Member of the month - Craig Highlands

Craig Highlands currently works as the Senior Ranger of the Shire of Northam. His time in Northam as the Senior Ranger has exposed him to the need to not only improve the wellbeing of the companion animals, but their owner’s wellbeing as well, this includes meaningful employment. Craig is the developer of an Indigenous Heath and Animal Welfare program which aims to educate in a fun and engaging way about the needs of companion animals. It also provides the skills to enable the participants of this program to gain full time employment within the Avon region or the skills to do further education. The program has a profound effect on the community and on the individuals involved. ‘There has been a whole new way of looking at animals and their needs and as a person who cares a lot about our lifelong friends (animals) this has brought so much joy and job satisfaction’, he said. ‘The participants themselves have enhanced the understanding of their culture’ and he has found the experience and trust provided by the local Aboriginal people ‘to be of a life changing nature’. ‘I have learnt as much as I have been able to teach’ he said, ‘ the partnership developed here with the community has been truly inspiring’. 

Craig is a new member of AMRRIC and was lucky enough to meet Julia Hardaker in Perth and is so grateful for the assistance and advice offered to him. This meeting opened a whole new world of animal welfare awareness and he said he ‘was honoured to be invited to be a guest speaker at the annual AMRRIC Conference in Townsville this year (2011)’. The Conference and the AIAM conference opened up a whole new world to Craig and he is very committed to continue the good work being done in the area of indigenous and animal welfare. 

AMRRIC Member of the Month - December

The Australian Wildlife Health Network (AWHN) joined AMRRIC in May 2011.

Keren Cox-Witton of AWHN said "We are very impressed with the dedication shown by AMRRIC members to improving the health and welfare of animals in Indigenous communities, and we are pleased to be supporting such worthwhile work."

AWHN is an initiative of the Australian Government that coordinates a network of over 450 wildlife health professionals, members of the public and others with an interest in wildlife health around Australia. AWHN is involved in coordinating wildlife disease surveillance and managing a national database of wildlife disease events.

AWHN is based at Taronga Zoo in Sydney with four staff: Rupert Woods (Manager), Tiggy Grillo (Projects Coordinator), Keren Cox-Witton (Project Officer) and Karen Magee (Administrative Assistant). Keren recently attended the AMRRIC conference in Townsville, where she very much enjoyed the program and also the chance to meet great people doing such amazing work. If anyone would like more information about AWHN, please visit our website www.wildlifehealth.org.au or contact Keren for a chat.

AMRRIC Member of the Month - November

Dr Wendy Brown has always had an attraction to animals and adventure - from flying planes at 16 to working with sled-racing huskies for her PhD in canine nutrition. She has worked as a zookeeper, vet nurse, animal technician and racetrack-rider. As a research scientist & lecturer at the University of New England she has been able to pursue her specialty field (dogs), travel the world, and even work with elephants.

In 2011 Wendy introduced 2 new canine units called Wild Dog Ecology and Working Canines, as part of the new degree in Animal Science. She has also introduced,  two more units in animal welfare. In a voluntary capacity she has worked as a Lifeline counsellor, Pony Club secretary and SPOT presenter .
 

AMRRIC Member of the Month - October

Dr Bill Day graduated with a PhD in anthropology from The University of Western Australia as a mature age student in 2001. His thesis is titled, “Fringe Dwellers in Darwin, Northern Territory: cultural persistence or a culture of resistance?” For his fieldwork research, Bill lived for a year with homeless Aboriginal people in their camp in the flight path of the Darwin International Airport. The camp was on a 301-hectare lease in Darwin set aside for Aboriginal community use in 1979 after a long struggle for land rights. During the campaign, from 1971 to 1985, Bill and his Aboriginal friends published 64 editions of an Aboriginal rights newsletter called “Bunji” which Bill later used as the basis of a book by the same name, recounting the characters and events he experienced in a very eventful decade. The lease consists of tidal flats, mangrove habitats, monsoon forest and eucalypt savannah that have survived the rapid growth of Australia’s northern capital. Between consultancy work, Bill continues his support of the campaign to preserve these varied ecosystems as an environment, culture, heritage and educational park, as the founders envisaged.

AMRRIC Member of the Month - September

Dr Michael Archinal is director of 4 veterinary hospitals in the Canberra region and employs over 100 staff.  He has also been involved in celebrating the human animal bond through the media for over a decade, juggling appearances weekly on Channel Nine’s Mornings with Kerrie-Anne, featuring on ABC talk-back radio and writing for a “Dog’s Life” magazine. He recently volunteered with AMRRIC to help establish a dog health programme in the Utopia region of the NT. Having seen the immediate positive impact on both animal and human welfare from his time volunteering, he is committed (along with business partner Dr Alison Taylor), to resourcing his staff to provide a long-term commitment to these outstation communities. Michael encourages all veterinary staff to become involved in AMRRIC, as there are many areas (not just in communities) that they can assist with.

AMRRIC Member of the Month August – Dr Michelle Tolhurst

  

After growing up in NZ and completing a BA degree majoring in history, I travelled extensively, and ended up working in the UK where I met my English husband. After a few years we went travelling again, finally moving to Sydney. Although I had a good career in sales I did not enjoy it, so I started doing volunteer work at a veterinary clinic as well as being a wildlife carer rehabilitating injured animals, which I loved. I then become a vet nurse, and eventually applied and was accepted to do Veterinary Science at Sydney University. After graduating in 2006, my husband and I moved to rural NSW and bought a property. I have worked at a local mixed animal practice since graduating, taking some time out after the birth of our son. I have always been interested in animal welfare and recently did an online course on this through Sydney University. Since having a child, I have become interested in education, and am involved in giving veterinary presentations to the local schools. Becoming a recent member of AMRRIC was a natural progression, and I love the idea of providing veterinary care and education that leads to health improvement for remote indigenous communities, and am hoping to become involved in a veterinary volunteer program soon.

