Don Kerr Veterinary Student Award past winners

Don Kerr Student Award winner 2022

Amy was a member of the UQ Bovine Appreciation Group throughout her years studying veterinary science and performed the role of Treasurer for the group in 2018. A highlight was planning the annual 'Rural Prac Day' where students can obtain hands-on learning experiences with both live cattle and abattoir specimens. Amy targeted her university placements towards her interest in cattle, as she spent two weeks at a bovine embryo transfer facility in Canada in 2019 and worked with the bovine reproductive practitioner Dr Ced Wise for two weeks throughout her final year of study.

Her passion for cattle medicine resulted in Amy being the only Australian recipient of the 2019 BVDzero Scholarship Programme sponsored by Boehringer Ingelheim. Twelve recipients were chosen worldwide out of 454 submissions to attend the 2020 World Buiatrics Congress in Madrid, however COVID-19 resulted in this event being postponed until late 2022. Amy is very excited for the invaluable educational and networking opportunity this will hold.

Amy's lifelong involvement in the beef industry has been not only a driving point for her interest in veterinary science, but also a welcome respite from study. She has been involved in showing her family's Droughtmaster cattle since 2009, while also competing in the junior judging and handling events. She qualified to compete at state level in Stud Cattle Judging, Prime Cattle Judging, and Junior Handlers multiple times, and winning the state final of Stud Judging at the 2016 Brisbane Royal Show resulted in her representing Queensland in the National Finals in 2017 at Melbourne, where she placed third. She performed the role of Associate Judge for Droughtmasters at the 2015 Brisbane Royal Show during her final year of high school and has since been the overjudge for the stud cattle section at the 2018 Maleny Show, the 2019 Wondai Show, and the 2021 Monto Show. She hopes that her insight into the livestock industry through breeding, showing, and judging beef cattle will assist her in building rapport with animal production clients and understanding their veterinary needs.