as part of their regional program and will be managing CSIRO’s portfolio of overseas aid projects, with an emphasis on bird flu.

David Maggs, BVSc 1988, from the University of California, Davis, was awarded the 2007 Carl J. Norden-Pfizer Distinguished Teaching Award.

Diccon Westworth, BVSc 1995, Diplomate, American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine (Neurology).

Contact: Andrea Jones

Phone: 8344 7844

Margaret Keats MBE, BVSc, Australia’s first-ever woman to officially graduate with a Bachelor of Veterinary Science degree from the University of Melbourne in 1923, has been honoured by the Victorian community by having her name added to the Victorian Honour Roll of Women.

The Victorian Honour Roll of Women recognises and celebrates the achievements of women from all walks of life.  It honours Victorian women who have made a significant contribution in a particular field, or a lasting contribution that benefits the lives of other women and/or their communities in Victoria, Australia and internationally.

The announcement was made by the Victorian Minister for Women’s Affairs, Maxine Morand at a lunch held on Saturday 8 March 2008 to mark International Women’s Day. The prestigious event was attended by leading Australian women including Deputy Prime Minister Julia Gillard and Victoria’s Police Commissioner Christine Nixon.

Ms Morand said: “This year marks 100 years since Victorian women won the right to vote and it is great that Australia has its first female Deputy Prime Minister.  “Today, we note the achievements of 30 Victorian women, who have been nominated by the community, for their passion, vision, leadership and commitment to improve the lives of others. This will bring to 386 the number of women selected for the Victorian Honour Roll of Women since the Roll was introduced in 2001 to raise the public status of women.”

Miss Keats was nominated for the award due to her dedication, leadership and inspiring achievements in the veterinary arena. From 1923 through to the 1950s she single handedly ran a rural practice in north-west Victoria.

She was appointed as a Border Inspector of Stock in 1925 to maintain the health of stock crossing the Murray River at Gonn’s Crossing. To provide the necessary legal authority to inspect stock, she was appointed as a Commissioner of the High Court as women were then not able to hold posts as Justices of the Peace.

In addition to her devotion to caring for animals she was a successful owner and breeder of racehorses, three times winning the Kerang Cup with ‘Fight On’ – a horse she had bred. In January, 1959, she was awarded an OBE, Member of The Order of the British Empire.

She is remembered by the profession as one who was utterly dedicated to it, becoming a role model for men and women entering rural practice and showing that there could be a long-term future for women in the profession.

Contact: Andrea Jones

Phone: 8344 7844

Dr James Gilkerson, a senior lecturer in veterinary microbiology and head of the Equine Infectious Disease Laboratory at the Faculty of Veterinary Science has been awarded the Australian Veterinary Association (AVA) President award.

The accolade is awarded to a veterinarian in recognition of their services to the veterinary profession, and outstanding commitment to veterinary science.  AVA President, Dr Diane Sheehan, presented Dr Gilkerson with his award at the annual AVA Conference Annual General Meeting held in Perth on Wednesday 28 May. He said: “It is a great honour to receive this award, and I have to say for once in my life I was totally lost for words.”

Contact: Andrea Jones

Phone: 8344 7844

Dr Amir Noormohammadi, a senior lecturer in poultry diseases in the Faculty of Veterinary Science, has been awarded the Houghton Lecture Award for major contributions in poultry disease research by a scientist under the age of 45.

The Houghton Lecture is presented every two years at the World Veterinary Poultry Association (WVPA) Congress, and is sponsored by the Houghton Trust Ltd in conjunction with the WVPA.

Dr Amir’s lecture entitled ‘Who is Smarter, Mycoplasma or the Host?’ was presented at the WVPA in Beijing, China towards the end of last year. It featured highlights of his groundbreaking research on the bacterial species – Mycoplasma synoviae.

The research looks at the surface proteins and the molecular mechanisms used by this organism to generate antigenic variation and induce chronic diseases in chickens and turkeys.  Amir’s work has influenced scientific thought into the intriguing biological phenomenon of phase variation and elucidated a unique mechanism about how it is achieved in Mycoplasma synoviae.

The associate professor said: “I was delighted to have been given the enormous privilege of presenting the lecture. The recognition is greatly appreciated and makes all the hard work that went into my research even more satisfying. I know this award would not have materialised without the help of many others, particularly Kevin Whithear and Glenn Browning.”

Dr Noormohammadi is a key researcher in several poultry disease projects including molecular pathogenesis and epidemiology of infectious laryngotracheitis, infectious bronchitis and chicken anaemia viruses and of pathogenic avian Escherichia coli.

As part of the award he received an all expenses paid trip to attend the WVPA congress in Beijing, and was also presented with an engraved vase.

Contact: Andrea Jones

Phone: 8344 7844

Dr Stuart Vallance, who graduated with First Class Honours in 2005 has been awarded a residency at one of the largest veterinary schools in America - UC Davis. He will commence his residency in equine surgery at the beginning of August.

Stuart has always had a passion for animals, having grown up on his family’s farm in Ballarat. He held a number of scholarships as an undergraduate student, including the Commonwealth Learning Scholarship, the Queen’s College Fellow’s Scholarship for potential in leadership and service, and a Rural Finance Corporation Scholarship. He was also President of Kendall Hall’s Student Committee. In 2003 he was the third year representative of the Veterinary Students Society of Victoria (VSSV), and also editor of the VSSV’s newsletter, Femoral Pulse.

After he graduated he worked as an intern in equine medicine and surgery at Randwick Equine Centre in Sydney. He then went to work in the UK for a year, and was employed as an associate veterinarian at Shotter & Byers Equine Veterinary Services in Surrey.

Stuart said: “My residency will be largely clinical in nature and will include performing surgery, clinical instruction of veterinary students in the hospital, as well as some instruction in basic surgical, lameness and equine practice techniques. I will be part of a team made up of a senior clinician, one to two residents and a group of senior veterinary students. We are also expected to spend some time in equine medicine, imaging, critical care and pathology.

“I’m really looking forward to developing my surgical skills and knowledge so that I will be well prepared to sit the American College of Veterinary Surgeons’ exams. Seeing some Californian sunshine will also be nice after spending the last year and a half in the UK.”

Contact: Andrea Jones

Phone: 8344 7844