 

 

AMRRIC Member of the Month July – Dr Roy Jones – United Kingdom

 

Roy is one of AMRRIC’s newest members and is currently studying a veterinary medicine degree at the Royal Veterinary College, London.

He already holds a PhD in applied animal behaviour and has extensive experience working in internationalanimal welfare. Starting his career as a RSPCA Inspector in the UK, Roy went on to manage wildlife projects across Asia for the World Society for the Protection of Animals (WSPA). These projects ranged from stopping bear-baiting in Pakistan, supporting elephant veterinary clinics in Sri Lanka, to providing emergency relief following natural disasters.

During his subsequent time as Director of the Companion Animal Programme at the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW), he also held positions on both the International Companion Animal Management Coalition (ICAM) and Eurogroup for Animals executive committee. He has a strong interest in humane dog population management and while at IFAW he oversaw many companion animal welfare projects across the globe, including ones in Russia, Mexico, South Africa, Indonesia, China and Canada.

Roy hopes in the future to volunteer with AMRRIC to gain practical experience providing veterinary care services to remote indigenous communities.

AMRRIC MEMBER OF THE MONTH JUNE- Fran Jones

Having worked in animal management in rural indigenous communities along the Thai- Cambodian border I was inspired to join AMRRIC after hearing about the organisation from a friend.

My heritage is Anglo-European and my photo is taken in North Yorkshire where I went to school and most of family continue to live. Now, my mixed culture family lives in Western Australia and I am currently enrolled in the Faculty of Health Sciences at Murdoch University. Being a member of AMRRIC helps me to understand and appreciate how findings from my research might be applied in other parts of Australia towards good standards of health and well-being for all.

When I have the time and opportunity I organise and run community-based environmental and sustainability education activities -  fun times with a range of different people.
 
Good luck to AMRRIC staff, volunteers and members with work in the months ahead.

 

AMRRIC Member of the Month MAY -Dr Anthony James- Hong Kong

 

 Anthony graduated from Uni of Melbourne, veterinary science in 1977. Spent approx a decade in private pratice before deciding on a change of direction. Went into Government service in the field of veterinary public health and after 5 years with the Australian Govt, I then changed direction and went into the pharmaceutical industry where I developed an interest in things academic. I undertook a Masters degree from Monash Uni and have been in academia since the early 1990s. In 1995 I came to HK and manage a service facilty for the medical and science faculties of a major Hong Kong university.

Since coming to HK, I was able to benefit from the "small pond" anecdote. By this I mean I have been very lucky to have represented the HK veterinary profession both in a professional capapcity (as a past secretary to the HK Veterinary Association) and in a personal capapcity as veterinary representative on several HK government committees. The most significant period of political involvement was 8 years on the Animal Welfare Advisory Group (of which the final 2 years was as chairman). It was during these 8 years i discovered a true interest in animal welfare. Prior to this, and while in Australia, I gave animal welfare lip service but did not take it seriously as there were others who did it better but coming to HK their was a paucity of professional expertise on animal welfare matters concerning animals in research. Furthermore, my experience in HK is that animal welfare is so poorly understood, not properly appreciated and in desparate need of development that in the past 5-10 years I believe I have found a professional calling that will take me to the end of my days.

My current research interests are the development laws on animal welfare in Asia and how best to get the Asian tigers (of south east and east Asia) to adopt humane and sustainable animal welfare policies as they take on increasingly vital roles in big Pharmas' globalisation of biotechnology research

I am lucky enough to have married a lovely Filipina and enjoy my leisure time in the beautiful isles of the Philippines. The time in the Philippines has also heightened my concerns about & honed my opposition to corruption, wealth inequities and the plight of the dispossessed.

My other interests are family, rugby union (go the Rebels) rugby league (go the Broncos) and AFL (go the Lions and/or the Western Bulldogs...unfortunately the house is split on this one!!!). In my spare time, I run, walk the country parks and play lawn bowls (shades of Crackerjack!!!)

Anthony takes care of the AMRRIC Facebook page- Join us there!

AMRRIC Member of the Month- April - Thad Nagus

Thad Nagus has been involved with AMRRIC since its inception when he co- presented with Dr Chris Brown at the National Indigenous Health Conference when AMRRIC was launched. He is a member on the AMRRIC Reconciliation Action Plan subcommittee, his experience and input is highly valued.Thad delivered a fantastic workshop on cultural awareness last year to the AMRRIC faciliated  Vet workshop for the Canberra Division of the AVA. The Vets and other participants found his workshop challenging and informative. Thad emphasises that cultural awareness is not discretionary, but should be mandatory and indeed ongoing for anyone wanting to work in communities alongside Aboriginal peoples.  

His family came from the Torres Strait and his father and family settled in Broken Hill. His great loves are his beautiful wife and family, and his Harley Davidson’s.
Thad is the Environmental Health Officer in Broken Hill NSW and has been for many years. Thad has been involved with the delivery of dog health programs in the greater region and helps out with many others across NSW.

AMRRIC Member of the Month March 2011, Barbara Meichelboeck

Barbara has been an AMRRIC member for 2 years. She is actually a community mental health nurse in several Top End communities and is particularly familiar with Maningrida working there 1 week in every 4. Dealing with one of the biggest NT communities, she is well aware of the difficulties of dog overpopulation and management, as well as being a mad animal lover. Barbara works as a volunteer at The Ark Animal Hospital, nurturing a desire to do vet nursing in the future. She has a menagerie of her own – 2 X-RSPCA dogs and cats.

Barbara is a visitor to our Darwin office- her cheeriness is always welcome! We appreciate her efforts to circulate our DVD into communities (see pic with Bernadette Nethercott who was working at Maningrida clinic). Recently Barbara has been instrumental in connecting us with the remote human health crew here in Darwin (hence our education officer, Sophie, has been invited to attend women’s health days in remote communities).

