Meritorious Service Award

2025 Winner- Meritorious Service Award

Dr Alex Rosenwax

Dr Alex Rosenwax has been an active member of the AVA since 1994, dedicating 30 years of exceptional service to the community. He has been involved in nearly every aspect of avian and exotic practice within the association and the broader veterinary profession throughout his career. He has served several roles including President of the Australian Avian Veterinary Medical Association (AAVMA) from 2005 until 2010, as well as a Committee Member of the Unusual Pet and Avian Veterinarians (UPAV) group from 2014 until 2023. 
Dr Rosenwax played a crucial role in the working group that was responsible for successfully importing the rabbit Filavac RHDV2 vaccine into Australia, saving countless animals’ lives and significantly advancing the field of rabbit medicine in the country. His expertise extends to policy work, where he has contributed valuable recommendations on avian import laws. Throughout his career Dr Rosenwax has also been a cornerstone for the UPAV conference, serving as a conference convener, presenter, workshop facilitator, and organiser of roundtables and wet labs nearly every single year.  

2025 Winner- Meritorious Service Award

Dr Michael Kidd

Dr Michael Kidd pioneered holistic treatments like animal acupuncture in veterinary care. His clinical work has helped countless animals, and his teaching has strengthened the profession. Michael has served as NSW AVA President and Vice President of the NSW Canine Research Foundation. His lifelong contributions to surgery, education, and welfare have left a lasting legacy.
As the owner of Hurlstone Park Veterinary Hospital since the 1980s, Michael has earned a reputation for his comprehensive expertise in surgery, medicine, and animal acupuncture.    

His passion for holistic treatments has provided invaluable relief to countless patients with musculoskeletal conditions such as arthritis and degenerative joint disease. In addition to his clinical work, Michael is committed to education, regularly teaching and assessing student veterinary nurses across Sydney. His dedication to advancing veterinary knowledge is also reflected in his extensive service on the NSW Canine Research Foundation committee, including 8 years as vice president. As a former NSW AVA president (2017), Michael’s leadership and contributions have significantly influenced the veterinary community. 

2025 Winner- Meritorious Service Award

Dr  Bronwyn Orr

Dr Bronwyn Orr, AVA’s youngest-ever President (2022–2023), played a pivotal role in addressing workforce challenges and advancing animal welfare policies. She pioneered Australia’s first urgent care vet clinic, led national initiatives to improve workforce sustainability and wellbeing, and championed stronger animal welfare standards. As a prominent advocate for public education and veterinary innovation, Dr Orr continues to shape the future of veterinary services in Australia.
Her commitment to innovation is exemplified by her role as the Veterinary Director of Australia’s first urgent care veterinary clinic, the Walk in Clinic for Animals. This initiative has significantly improved access to veterinary care, setting new standards for the profession.  

In 2023, Dr Orr was awarded a prestigious Churchill Fellowship to investigate international veterinary workforce programs, aiming to implement effective solutions in Australia.
Bronwyn has been a vocal advocate for animal welfare, leading campaigns such as “Love is Blind,” which raises awareness about the health issues in dogs with exaggerated features. Her media engagements and public outreach have educated countless individuals, promoting responsible pet ownership and animal care.  

Dr Orr’s multifaceted contributions, from clinical innovation to policy advocacy and public education, exemplify the qualities honoured by the Meritorious Service Award. Her unwavering dedication to the AVA and the broader veterinary community. 

2024 Winner- Meritorious Service Award

Dr Hadley Willsallen

Dr Hadley Willsallen has become a leading figure in the equine veterinary sector, inspiring veterinarians with her career trajectory and showcasing the pivotal role the AVA plays in supporting professional development. After graduating from the University of Sydney in 2003, Dr Willsallen began her veterinary career as an intern at Agnes Banks Equine Clinic, where she quickly developed a keen interest in equine surgery. Her path then led her to work as an associate at prominent equine hospitals, including Canberra Equine Hospital (2005) and Goulburn Valley Equine Hospital (2007-2009), as well as embarking on a global equine hospital tour in 2006 to gain further insight into her chosen specialisation.
In 2009 her commitment to equine surgery culminated in her becoming a member of the Australian and New Zealand College of Veterinary Scientists in Surgery of Horses. Later that year, she embarked on a highly competitive and rigorous 4 year residency in Equine Surgery at the Veterinary Clinical Centre at Charles Sturt University in Wagga Wagga. This program combined extensive clinical work, research, undergraduate teaching, and international externships, including conferences in both the USA and Australia. During her residency, Dr Willsallen contributed to research on a variety of surgical procedures, including laryngoplasty (tie-back/roaring surgery), laparoscopic and vaginal removal of large ovarian tumours, and the pararectal approach to the bladder in standing geldings.

