Hume LHPA vet earns prestigious award
A district veterinarian from the Hume Livestock Health and Pest Authority was recently honoured with a prestigious award from The University of Sydney’s Faculty of Veterinary Science.
Dr Tony Morton, Hume LHPA district vet based at Wagga, received the Educational Partner of the Year award for his outstanding contribution in training and mentoring veterinary science students.
Hume LHPA general manager John Knight says the award recognises the importance of the authority’s contribution to the personal and professional development of future veterinarians for the benefit of the farming community.
"The Hume LHPA takes a number of final year veterinary students each year from both Sydney and Charles Sturt Universities, to give them an appreciation of the challenges of animal health in agricultural production," Mr Knight said.
"For some of the students from Sydney University this experience is the first contact that they have had with LHPA district vets and rangers, and the challenges they face with on-farm flock and herd medicine and stock diseases regulation."
Mr Knight said it also gives the students a new perspective on veterinary practices and broadens their horizons on the possibilities for future practice in rural areas.
"LHPA district veterinarians work to ensure the biosecurity of agricultural production in NSW and this, in turn, ensures our access to export markets for meat products," Mr Knight said.
"By participating in this program, the Hume LHPA is showing these students the important range of work carried out by rural vets and this in turn may open up new career choices for them."
Mr Knight said the Hume LHPA is very proud of the work their district vets undertake and the Hume LHPA board of directors has passed a motion of congratulations to Tony Morton on his well-earned award.
A similar award was received by another of the Hume LHPA’s district vets in 2007, Dr Steve Whittaker.
Media contact: Suzie Robinson 6391 3720 / 0428 465 378