Barbara is from Munich, Germany and has been a resident in Australia for 7 years. Congratulations Barbara on taking the giant stepstowards becoming an Australian. She sure has a great Aussie and AMRRIC  attitude !!

 

AMRRIC Member of the Month February "Dr Bob" Robert Irving

"I am one of the  founding members of AMRRIC and have assisted in programs as part of the team. The AMRRIC programs are essential to encourage participation by new vets to gain experience and confidence to do work under sometimes difficult cultural and environmental conditions. The Vet bit is the easy bit!"

 

I started doing Dog Programs in 1996 at the request of the AP Lands in north western SA. These lands have ten bigger communities and multiple homelands spread out over their entire territory. A round trip to all communities from Alice Springs is about 2300Km, mostly on dirt roads. Weather conditions are pleasant in winter with below zero nights, to extreme heat, dust and fires in the summer. I camped in a swag in the bush every night in the first few years.
My first visit was an eye-opener, as the dogs were in huge numbers and in appalling condition, with most having no fur and nearly all were suffering from malnutrition. They were timid, cunning and "cheeky".
I advised my coordinator that I would think about being invoved in setting up a program for them. Personally I thought it was beyond rectifying. 
After a week I decided to give it a go and see what happened. Since then I have done and continue to do programs in the Gibson desert WA, the Maralinga Lands SA, the Shires surrounding Alice Springs NT, the Pilbara WA, Arneham Land and islands in the Gulf of Carpentaria NT and Cape York Qld. They have all been worth doing.
The best advice I received early on was to have realistic expectations,  that progress is likely to be gradual, and cooperation by community members will be different from place to place. This advice enabled me to remain positive when failure loomed!
In most communities I currently do, the dog numbers have been halved, scabies is rare (with no "leather backs") and the dogs are friendly and mostly in good body condition. There are always some dogs that are injured, sick, fight or go untreated.
Gaining the trust of the people is the most important starting point and does take time to achieve.
Programs will fail if the are not ongoing, as the health of the dogs will deteriorate quickly without regular treatments.
I have trained local community members to assist me during my visits and to do basic treatments between visits. After all, it is their program not mine! I give advice but only do what they want.
Doing these programs has enhanced my life both personally and professionally.

 

AMRRIC Member of the Month January 2011- Vets Beyond Borders

VETS BEYOND BORDERS (VBB) is a not-for-profit organisation founded and based in Australia. Established by veterinary volunteers in 2003, it implements and contributes to animal welfare and public health initiatives in developing communities.

Volunteers are the backbone of VBB. From around the world, veterinarians and veterinary nurses, as well as many other volunteers, donate their time and skills to VBB’s programmes.

Currently VBB coordinates Animal Birth Control & Anti- Rabies Programmes (ABC-AR) in India to address dog over population and public health issues. These programmes also provide free veterinary care to stray and community owned animals.

Vets Beyond Borders also provides training for local veterinarians and staff at the Indian-based programmes. In China, an exciting collaboration with ActAsia has seen the implementation of a train-the-trainer programme for local veterinary personnel. The aim of these training programmes is to not only create broad-reaching sustainable ABC-AR schemes, but also to improve the general level of veterinary skills, especially in the vital area of animal welfare.

As well as this practical assistance, VBB supply much needed medication and surgical equipment to assist with animal health and welfare in developing communities. VBB also assists and works with local governments and organisations to establish effective veterinary public health programmes, with a focus on rabies prevention & birth control in street dogs.

For more information about our organisation & other projects we are involved in please see our website www.vetsbeyondborders.org.

 

AMRRIC- Member of the Month December- Michele Cotton

NOT SO DIFFERENT!- There are so many similarities between central Saudi Arabia and central and inland Northern Australia. As I reflect on my 20 years in Saudi I am reminded of the issues I faced there and those we have here. How thrilled I was to discover that AMRRIC contributes so significantly to animal and thus human health in remote areas.

The inextricable link between the health of people and their pet animals and the animals in their environment can never be ignored no matter which country you are in.

My main interests here and in Saudi are in disease and parasites of companion, production and zoo animals (including birds, reptiles, fish etc) and in the conservation of biological diversity.

The parasites we already have here, and the vectors of some parasites and diseases we don’t have here, are in most cases the same as those in Arabia. Both countries share uncanny environmental and geographical similarities, with vegetation and animal species evolved to cope with these. Superimposed on this are increasing numbers of humans able to reside in hitherto hostile places due to modern day technical inventions and advances. Effective surveillance and community knowledge of “normal” versus “exotic” diseases in animals and humans is significantly enhanced by the work AMRRIC does.

In Saudi we had rabies – a disease of which we are fortunate to be free here – and (Michele, Abdullah and his Saker Falcon pictured above) vaccination of animals was important for both animal and human health because of this. However there are plenty of other parasitic and infectious diseases that we can share with our companion animals that are not as dire as Rabies and the effects on human health of owning healthy animals are as appropriate in Saudi as they are in Australia.

In Saudi I was able to learn a lot about the geography and the seasons and to appreciate how these influence human and animal health.

"I hope to be able to learn more about this in Australia and commend AMRRIC for their benchmark activities; unfortunately we didn’t have an AMRRIC in Saudi. I am so proud to have become a new “member" Michele Cotton- BVSc, BSc (Vet), MVPHMgt

Saudi Desert – this could just as easily be in Australia!

AMRRIC MEMBER OF THE MONTH NOV

Dr Ian M Gunn, BVSc., FACVSc.

Dr Gunn is a University of Sydney veterinary graduate with a fascinating 9 page long CV! His association with AMRRIC goes back to early foundation years.

Dr Gunn has a vast amount of experience with large animal and wildlife reproduction throughout Australia, Asia, Africa, and Europe. His wildlife research projects include: endangered frogs, Black Rhinos, endangered macropods, the Greater Bilby, the Eastern Quoll, Eastern Grey Nurse Shark and an Australian Geographic Scientific Expedition to the Northern Simpson Desert.

