Page 26 - Luce 2016

A l umni News

Sue Foster (1984) graduated in
veterinary science in 1988 (BVSc Hons).
She writes:

I have led a fulfilling and varied career
in veterinary science: mixed practice
country vet in Australia and UK,
small animal medicine specialist post-
graduate training at Sydney University
(MVetClinStud in 1998), a feline with sufficient industry expertise lacked
medicine specialist (FANZCVS in 2000), the independence, the courage or the
lecturer at Murdoch University in small conviction to provide expert advice
animal medicine (2000-2003) and an when consulted on animal health and
adjunct senior lecturer (2004-2016). welfare issues associated with the live
export industry. I decided to apply
I then changed tack and provided my former experience as a mixed
consultancy in small animal medicine practitioner/cattle vet with my rigorous
to a commercial veterinary laboratory academic training and huge network of
Kristin Headlam’s In Bed with the Animals in 2004 and still work in that role, specialist contacts round the world to
servicing veterinary laboratories in Vic, assess the veterinary aspects of animal
NSW and Qld…whilst living in WA (for welfare and health in live export. Thus,
In the last few years I have been working the weather!). In between, post-graduate with a team of committed professionals,
on a print-making project based on Chris lecturing has taken me travelling to VALE was launched as an incorporated
Wallace-Crabbe’s zany book-length wonderful locations in both Australia body in 2012.
narrative poem, The Universe Looks and overseas.
Down. Generously commissioned by VALE has exposed monumental and
the Baillieu Library of the University of So, a veterinary science degree at entrenched problems in the industry at
Melbourne, it will consist of over 30 Melbourne, with a start at JCH, has led all parts of the chain (issues with animal
etchings, plus text pieces. These will be to a fun and fulfilling veterinary life. In rearing for live export, animal transport
exhibited in the Noel Shaw Gallery at between there has been sport, hockey in Australia, Australian export feedlots,
the Baillieu Library in 2018. (highlight being winning the National loading at ports and voyages). Most of
Championships in the West Australian these problems would never have been
Though I have occasionally made Over 35s team in 2006), bushwalking evident to farmers, veterinarians, animal
etchings and lithographs before, this and the wonderful friendships, many of welfare groups or the general public…
undertaking – a collaborative effort which started at JCH and Melbourne they are hidden. Even many of the
working with Wallace-Crabbe and with University. veterinarians working on the ships or
master-printer John Loane – is something just concentrating on feedlotting never
new and exciting for me. I have relished However, along the way, it became get to see the bigger picture that VALE
the task of creating a visual parallel for a obvious to me that advocacy in has been able to uncover.
poetic language, and feel that this could a variety of fields was important.
point my work in a new direction. But Environmental concerns had been In a past issue of Luce, Dr Damian
that remains to be seen! second nature to me as a bushwalker Powell commented that ‘Big
growing up in Tasmania, with the issues organisations use endlessly euphemistic
surrounding the damming of Lake language to fudge, to hide, or soften the
Pedder and the saving of the Franklin. In hard edges around poor ethical practice
addition to being an active participant and bad behaviour’. Never has this
Where are in environmental conservation groups been more correct than in live export.
The work involved in VALE is endless,
and social justice organisations, I helped
you now? set up a Community Garden (St Lukes the outcome thus far unchanged. At
the very least, I hope to get changes
Community Garden, Mosman Park) and
then went on to instigate and help run a instituted to reduce animal suffering
sustainability fair (Mosman Park EcoFair in the trade whilst it continues. It has
We’d love to know where life has
at St Lukes), along the way picking up been heart-warming to have had so
taken you since leaving JCH. a local environmental award and being much support from my JCH friends and
part of an Australia Day award. All colleagues (a number of ‘JCH vets’ are
You can get in touch with us at this was probably good background to VALE members). It was also satisfying
development@jch.unimelb.edu.au my next and most difficult foray: Vets to read such an erudite article by Dr
Against Live Export (VALE). Powell on ‘Ethics and Leadership’;
to share your story.
With the fallout from the ABC’s A maybe the next spokesperson for VALE
Bloody Business in May 2011, it was will also come from JCH.
very apparent that any veterinarian

26 LUCE Number 15 2016