Her hard work and dedication were formally recognised in 2014 when she was granted the status of a Registered Specialist in Equine Surgery by the NSW Veterinary Surgeons Board. She went on to work full-time for Dr Nick Kannegieter, where she continues to make a significant impact in the field of equine surgery.

Beyond her clinical work, Dr Willsallen has demonstrated exceptional leadership within the veterinary community. She has served as Past President of Equine Veterinarians Australia, a special interest group of the Australian Veterinary Association, where her contributions have had a lasting impact on the advancement of the profession. Dr Willsallen’s career serves as a powerful example of how dedication, passion, and support from the AVA can foster a rewarding and impactful veterinary journey.

2024 Winner- Meritorious Service Award

Dr Moss Siddle 

Dr Moss Siddle has demonstrated an extraordinary career marked by unwavering dedication to the Australian veterinary profession and the AVA community. Graduating with a Bachelor of Veterinary Science from the University of Queensland in 1991, Moss has devoted over three decades to advancing the profession, taking on a wide range of leadership roles within the AVA. His contributions include serving as a member of the Victorian Division Executive Committee, the AVA Workforce Sustainability Working Group, the Vets Choice Technical Reference Group, the AVA Policy Advisory Council, and notably, as Chair of the Veterinary Business Group.
One of Dr Moss’s key achievements was his pivotal role in the amalgamation of the AVAPM into what is now the Veterinary Business Group (VBG), a testament to his strategic vision and leadership within the profession. During his tenure as Chair of the VBG from 2021 to 2022, he displayed exceptional resilience and leadership in the face of the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic. When conferences were cancelled, he proactively fostered member engagement through a series of webinars, ensuring that the veterinary community remained connected and informed during an uncertain time. His personal outreach to colleagues, offering support via his own contact number, further underscored his commitment to the well-being of his peers.

In addition to his leadership within the AVA, Dr Siddle played an instrumental role in advocating for the inclusion of veterinarians in the Priority Migration Skilled Occupation List, as well as contributing to the launch of Vets Choice Pet Insurance, a product that has provided significant financial support to the AVA.

He also founded Dandenong Ranges Veterinary Centre in 1999, where he has worked to provide high-quality care to animals in the region. In addition, Moss has founded innovative ventures such as Medechat and VetCheck 24/7, which address the growing demand for telemedicine and help alleviate after-hours pressures on veterinary practices.

His long-standing dedication to veterinary business sustainability, professional leadership, and community well-being perfectly epitomises the spirit of service and commitment that this prestigious award seeks to recognise.

2023 Winner- Meritorious Service Award

A/Professor Dr Stuart Barber

A/Prof Stuart Barber has been a committed and active member of the AVA since he graduated in 1993. He has held numerous service and leadership roles in the AVA, including as a member of the Australian Sheep Veterinarians (now Sheep, Camelid and Goat Veterinarians), Australian Cattle Veterinarians, Veterinary Education, Research and Academia (VERA) Group, Australian Veterinarians for Animal Welfare and Ethics, and the Victorian Division. In 2015 he became a committee member for the SCGV and subsequently was a committee member for the SCGV bid for the international sheep veterinary conference in Melbourne.
He has also represented the Victorian Division of the AVA on the Victorian Livestock Industry Consultative Committee since 2008 and in this role he has been a member of numerous subcommittees focussed on evaluating disease risk and response. He rotated off the committee for the SCGV in 2020 and then became a committee member of the VERA special interest group of the AVA.

A/Prof Barber has a passion for teaching the next generation of veterinarians. He is well recognised for bringing the latest technological advances to veterinary education. He was the 2009 recipient of the Australian Veterinary Association National Excellence in Teaching award. He has presented his work on his virtual “4D farm” at numerous AVA conferences, including “The 4D virtual farm – applications and implications” (2012), “Collaborative development, integration and use of virtual 4D farm systems in veterinary education” (2015) and “Blurring the line – the place for augmented and virtual reality in education and extension” (2016). He is committed to engaging with livestock communities, including monthly contributions to the Weekly Times FARM magazine for 15 years, His 180th Weekly Times FARM article was published in 2020. His many achievements in veterinary education, research and commitment to the profession were recognised with his promotion to Associate Professor in 2021.