Dr Ian Gunn is a Senior Research Fellow at the Monash Institute of Reproduction and Development at Monash University. He initiated the establishment of the Animal Gene Storage Resource Centre of Australia in 1995 and has been the Project Director since that time.

Among many other positions, he is President of the National Dingo Preservation and Recovery Program, a member and trustee with the Humane Society International (Aust) and is currently a member of the Victorian Department of Sustainability and Environment Dingo Working Group.

Dr Gunn is committed to the preservation of Australia’s wildlife and its environment.

 

 

 

AMRRIC MEMBER OF THE MONTH OCT -Noah Pleshet

 

Noah Pleshet grew up in Mudgee, rural NSW, where he completed secondary school before studying economics and anthropology at Sydney University. In 2005, after a brief stint working at the Centre for Appropriate Technology (CAT) in Alice Springs, he traveled to America to further his studies in anthropology.

Noah is currently a PhD candidate in anthropology at New York University, where he investigates how interactions with dogs affect human relations to place. Noah's main question is: How can human-dog relations in central Australia help us better understand local structures, conflicts, and changes in human land tenure arrangements? The aim of this research is to help humans and dogs live together peacefully and productively. Noah currently lives in Alice Springs where he is again working at CAT as a research officer. His job spans projects in a range of areas including waste management and environmental health in remote settlements.

See Noah on the job at CAT with AMRRIC's Jan and Sophie here.

 

AMRRIC MEMBER OF THE MONTH SEPT Dr Felicity Smout 

 

Felicity is a qualified veterinarian with broad experience of ecological research including working in the coastal forests of Kenya, Africa where she was responsible for collecting data for the Kenya Wildlife Service on forest biodiversity, primate behavioural studies, small mammal trapping (giant pouched rats) and human impact on coastal forests. 

Felicity has recently started a PhD with James Cook University to research the risk of spillover of disease from wild dogs in the Wet Tropics of North Qld. She will be looking into the various pathways, mechanisms and risk of transmission of diseases to wildlife, domestic animals and humans. Some of her work will be undertaken in rural and remote Indigenous communities to understand links between dog health and human health.

Urban expansion into previously underdeveloped areas in the region has compounded the wild dog problem leading to increases in human-wild dog interaction and increases in the rate at which domestic dogs enter the feral population. Epidemiological investigations will enable a better understanding of the effects that these changes are having on the area’s native fauna, domestic animals, human residents and visitors. 

Felicity will assess current community attitudes and public awareness of diseases of wild dogs to identify gaps in education of communities on potential zoonoses and diseases which may be spread to domestic animals. This project will also provide recommendations for improved control and management of wild dogs and their diseases in the Wet Tropics.

Some wild dogs will be collared with GPS tracking devices to provide detailed information on movement, social ecology and behaviour of wild dogs. This information will determine to what extent the dogs are moving through peri-urban and densely-settled rural areas along with pristine rainforest habitat, and how they schedule movements between these regions. 

Other researchers working in partnership with Felicity will also investigate wild dog genetics and diet. By using a multidisciplinary approach to the project and integrating results, a better understanding of the nature of the wild dog problem in the Wet Tropics can be reached.

 

 Dr. Emma Kennedy, Vet /Animal Welfare & Control Officer,

East Arnhem Shire Council

I’ve recently started the new position of Vet/AW&CO, which was developed with the aim of implementing more sustainable, community owned Animal Health & Management Programs across the East Arnhem Shire. This involves the delivery of regular vet services; education to the community regarding animal awareness, health and management; training indigenous community members to assist in the program; and also working closely with the communities to develop culturally appropriate Animal Management policies & by-laws.

 

My interest such work developed when I took part in the Inaugural Melbourne University trip to the Pitjantjatjara Lands Dog Health Program. Since then I've been involved in The Bali Street Dog Fund, a similar DHP in Rajasthan, India and also Dr Ted Donelan’s program in Maningrida, West Arnhem Land. Last year I spent 7 months on Elcho Island, where I found myself immersed in voluntary vet work, and became much more aware of fundamental issues influencing indigenous community life and the camp dog situation. This experience sparked my passion and encouraged me to look further into solutions to the ongoing and recurrent issues of parasite burdens, over population, skin disease, pack behaviour and community concerns of nuisance and dangerous dogs. The East Arnhem Shire is the first shire to develop this role and it’s hoped that this approach results in improved animal health & population control; heightened animal health & welfare awareness; empowerment within the community and more stringent regulations for pet owners.

AMRRIC Member of the Month July 2010- Dr Graeme Brown

 

Graeme Brown graduated in Veterinary Science from the University of Sydney in 1967. After graduation, Graeme worked for nearly 2 years in the NSW Department of Agriculture as a veterinary officer and in late 1968, he became an assistant in a small animal practice in Newcastle.

After 18 months in practice in Newcastle, he travelled to Great Britain and spent two years as a locum in various mixed and small animal practices throughout the United Kingdom.

On returning to Australia in 1972, Graeme established Merewether Veterinary Hospital which is a companion animal practice in Newcastle suburb.

Graeme has a particular interest in the diseases and surgery of wildlife and in 1988, was awarded a Churchill Fellowship to study in USA, Great Britain and France. It was during this study that he gained a greater understanding of population dynamics as it relates to free-living wildlife.

In 1993, Graeme accompanied a University of Newcastle health research team to the remote community of Yuendumu, in the Tanami Desert of NT. The poor state of the dogs at that time was of obvious concern to the community members (75% had signs of mange), so much so that Graeme became a regular visitor to the community to treat the dogs for internal and external parasites with cydectin pour-on. It was this procedure that alerted Graeme to the fact that, despite the large numbers of pups being born, there were always the same number of dogs being treated – in other words, the community could only support a certain number of dogs. This observation was the catalyst for a PhD study on the population dynamics of free-roaming dogs in remote Indigenous communities, which was awarded in 2006.

