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470 Australian Veterinary Journal Volume 82, No 8, August 2004

The big star on the Australian Equine VeterinaryAssociation (AEVA) calendar the 26th Bain FallonMemorial Lectures 2004 (Darwin July 5-9) was a

resounding success.Adopting the theme of equine reproduction and soft tissue

infection, this year’s lectures delivered a mixture of leading edgeresearch, science and practical experience featuring threeinternationally respected presenters.

Professor Derek Knottenbelt (University of Liverpool in theUK) covered soft tissue infection while Professor Barry Ball fromUniversity Davis California provided all the expertise in equinereproduction from the academic perspective.

Dr Walter Zent from Kentucky complimented Barry with hisfour decades of hands on experience at one of the largest andoldest equine reproduction practices in the world.

During conference proceedings Professor Reg Pascoedelivered the inaugural Pascoe Oration while also accepting hisLife Fellowship awarded to him at the 2003 Bain Fallon inCanberra. It is intended that this oration become an ongoingtradition at future conferences.

After delivering his Treasurer’s Report, Dr Ken Jacobs wasalso inducted as the AEVA President for 2004-2005.

Held under the stars at MGM Casino, over 260 peopleattended this year’s Bain Fallon dinner.

A popular equine identity John Bourke, founder of the AEVAand its first president in 1971 was honoured with the VMSProvet award. The AEVA’s highest annual award the VMS awardrecognised John’s huge contribution to both the equineveterinary profession and racing industry and he joins a long listof distinguished past winners.

In other presentations Dr Ken Hinchcliff from Ohio StateUniversity was awarded the Pascoe prize for his paper“Association with performance of exercise-induced pulmonaryhaemorrhage in thoroughbred horses racing in Victoria”presented at the senior clinical papers session and Dr Lisa Bodenfrom the University of Melbourne was awarded the Larkin prizefor her paper “post mortem survey of Thoroughbred Mortalitieson race courses in Victoria” delivered at the junior clinical paperssession.

Dr James Gilkerson received the Ausrichter poster prize for

presenting the results of experiments conducted at the Centrefor Equine Virology at the University of Melbourne.

After dinner speaker Dr Ian Gollan then proceeded to stealthe show, stripping from a suit on stage to a figure huggingriding costume. The Hunter Valley practitioner’s veterinaryanecdotes and first hand tales of trick riding with brother Chrisas ‘The Flying Gollans’ around rodeos in outback Australia hadeveryone in hysterics.

According to AEVA Executive Officer Bill Howey, Darwin’samazing location and the conference’s wealth of quality materialsurrounding equine reproduction ensured one of the best BainFallons on record.

“The international veterinary speakers were exceptional andIan Gollan was definitely one of the standouts. He emphasisedthe deep pool of local talent that we have in Australia and whywe should draw upon it,” Dr Howey said.

“Bain Fallon has evolved into one of the biggest social andscientific events on the equine calendar. It’s developed its ownspecial genre and is an incredible event as a get together betweenequine veterinarians and representatives of the trade andindustry.”

Nature Vet, the AEVA Gold Sponsor put on a barbecue at theDarwin Sailing Club with comedians and a ventriloquistimported from the ‘Footy Show’ to keep delegates entertained.There was also a special tribute to the ‘golden oldies’ who havecontributed to the AEVA over the last 30 years. Kath Farr longtime member of AEVA and the 5th ever female graduate of theUniversity of Sydney, was given a special honour of the‘Aristippe Award’ (best of mares in Greek mythology) at aspritely 88 years.

A pre conference trip to Kakadu and Litchfield National Parkoffered conference delegates a true Top End experience andmany veterinarians took advantage of this unique opportunity toexplore the Territory’s spectacular landscape and wildlife.

Some delegates also opted to stay for the Introduction toEquine Dentistry workshop presented by Dr Oliver Liyou andGary Wilson or the Spinal pain and dysfunction workshop withIan Bidstrup, Rowan Kilmartin and Kate Haines.

Bain Fallon 2005 will be held in Queensland, NewZealand July 10-15 and will focus on Equine Lameness andMedicine.

BAIN FALLONEquine Reproduction and horsing around

Story by Mark Thornley. Photos by Dr James Gilkerson

Dr Ken Jacobs accepted the AEVAPresidency for 2004-5.

Kath Farr (left) enjoys the BainFallon dinner.

Dr John Bourke received the AEVA’shighest honour.

Nick Kannegieter and Andrew Hunt(Bain Fallon convenor).