2023 Winner- Meritorious Service Award

Dr Steven Dennis 

Dr Steven Dennis, a Past President of Equine Veterinarians Australia is exactly what makes EVA such a wonderful Special interest Group – there is a place every kind of equine veterinarian to become involved. The only qualifications required are dedication, team-work and a healthy ambition for the equine veterinary profession. Steve Dennis has those qualifications in abundance. Graduating from the University of Melbourne in 1984, Dr Dennis worked in rural Victoria, prior to equine practice in the UK. Returning to Australia, he worked at the Ballarat Veterinary Practice for eleven years, becoming active in the AVA and EVA.
During these years which he earned a College membership in equine internal medicine, in addition to pursuing reproduction work. Moving to the Sunshine coast hinterland, Dr Dennis providing a vitally needed service to an expanding pleasure and endurance sport horse population. He became EVA’s Queensland State Representative, creating record member attendances at EVA State Meetings in Brisbane. Hendra virus is a permanent agenda item for equine veterinarians in Queensland. As such EVA’s Qld Rep is in constant demand to assist members with advice, support and information for clients. Part of that Qld State role is to be EVA’s representative on a State Government Horse Biosecurity Group, containing strong minded horse owner activists. It was Steve’s job to be a robust ambassador for the promotion of Hendra vaccination-sometimes quite challenging, but a task he relished. At EVA Executive level, Dr Dennis has served diligently as AVA Policy Councillor, Stakeholder Chair, President Elect, becoming President in 2021. This was a challenging year of COVID isolation and Steve worked tireless to ensure that EVA members remained connected, despite isolation. An innovation was EVA podcasts, exploring all aspects of equine veterinary life. A true leader.

2023 Winner- Meritorious Service Award

Dr Tracy Sullivan

Dr Tracy Sullivan is an eminently qualified veterinarian who has devoted many years of service to the Australian Cattle Veterinarians (ACV). Tracy stepped into the role of ACV President in 2021 following a particularly challenging period for the group. She has used her considerable talents to reunite cattle vets under the AVA banner and bring them along into a new era of cooperation and collegiality. Dr Sullivan is a multi-skilled member of the cattle vet community – director of her own semen morphology business, farmer of beef cattle, veterinarian with the Department of Primary Industries, Research and Development, previous live export veterinarian and on-plant vet for the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, and independent director of an Indigenous-held cattle station.
In addition to her clinical work, Tracy has remained engaged in research, authoring over a dozen papers in Australian and international journals. Tracy is also engaged with industry and statutory bodies, and is currently policy councillor of Cattle Australia, a member of the Australian Beef Sustainability Framework Consultative Committee, and was a member of the lumpy skin disease and foot-and-mouth disease AUSVETPLAN writing committees. Tracy’s service to ACV commenced as Chair of the Bull subcommittee in 2013 and continued as an Executive Committee Member in 2017, reiterating her commitment to Australian Cattle Vets members. When in 2021 Tracy was encouraged to nominate as the Treasurer, she answered the call. Later that year ACV found themselves unexpectedly without a President, and Tracy stepped up, showing true leadership. In the two years since, Tracy has worked tirelessly in the demanding role of President of the ACV. During her tenure, Tracy has led projects to improve veterinary outcomes of cattle during transport, create guidelines for the care of sale cattle in tandem with industry, and implement web-based pregtesting certificates. She has forged relationships with industry bodies and found AVA a seat at the table on industry committees where the value of veterinarians’ contribution hadn’t previously been recognised. Dr Tracy Sullivan has strengthened ACV from within and honourably promoted ACV and AVA externally.

2022 Winner- Meritorious Service Award

Dr Amanda Lee Charman 

Dr Amanda Lee Charman graduated in 2012 from CSU. She is an active member of the AVA and the ASAV, and works in small animal practice in Canberra (except when caring for her pet pig). Within two years she had joined the ACT Division Committee and served as President from 2014 for two years, continuing as a Committee member after that term. She served as an AVA Policy Working Group Member or two years from 2017, and as ACT Division Policy Councillor in 2018.
Amanda Lee has accepted responsibilities and served faithfully in the AVA very early in her veterinary career. She is an example and mentor to young graduates and to those of us with more years under our belt, demonstrating enthusiasm and energy, and serving the Association and her professional colleagues with distinction. She is a worthy recipient of a Meritorious Service Award.

2022 Winner- Meritorious Service Award

Dr Edith  Hampson

Edith’s particular passion has been veterinary education and workforce development. She has been a driving force in establishing the Division’s successful Emerging Leaders program (funded through returns on a bequest) and has devoted the last 5 years to tireless work for the association on the Division’s Education Sub Committee (including as Chair). In that role, she has also liaised with the two Queensland Schools on key issues relating to preparation of students for the veterinary profession (particularly the role of clinical placements in this journey) and, with Trish Clarke, she has championed quality training and recognition of veterinary technologists. Her engaging and supportive personality and her commitment to hard work and going the extra mile for the AVA has been critical to the success of the Division’s work in these areas. Edith’s passion for these issues of workforce development and the recognition and support of our next generation of veterinarians extends to the national level of the Association, where she is making a sustained and energetic contribution as a member of the Workforce Challenges Working Group.