From 2007 and 2010, Graeme has been an ARC Research Fellow (AMRRIC was an industry partner) working with the ‘Healthy Dogs – Healthy Communities’ team based in the Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Sydney. This has involved looking at the links between dog health and human health in the remote communities of Ti Tree and Nguiu NT, Yarrabah Qld, Bidyadanga WA and Collarenebri and Goodooga in NSW. Graeme is currently employed as a Lecturer in Veterinary Parasitology, but has a continued research interest in zoonotic diseases.In his spare time, Graeme plays tennis, surfs and attends to his small beef cattle property at Stroud, NSW.

AMRRIC Member of the Month June 2010- Studio Noah

Studio Noah has started about 7 years ago in Perth WA.

 

After Brenda, Jan, and Bello met in Perth, they decided to leave and see the world.  Bello the Bichon stayed with Brennie’s parents for almost two years. Brenda and Jan based themselves in Czech Republic, where Jan was born. All the time they desperately missed Bello. Frequent phone calls to Brennie’s parents about how is Bello doing, didn’t seem to solve anything. 

 

Back to Australia Brenda brought up the idea of pet photography. Being herself a professional photographer all her life and managing, back then, a very successful studio in Fremantle for 7 years. Brenda has also won multiple A.I.P.P. awards which are now lovingly stored in banana boxes.  Position really never meant anything for Brennie, she knows, “it doesn’t matter how high you sit, you always sit on your own bum!”

 

 Jan loves all animals. Jan has developed his own unique style; he just pressed a shutter when he felt his subjects showed their love for each other.  Let’s photograph the beautiful bond between people and their furry loved ones.

 

Studio Noah was born.

AMRRIC Member of the Month May 2010- Rebecca Traub

Rebecca grew up in Kolkata (Calcutta), India and moved to Perth in her mid teens. She graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Veterinary Medicine and Surgery from Murdoch University in 1997 and following this, worked in Small Animal practice, often visiting Kolkata during her summer vacations to volunteer at the local animal clinic. In 2000 Rebecca decided to return to Murdoch University to undertake her PhD on canine gastrointestinal parasitic zoonoses in tea-growing communities in Assam, India for which she was awarded the John Frederick Adrian Sprent Medal by the Australian Society of Parasitology for the most outstanding thesis submitted within the last 3 years. In 2004, Rebecca was successful at gaining an Australian Research Council – Linkage grant with Bayer Animal Health as the Industry partner to extend her research on canine parasitic zoonoses to Thailand. Rebecca is currently a Senior Lecturer in Veterinary Public Health at the School of Veterinary Science, University of Queensland.  Rebecca’s research encompasses the field of veterinary public health, with an emphasis on the epidemiology and control of canine vector-borne diseases and parasitic zoonoses in developing communities. For further information on Rebecca’s research please visit http://www.uq.edu.au/vetschool/traub-dr-rebecca-107211.

 

 

AMRRIC Member of the Month April- Prof Tony Peacock

 

Prof Tony Peacock, CEO of the Invasive Animals Cooperative Research Centre (IA CRC)

 

Whether you have questions about rabbits, foxes, cane toads or any other invasive vertebrate animal, chances are Professor Tony Peacock will have an answer for you. The IACRC link to http://www.invasiveanimals.com/  aims to discover the best ways to control invasive animals based on strong scientific research, with particular regard to best-practice animal welfare and management policies.

Tony recognises that although invasive animals have an impact in three areas: economically, environmentally and socially, the last two impacts tend to get overlooked because they are difficult to put a dollar value on. He is working hard to change that. He is actively involved in AMRRIC activities that promote remote communities that are healthy and safe for people and animals, such as those relating to dogs and camels.

Tony is a born communicator. Despite his academic status and reputation as a feral animal expert, he prefers to simply be called Tony. It is this personal approach he applies to his position as CEO of the IA CRC. Along with his regular segments on Canberra radio station ABC 666’s ‘Feral Talkback’ segment, he tweets and blogs on topics relating to feral animal management both in Australia and across the globe. Check out his informative and entertaining ‘Feral Thoughts’ blog link to: http://feral.typepad.com/feral_thoughts/

AMRRIC Member of the Month-March Sabina Shugg

Congratulations to Sabina who has just received the inaugural Women in Resources Champion award from the Chamber of Minerals and Energy WA.

Sabina is a mining engineer currently working in the field of management consulting. She is a West Australian through and through as she was born in Norseman before then living in other glamorous locations such as Wiluna and then the relative civilisation of Kalgoorlie. Her family moved to Perth in time for her high schooling. In her early twenties she returned to Kalgoorlie and worked in the mining industry for a few years before studying Mining Engineering at the WA School of Mines. She has since had a varied career working in operational and management roles in various parts of Western Australia and the Northern Territory and these days primarily works in Perth. In 2008 Sabina completed an MBA at UWA.

Sabina and her extended family have always had numerous dogs of various descriptions usually from different pounds around the place. She sponsors three dogs with Soi Dog Foundation (www.soidog.org) in Phuket and locally supports Sue at ‘Poundwatch’ in Perth (www.poundwatch.com.au). Sabina has been President of ‘Stop Live Exports’ (aka PACAT) in Fremantle for the last few years. As part of this role she has successfully received grants in 2005 and 2007 for use in “Debunking the Myths of Live Export” from Voiceless – The Animal Protection Unit (www.voiceless.org.au).Sabina is also on the Executive for Animals Australia (www.animalsaustralia.org) as the WA representative and Treasurer.

 

In 2003 Sabina started WIMWA (Women in Mining and Resources WA) (www.womeninmining.com) which is a networking group for women in the resources sector. This group now has some 1000 members and in 2009 held a one day seminar for the first time. At this seminar 250 people had the opportunity to hear Julia Hardaker speak about “Giving Back to the Community – Julia’s journey and the AMRRIC story”. This inspiring story was very well received by the audience.

