Fellow of the AVA

Fellow of the AVA.

The issue of Changes to life membership

The three high points of my professional life have been the moment of “conferring of degree” ceremony for Bachelor of Veterinary Science (1966), the making of a Fellow of the AVA (1991), and a presentation of a medal inscribed Honorary Life Member of the AEVA (now EVA) (1994).

I accepted these awards with enormous pride and great humility at joining ever more select groups of likeminded colleagues. While I occasionally worked quite hard for the degree - which at the time became a goal in itself, I then toiled with joyful endeavour as a veterinary practitioner for the last 48 years and have worn the post- nominal BVSc. with great pride.

Being made a Fellow of the Australian Veterinary Association and Honorary Life Member of the AEVA came with mixed emotions and I shall try to explain why, with the following words.

For my own reasons, interest and enjoyment, I spent much of my career’s spare time assisting the then AEVA (EVA). I thought it was worth doing and enjoyed immensely, the friendship of many new colleagues and had the reward of assisting the growth and value of the AEVA for its members. From the EVA, I progressed (or went sideways) into issues of policy in the AVA. I chaired and pushed the EVA and AVA in its early involvement with insurance and the veterinarian, particularly in the area of liability insurance. Again I did this in time that I could afford and that my family and partners allowed (or at least condoned). I gained more than I gave with the enjoyment of working with wonderful colleagues and seeing our efforts make a difference.

I had an exhausting, rewarding and occasionally irritating experience attempting to reform the then Australian Horse Council to an equivalent position of the other peak industry bodies such as the Cattle Council. This attempt failed, not from the horse industry’s lack of unity, but from petty minded bureaucrats in the Prime Minister and Cabinet Department.

I would not have changed a minute of my professional or association roles as the exhilaration of the tasks and the highly intelligent friends with which I worked was reward in itself. The challenges faced and the odd mountain climbed was every bit as enjoyable as any other lifetime interest that one can pursue alongside one’s career.

It was a huge, unexpected and slightly overwhelming moment when I was made a Fellow of the Australian Veterinary Association in 1991. I was only 47 years old and did not then quite realise the honour of the award. When I reviewed the exalted company of veterinarians I had been invited to join I was slightly embarrassed and very humbled. I felt I had been awarded a VC by mistake.

My professional and volunteer work continued unaltered until last year when I retired from my last voluntary veterinary position – at least for a while. I had a few hiccoughs along the way, on which I will enlarge as they are pertinent to the reason for this letter

At some time in the 2000s, I remember discussion and maybe resolution that Fellows be allowed to wear FAVA as a post-nominal in one’s business affairs. I did and do this with enormous pride.

From the age of 47 (and now a Fellow), until now (69), I have been in continuous equine veterinary practice with only time off for incarceration in hospital wards. The last of these episodes led my whole family into acute financial distress. Many helped, but in particular the ACVS and the AVA immediately offered concessional or free ongoing membership. I must also acknowledge considerable financial support from the AVA Benevolent fund. The respect I have for my profession is very deep.

I am regaining my health and will soon be in a position to pay full membership and repay the grant from the Benevolent Fund. I look forward to that day and hope it is only months away.

The EVA (then AEVA) award of Honorary Life Membership in 1994 was the third most exciting moment of my career. I guess I was even more surprised and embarrassed at this recognition when only 51 and in my opinion, in the prime of my working (and earning) life. Since 1994, I have held many other voluntary positions in both Associations, the Sydney University and the Australian Industry Horse Council. I continued to do this because I enjoyed almost every moment.

This long story leads to me towards a conclusion and some thoughts I wish to share about the proposal for free membership of the AVA for Fellows. I believe I am a very appropriate person to draw attention to some oddities regarding honours awarded within the AVA and SIGs. I have had the sometimes wonderful and sometimes dubious honour of being an awardee of the AVA, EVA. and the AVA Benevolent fund all while in fulltime veterinary practice and at a relative early age for any such award or reward.

It is difficult for Fellows to discuss the reforms being recommended which will affect Fellows, as they are the only real financial beneficiaries. Whatever position a Fellow may hold it may be perceived to be prejudiced. As my story illustrates I am an odd Fellow who can be seen to give a viewpoint that should be unbiased.

Up until the recent changes to life membership which include prospective changes to fees for retired members and Fellows, there had been a dichotomy between the AVA and my SIG (EVA) where AVA Fellows paid normal membership fees and Honorary Life Members of EVA were granted complimentary membership. Since 1991 I have been a Fellow of a strong capital based association paying full membership fees (and in my opinion this is as it should be, but with following comments later). Since 1994, I have been an Honorary Life (Free) member of EVA, a much less financially powerful organisation.

Under the present reforms (were they present in 1991) I would have been a freeloader of the AVA for the last 21 years and of both AVA and EVA for the last 18 years. Had I not have been beaten up by my sister profession, I would have been perhaps at the high point of earning life. The irony of having to fall upon financial assistance from all bodies but especially the Benevolent fund must be obvious. But it does allow me to propose the following suggestions:

1. The AVA and SIGs work together with regard to honours at this very senior level.

2. Senior honours might be better awarded toward the twilight of a veterinarian’s career as their full CV’s may be better acknowledged. The matter of fees for Fellows and Honorary Life Members of SIGs may then not be much of an issue whichever way the Associations go.

3. The full recognition of Fellows of the Association would/might include clarifying of the post-nominal FAVA. Fellows may be addressed and titled at Association affairs as Mr (Dr – I wont start on this one) John Doe FAVA or Dr John Doe Fellow The AVA might consider a roll of honour on the website where current and deceased Fellows’ details and CVs are available for members’ perusal. (note while researching this I went into the AVA membership list, and to my dismay found a few names I didn’t know – and some names weren’t there (like mine!)). Given and I agree, that the honour be limited/restricted and thus a recognition of truly outstanding service and contribution, it would be even more likely to be awarded towards the end of a distinguished career. Thought should be given to posthumous making of Fellow.

4. Meritorious Service Awards can be more easily awarded during an outstanding career and recognition could be therefore given when deserved -at an earlier point in a career.

5. There may be value in an association of Fellows so that wise old leaders of the profession are still tapped for advice.

6. The better the gathering of detail, the treasuring and recognition of the award the easier it would be for the Association to nominate exceptional Fellows for national honours. I think a few have slipped under the net. Other professions seem to be over represented by comparison.

7. Finally, I do not agree that the current situation should continue. The Fellow in mid career should continue to pay their way, and there might be a better way than Honorary Life Membership of SIGs for recognition. I’m sure I speak for many/most/all recipients of these honours that whatever we did was because we enjoyed it and not for financial gain, glory or prestige. I personally, have been a freeloader on the EVA (which will now cease) and would be a little (or very) embarrassed to continue to be a concessional or especially a free member of AVA if/when I can afford it.

Ian L Nielsen BVSc. MANZCVS FAVA N1125 AVA 78