Edith has provided and continues to provide, effective and significant leadership to the AVA. This has extended beyond her formal leadership roles as branch and division president and member of the branch and division executive (2010-present). She has been a tireless and persistent advocate for the Association with government, industry, and other stakeholders. Edith is a warm, generous, and hardworking contributor to the Association. The Queensland Division of the AVA strongly endorses this nomination, and we hope that you agree that Edith is a worthy recipient of the MSA.

2022 Winner- Meritorious Service Award

Dr Angela Offord

Dr Angela Offord has been an active and invested member of the AVA for 23 years in addition to the role of Executive Officer of the Tasmanian Division of AVA from 2009 -2021. Notable for her service to the veterinary profession and the AVA as an organisation, Dr Offord is a veterinarian in private practice. Dr Offord has held numerous service and leadership roles including President of the Tasmanian Division in 2003 and Tasmanian Division committee member. As Executive Officer of Tasmania Dr Offord was active as government liaison which has influenced policy and allowed for successful negotiation of contractual arrangements with the Tasmania Government, with outcomes such as private practitioners being reimbursed for disease monitoring, understood to be the first in Australia.
Additionally, Dr Offord’s advocacy saw the AVA represented in reviews of the Veterinary Surgeons Act, oversight of Rural Working Grou

p (RWG), the Dog Control Act, the development and subsequent review of the Cat Management Act 2009 and as AVA representative on the Tasmanian Cat Management Reference and Working Groups. In times of emergencies such as bushfire, flood and recently in the Covid-19 pandemic, Dr Offord’s leadership, personal investment, strong stakeholder relationships and communications with Tasmanian veterinarians proved instrumental in co-ordinating responses and to allow Tasmanian Veterinarians to be considered and to keep providing essential services to their communities. Dr Offord’s many achievements and personal investment has been instrumental in supporting both AVA as an organisation and veterinarians in Tasmania.

2022 Winner- Meritorious Service Award

Dr Holly Lewis

Dr Holly Lewis is an exemplary equine veterinarian. Holly has combined her excellent veterinary scientific education and training, with her passion and commitment to racing and sport horses, to build a career that surpasses critical comparison. Dr Lewis is totally dedicated to the equine athlete and to serving the veterinarians that practice is this sector of the profession. After graduating from the University of Sydney, Holly joined the Australian Veterinary Association. Her employer and mentor, Dr Bill Marmion, who was the President of Equine Veterinarians Australia at the time, encouraged Holly to become actively involved with the EVA. Her involvement never looked back.
Consolidating her education and training, Dr Lewis, attained a Membership in Equine Medicine with the Australian New Zealand College of Veterinary Scientists and another College Membership in Equine Surgery. This laid the permanent foundation for Holly’s career as a superb equine veterinarian and gave her the confidence to pursue a leadership role in the AVA and EVA.

As EVA’s South Australian State Representative for five years, Dr Lewis grew the membership of EVA in that state with Holly’s twice yearly EVA Continuing Education Meetings for equine practitioners. These SA State Meetings often featured speakers from outside South Australia, to ensure that EVA members enjoyed a broad perspective of equine veterinary science. The meetings always allowed adequate time for collegiality, which is a hallmark of the EVA.

After being elected to the Senior Executive of EVA, Dr Lewis worked hard on a number of projects including a complete refreshment of the Equine Euthanasia Guidelines and as AVA’s nominee to Racing Australia’s Veterinarian and Analysts Group. Rising to be elected as the President of EVA, Holly’s superb leadership was required as EVA negotiated with Racing Victoria to ensure that veterinarians were not disadvantaged, as the state racing authority sought to have a greater regulatory control of the profession. The legacy of Holly’s work on that project is a range of improvements for racing vets in Victoria and the permanent establishment of the Racing Victoria Veterinary Consultative Committee, of which Dr Lewis is AVA’s nominee, in addition to being AVA’s Official Horseracing spokesperson.

When not hard at work as a partner at Morphettville Equine Clinic, or on EVA business, Holly enjoys horse racing or will be travelling Australia to officiate as an FEI and Treating Vet at International Three Star Horse Trials.

Dr Holly Lewis has provided great service to the AVA and EVA. She is regarded as a leader in the profession and it is entirely appropriate that her service and contribution to the AVA should be recognised with a Meritorious Award.