 

AMRRIC Member of the Month February 2010 Nicole Howcroft

Nicole completed a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Health in 2002 and moved north from Brisbane to Bundaberg to work for the then Bundaberg City Council as an Environmental Health Officer. She worked with Bundaberg City Council and then the amalgamated Bundaberg Regional Council for six years. During this time she worked on numerous projects (in addition to regular environmental health inspections) including running the Immunisation Program for the entire Bundaberg Region, assisting in the development of the local Food Hygiene Course, was a leader in the Council’s Local Disaster Management and Welfare Group and implementing the many legislative changes for Environmental Protection and Public Health legislation. She also worked tirelessly to promote her profession throughout the Queensland Central Region and served as Secretary/Treasurer and then President of the Australian Institute of Environmental Health – Central Group (now Environmental Health Australia) for five years. At the end of the first year with Bundaberg City Council, Nicole was nominated for and received the Young Environmental Health Officer of the Year from the Australian Institute of Environmental Health. Read more........

AMRRIC Member of the Month January 2010 Rick Walduck

Rick was born and grew up in “country” Ringwood Vic with an Edna Walling inspired garden lovingly created by his parents surrounded by 5 acres of bush and snakes and paddocks of grazing land and unmade roads, a small dairy and heaps of native terrestrial orchids. He was chooled at Wantirna South State school which had a total enrolment of 32 pupils from Grade 1-6,before moving in his early  teens to the “big City” in Glen Iris, Melbourne and finished his education at Wesley College. He  was oncerned about going to University to study Vet Science because that is where the “bright people” go, after cramming solidly for the first year and passed, realized that their was a social life world out there to enjoy as well .

AMRRIC Member of the Month December 09 Philip Pogson

Philip grew up in the southern highlands south of Sydney where his father was the town dentist and his mother a paediatric physiotherapist specialising in developmentally delayed children  His parents’ rambling home was a Noah’s ark of pets including birds, horses, dogs, cats, guinea pigs, poddy calves, bantam hens, ducks, quails and tortoises who shared the property with five Pogson children.  His father was interested in indigenous issues and regularly visited remote communities in the 60s and 70s on projects formulated in partnership with local indigenous groups.

AMRRIC Member of the Month Randi Rotne November 09

Randi graduated as a veterinarian from the University of Sydney in the early 90’s. She initially worked in the country in a practice that had not employed a full-time female vet previously and enjoyed getting away from the city. The next few years saw a few jobs going between Sydney and the country, always having pets and training dogs.

AMRRIC Member of the Month Geoff Irwin October 09

AMRRIC Member of the Month Dr Rosalie Shultz September 09

Rosalie is the Senior Rural Medical Practitioner, Maternal and Child Health Central Australia Remote Health Services Department of Health and Families.  She became interested in animal health after news reports of horrific dog attacks in Alice Springs. She needed to know more about why dog attacks – sometimes fatal - are so common in her town of Alice Springs, and in doing so she learnt about the importance of healthy dogs for healthy people. She commented this may be especially so for Aboriginal people.

She stated "When we provide primary health care services we need to include vets as part of the team. Together with teachers, child care workers, police and fresh food salespeople, vets and others who promote animal health provide essential services to improve the health of communities".

AMRRIC Member of the Month Ray Barnett August 09

Ray graduated from the University of Sydney in 2000 with a Bachelor of Veterinary Science. Since then he has worked in various mixed animal vet practices in NSW, Victoria and Queensland, and spent a year locuming in the UK. Currently he works in his home town, Grafton NSW. He first became involved with AMRRIC in 2008 when he volunteered on a dog health programme to Kintore, NT. Ray enjoys experiencing remote areas of Australia, and finds that getting involved with AMRRIC provides the perfect opportunity to see new areas and help indigenous communities. Ray is due to be married to Vicki Child in October this year, as she is the only woman he has been able to find who will put up with him. He considers himself very fortunate to have found such a lovely person to marry, and will be re-visiting Kintore with her this year to do the dog health programme and hopefully a horse program on Palm Island later in the year.

AMRRIC Member of the Month Lisa Hansen July 09

Lisa Hansen works along side Dr Stephen Cutter at the Ark Animal Hospital, she co-founded the Ark animal Hospital with Stephen and later the Ark Animal Welfares Services. Under this umbrella she works with both the Darwin city council Pound and with Palmerston city council pound. Lisa is committed to indigenous dog health programs and believes strongly that Human and dog health issues are closely related and that understanding the importance of dogs in communities is key to better dog health programs. Education is a large part of having healthier dogs but opportunity to do right by the dogs is also a key factor. If the shops don’t sell dog food or tick treatments then it is hard to access what is needed for healthier dogs without outside help. It is hoped that as local councils move more towards less traditional methods of dog control, pounds etc that we will in the future be able to assist with training opportunities. Lisa is committed to working with AMRRIC in providing the right style programs for people in remote communities and to enabling communities to better care for their dogs.

AMRRIC Member of the Month Darren Hickey June 09

Darren has worked for RSPCA (Victoria) as an Inspector since 1997; initially based in the south eastern districts of Melbourne, and was posted out to the beautiful Gippsland region of eastern Victoria in 2001. He completed tertiary studies in Agriculture then worked for the Agricultural Business Research Institute in Armidale, NSW. After a short contract job in Griffith, NSW with the wine grape/citrus industry, Darren was drawn to the RSPCA because of his long-held desire to make a contribution to the improvement of animal welfare in the community. Darren finds the job of a RSPCA Inspector provides regular, hands-on opportunities to provide assistance to all kinds of animals utilising both educational (the carrot) and legislative (the stick) approaches. With his agricultural training and life-long experience with companion animals, he finds he is able work well with both production and pet animal owners across many communities. Darren says one of the features of his job is the incredibly broad cross section of people he gets to meet and work with.Darren became a member of AMRRIC in 2007 as a result of his involvement in the establishment of a dog health program in an aboriginal community at Lake Tyers in East Gippsland. Darren lives in Bairnsdale, with his wife Kylee (a vet nurse), 2 daughters, 3 horses, 2 dogs, 3 cats, chooks, and is currently working on finishing his private pilots licence.

