AVS Congress 2016 Report
AVS Congress 2016
by Eleanor Robertson, Liverpool Senior Rep
What a weekend! AVS Congress is over, my voice has vanished and my junior rep and I had radio silence for almost 12 hours… it’s all a little disconcerting!
If you were unfortunate and unable to join us in Liverpool this year, here is quick rundown of my weekend and why it should already be highlighted in your calendar for Cambridge 2017!
My weekend began by being lovingly launched on by my fellow AVS Committee members as they exited from the bus in central Liverpool for a night of Scouse entertainment! From there, the evening became a game of cat and mouse as we all visited various combinations of Liverpool’s great night life; taking in chocolate shots, pineapple cocktails and iron brew tequila before all reuniting in the legendary Raz for the final few hours of dancing!
Saturday morning saw the arrival of amazingly fresh-faced students, ready to begin their weekend programme of guest speakers and innovative practicals. Each student was assigned to a stream of their choosing (Farm, Equine, Small Animal or Exotics) and entertained by a huge variety of topics relating to their interests as well as a few universal career based talks for all to enjoy. It is impossible for me to do justice to these sessions, or describe how engaged the attendees were, but here are just a few examples of what was enjoyed throughout the weekend.
Farm took a trip to a mega dairy, trimmed feet and discussed lame lambs, while Exotics handled various reptiles, learnt about anaesthesia combinations for different species and discovered the opportunities to practice as a wildlife vet. Small Animal spent their weekend placing drains, debating the puppy trade and enjoying interactive cardiology, while Equine dissected legs in a lameness practical, handled uteruses in a fertility demonstration and discovered more about the possibility of work abroad.
We were also privileged to have a variety of inspiring veterinary related organisation join us for the careers fayre this year. Everyone enjoyed asking questions, meeting various contacts and discovering the breadth of opportunity granted to us with this degree.
Saturday night at the AVS Ball was then where the real fun began. We all pulled out our finest attire and began the evening with such elegance to the sound of flawless Jazz piano played by our very own James Bladon. The night continued with a three-course dinner, speeches – more a beautiful profession of love when it came to the AVS presidential team – and live entertainment from the outstanding local band the MooCows! A personal highlight was most definitely BVA President, Sean Wensely’s, incredible moves on the dance floor that night!
We concluded the weekend on Sunday with the AVS AGM. This was an update on all the wonderful work done in the past year by the committee, an explanation of future plans and chance for new candidates standing to join this year to speak.
Congress was a huge labour of love for the entire organising committee, one we are thrilled to have seen succeed so well!
See you all next year – hopefully my voice will have returned by then!
