BVNA in association with Bayer Animal Health, was delighted to name Donna Lewis, Kent Regional Co-ordinator (RCO) as ‘2015 RCO of the Year. Donna receives £1,000 sponsorship for her region to help fund further meetings, plus a £200 shopping voucher for herself.

Emma Gerrard, Welshpool RCO, was for the second year running, named as runner-up and received a £50 shopping voucher.

Congratulations and well done to both Donna and Emma for all their hard work and continued support of BVNA.

RCO of the Year Donna Lewis (centre) with Fiona Andrew (right) and Darren Peart from Bayer, sponsors of the competition

Kent

Wow, I am the RCO of the year, amazing! Nurses of Kent I will not let you down, I will use the prize money wisely and provide you with some fantastic CPD during this year.

During 2015 Kent was provided with a wide range of CPD; this started with the fantastic Lucy Kells who spoke to us 3 times and told us some memorable stories on wildlife, this was followed by the Merial roadshow, where Jane Hayden spoke to us about Parasites and then came back and updated us all on the parasites we could encounter abroad and the pet passport, not forgetting the dreaded Lyme disease.

During Veterinary Nursing Awareness Month (May) we had 3 meetings, one of which was given to us by Faye Sewell and she spoke to us about Infection Control in Practice, and later in the year Melanie Sainsbury spoke at both Canterbury and Hadlow College telling us all about the myths behind the Raw Food Diet. We saw 2015 finish with cardiology, behaviour and obesity, totalling 12 meetings during 2015 – enough to fill your CPD record for one year!

Can we fit anymore into a year, well let’s wait and see – 2016’s meetings are already being planned so keep an eye on your inbox.

As always I would like to thank both Canterbury and Hadlow college for allowing us to use their fantastic venues for our meetings, I would also like to thank you, the delegate, whether you are an RVN, ANA, student or reception staff, it makes it all worthwhile when you all come along and attend.

I am honoured to be BVNA RCO of the year and will work hard to show you all how much this means to me.

Donna Lewis RVN

Welshpool

I took on the role of Welshpool RCO in May 2013 to help provide good quality and affordable CPD within my three regions. The RCO role is voluntary, challenging and rewarding all at the same time. I hope to continue to improve the range of CPD that I have been able to offer to date without compromising the affordability or quality.

2015 was an exciting year for me as an RCO as I was able to provide my first CPD day on puppy parties and collaborate with my neighbouring regions North Wales and Southern North West regions to provide ‘a day at the zoo’. Both days were incredibly successful and the experience has given me a passion to provide more CPD days for my region. In addition to the day CPD’s, I have held fluid therapy, pet travel and ECG’s evening meetings.

Following my successful CPD programme during 2015, I was incredibly proud to be awarded RCO of the year, runner up, at BVNA Congress 2015, for the second year running.

As I enter my third year as an RCO, plans are in full swing for 2016’s CPD programme, with an infection control practical day, a laboratory practical day, an update on parasite prevention focus-ing on working dogs, anaesthesia and behaviour meetings in the pipeline. I also hope to collaborate with my neighbouring regions again later in the year to provide something a little different!

I hope this year can be as exciting as the last and I would like to thank my region for their continued support.

Outside of my work with the BVNA, I work part time at Cain Veterinary Centre, a mixed practice on the Powys/Shropshire border. I live with my partner, Andrew, two-year-old son Evan and a menagerie of pets. If I have any spare time left, I enjoy cross stitch, baking and photography.

Please email any CPD suggestions or questions to emmagerrar- duk@yahoo.co.uk or visit BVNA RCO-Welshpool for further updates on meetings and news.

Emma Gerrard DipAVN (Small Animal) DipHE CVN BSc (Hons) RVN CVN KSQP PHC

Veterinary Nursing Journal • VOL 31 • January 2016