AMRRIC Member of the Month May 2009- Luana Ferrara

Luana graduated from the University of Sydney in 1976 after starting off in first year with AMRRIC's Program Manager, Jan Allen. After three years working in small animal practices in Sydney Luana headed off overseas: first travelling through the USA, and then to England where she worked in various practices in many and varied counties! Two years were spent working and exploring the UK and Europe (and reconnecting with her Italian family), and then it was time to settle back home in Sydney. Luana continued working in small animal practices in Sydney including a 5-year stint as the owner/veterinarian of a small clinic in Sydney's inner west. Some more travelling and a change of career and pace then found her working in a biomedical research institute: a position she held for ten years until the dogs and cats called her back. Samoa lured her to work for an animal welfare organisation, the Animal Protection Society: who could resist those palm trees and beautiful beaches? Oh yes, and the dogs and cats …

Luana's time in research increased her interest in improving animal welfare, which remains to this day. Her love of travelling has seen her visit many countries and there are usually animals involved somewhere – she is the proud foster parent of her fourth orphaned elephant (via Care for the Wild, UK and the David Sheldrick Foundation, Kenya) where she visited in 1999. Luana has recently returned from her second trip to India working as a veterinary volunteer; this time for a Vets Beyond Borders ABC/AR project in a Tibetan Buddhist monastery in southern India. She is already planning her next animal/travelling sojourn …

AMRRIC Member of the Month- April- Ray Ferguson

After a short stint in Dairy and horse practice Ray became a small animal veterinarian and devoted his energies to practice, family and community matters. Ray says he did not make use of his veterinary skills for others less fortunate  than him initially.

The opportunity to use practical veterinary skills and work with small animals in indigineous communities has been very exciting. Ray has been to Maningrida several times and each time he goes he sees a continued improvement in the dog’s health and in the peoples understanding of welfare issues.  'It is extremely rewarding to be able to help in this community and to develop friendships with people', Ray says (pictured (R) teaching Melbourne University Student while dog owner looks on during the Maningrida Dog Health Program with Dr Ted Donelan).

AMRRIC Member of the Month- March- LEAH WELLS

Leah is a veterinarian currently working in small animal practice in California where she has been for the past three years. In April she will be commencing work with Vets Beyond Borders in India where she will be assisting with Project Vet-Train (http://www.vetsbeyondborders.org/resources/vettrainmedia.pdf)  a training program for local veterinarians. While in the US she also had the opportunity to volunteer on several trips with RAVS (www.ruralareavet.org) RAVS is a non profit veterinary outreach program combining community service and veterinary education to bring free veterinary services to underserved rural communities. Leah is also a regular volunteer with Alley Cat Guardians, a local NFP organization dedicated to humanely reducing the local feral cat population through their spey/neuter/return program. Originally from Derby WA, and having spent some time working in the Kimberley’s Leah is very interested in applying some of her recent experiences and becoming involved with the sustainable dog programs when she returns to Australia later this year.

AMRRIC Member of the Month- February 2009-Mr Clayton Abreu

Mr Clayton Abreu, is the Indigenous Environmental Health Program Officer (IEHPO) working for Tropical Population Health Service Queensland Health Department. He has been working in the field of Indigenous Environmental Health for the past 8 years. He is committed to improving Environmental Health conditions in Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander communities through sustainable Environmental Health programs which include Animal Management. Clayton played a key role in the devlopment and provision of the Queensland Health vet Training Workshops held in Yarrabah last year. Clayton also plays a key role in the faciliation of AMRRIC programs in QLD. He is currently kept very busy with the Dengue Fever outbreak in the Cairns region. Clayton is AMRRIC's first Indigenous representative on the Management Board.

AMRRIC MEMBER OF THE MONTH- January 2009-Jan Kowarzik

Jan works for local government in Wodonga, Victoria,  in the Home and Community Care program supporting frail and aged people to remain living safely and independently in their own homes for as long as possible.  She discovered AMRRIC while studying for the Grad Cert in Animal Welfare through Monash University in 2006-7. Although she has not lived or worked on a  community she have visited several during many trips into the outback over the last twenty years or so and seen some very sad dogs. Although she works in the human welfare field, animal welfare is a strong personal interest, (hence the Grad Cert in Animal Welfare).  She is secretary of the Albury branch of the RSPCA, and shares her house with two Maltese-Shih-Tzu dogs named Emmy and Roxy.  Jan believes that animal and human welfare are two sides of the same coin, with animal welfare issues reflecting human welfare issues. She would dearly love to be involved directly in a dog welfare program in some capacity. Until that is possible Jan enjoys reading about the activities of AMRRIC and its efforts to improve dog and human welfare in remote communities.

Dec 2008 Andrew Dunn

Andrew graduated from Murdoch University in 1979 and his veterinary career since then has given him privileged experiences throughout Australia. He worked in mixed practice at Narrogin, Western Australia and then in 1981 he joined Stanbroke Pastoral Company. He spent three years working on cattle stations in the Gulf of Carpentaria and the Barkley Tablelands and the friendships formed during this time have been enduring, as has the love of the life and landscapes of Northern Australia.Andrew’s professional travels took him to dairy practice at Colac and the Atherton Tablelands and small animal practice and deer management in Perth. His recreational pursuits included a cycling trip from Lhasa to Katmandhu and sailing trips from Perth to Bali and along the Western Australian and Tasmanian coastlines. In 1992 he joined the team at the Moe Veterinary Centre where he now enjoys the challenges of mixed practice. He has a special interest in diagnostic imaging and has gained his membership in Radiology. He was named Small Animal Practitioner of the Year in 2006. Andrew and his wife Grania have in recent years enjoyed extended off track walks in Kakadu, and the Drysdale National Park and King George River regions of the Kimberley. The indigenous rock art, the landscapes and the birdlife of these areas are sure to draw them back to these parts of Australia in the future.

November- Dr JENNIE CHURCHILL (and Harry)

Jennie Churchill spent the first 20 years of her working life as a veterinarian in mixed practice. Since 1994, she has worked mainly in the not-for-profit sector for organisations as diverse as the Sydney 2000 Paralympic Games Organising Committee and the NSW and National Australia Day Committees. As Director of the Veterinary Science Foundation at Sydney University for 5 years, she managed the fundraising and promotional arm of her old Faculty. She is currently a Policy Advisor for NSW Government Minister Linda Burney.  Jennie and her veterinarian husband Rob live in an Edna Walling garden at Crookwell, on the Southern Tablelands of NSW. The garden was the inspiration for writing and photography: Jennie is the co-author of two books on Walling and for 4 years was a presenter on ABC TV’s Gardening Australia. In 2007, Jennie was Acting EO of AMRRIC for several months, a role she was proud to undertake. She and Rob remain committed to AMRRIC – as regular donors and volunteers. They spent time at Galiwin’ku in 2008.

OCT 2008 AMRRIC EMPLOYEE and RECIPIENT OF PRESTIGIOUS IFAW AWARD - DR JAN ALLEN

Jan Allen (pictured on left) is a graduate of Veterinary Science, University of Sydney and Master of Environmental Management, New England University, Armidale NSW. She has spent most of her career in mixed practice on the beautiful North Coast of NSW. A lifetime goal of volunteering with Australian Volunteers International culminated in a placement with the Animal Protection Society (APS) in Samoa from 2004 untills 2006. This position was also supported by IFAW (International Fund for Animal Welfare). During this exciting period the APS developed village-based visits and the Samoan Government passed its Dog Control Management Plan. Back in Australia, Jan’s interest in the management of dog populations continued working out of Darwin to many remote Indigenous communities around Northern Territory, Queensland and Western Australia. She has now taken on the position of Program Manager with AMRRIC. Jan has been recognised for her outstanding contribution to animal welfare by being awarded a prestigious IFAW Action Award. The award was presented during the AMRRIC Conference in Darwin on the 14th October 2008, by IFAW’s Companion Animal Campaigner, Ms Marguerite Young (pictured left).

SEPTEMBER 2008 Alex Mullins-Outback Stores.

Alex has worked in Arnhem Land with the Northern Territory Department of Health in the field of environmental health and has recently moved across to Outback Stores in a similar role.p9010008-alex.JPGAlex is passionate about camp dogs and believes that there is a strong link between dogs and human health, particularly where kids are concerned. She has worked in dog health in her role with the government, delivering education programs in schools and advocating for dog health programs with community councils. “I believe everyone involved in community life can advocate for and support dog health. Dogs are such an important part of life to most people in communities. Dogs protect their families, keep them warm at night and hunt food for them. They need to be healthy for the dog’s wellbeing as well as their owner’s”. I’m never short of conversation out bush because I find people are always happy to talk about their dogs and of course I love to talk about mine. I was given a camp dog and I have a pound dog. I’m a life member of the NSW Animal Welfare League and an RSPCA volunteer”. Everyone loves a puppy but an increase in undesexed dogs in a community can cause social and health problems. Pups grow into unwanted young dogs that roam and scavenge due to starvation and can become dangerous in their desperation for food. Outback Stores managers often ask me how to control dogs around the community food store. Starving, unwanted dogs tip over bins, leave droppings and become a nuisance as they congregate humbugging for any scrap of pie or sandwich crust. This diet doesn’t make for a strong healthy dog and many camp dogs end up immune compromised. This allows for them to be attacked by scabies mites, worms and ticks in particular. The upcoming Build Up in the Top End can be a really miserable time for the dogs as their discomfort leads them to scratch till they draw blood and then sores develop. It is important to have a sustainable dog health program in place in every community to ensure that dogs that come into contact with kids and adults are healthy and not transmitting zoonotic diseases. That’s why I support AMRRIC; they have a respectful approach to animal management and deliver appropriate services along with an awesome reputation!

August 08 Dr Onn Ben-David Veterinarian Melbourne

Onn was born in Israel and migrated to Australia to study Veterinary Science graduating in 1973. In 1978 he established the Caulfield South Veterinary Clinic which this year celebrates it’s 30th birthday. Onn is a councillor of RSPCA Victoria and has served as the Vice President since 1981 (27 years). He has been involved with a wide range of animal welfare and management issues within the RSPCA as well as on external committees and working parties. He is involved with Animal Ethics Committee (AEC) as a category C representative and has been a member of the Animal Welfare Science Centre (AWSC) Advisory Board for the last 8 years. Onn is a member of the AVA with particular involvement with animal welfare issues at branch, state and national levels for many years. Currently he is also the Victorian Division Policy Advisory Councillor. Onn is a workaholic and committed to the welfare and wellbeing of all creatures great and small. He believes in the AMRRIC vision and is very happy to see AMRRIC becoming more effective and more influential. Onn has not yet been involved with a dog health program in remote communities himself but now after rejoining as a member he hopes to do so very soon.

July 08 Josey Kitson- Project & Member Society Development Manager WSPA Canada

After working in a veterinary clinic for several years I realized that my passion was to work ‘with’ animals but also ‘for’ them. In 2002, I graduated from Queen’s University in Kingston, Ontario where I studied animal ethics and minority rights. I promptly went back to school to study project management in the development sector. In 2006, I combined my passion for animals with my background in international development by accepting a position as Project Manager at the World Society for the Protection of Animals (WSPA) in Canada. Since then I have been working on a National strategy to address dog overpopulation on First Nations land. I currently live in Aurora, Ontario with my husband Michael and 10 year old Wheaten Terrier Whiskey.