Tiny fish, burly Brahman bulls and everything in between were cared for at this year’s Ekka by University of Queensland veterinarians.
The Royal Queensland Show, known affectionately as the ‘Ekka’, benefited from the presence of UQ VETS veterinarians from the Dayboro and Gatton clinics, as they assisted at various displays and precincts across the event.
Veterinarian and Associate Professor at the School of Veterinary Science, Dr Rachel Allavena, believes that the collaboration, which has now run for many years, is great for both animals in need and UQ vet students.
“The Ekka is known for being where the city meets the country, and a wide array of animals are on display or compete in shows throughout the 10 day event,” Dr Allavena said.
“The variety of animals is great for our final year Bachelor of Veterinary Science honours students, who assist our vets, as they get to see how diverse and exciting a mixed practice can be.
“This year we also introduced students at earlier stages of their degree, as well as Bachelor of Veterinary Technology students, who volunteered to look after the welfare of animals at the extremely popular animal nursery exhibit, and discussed Gatton campus life and study programs at the ‘cow paddock’ exhibit.
“What really shone through was the pride and enthusiasm that students have in studying animal health at UQ’s Gatton campus.”
Bachelor of Veterinary Technology student, Sarah Stewart-Koster, was excited to see a new side of the Ekka, while picking up new skills and experience.
“I’d been to the Ekka before and thought I’d seen it all, but didn’t realise the scale and scope of the event,” she said.
“My background is mostly in Clydesdale horses and horse shows, so this was a fantastic opportunity to open my eyes to other animal care practices, and to learn how to apply my skills in a professional setting.
“It was also really interesting to see the wide variety of people attending, find out a little about their backgrounds and what they were interested in, and see if we could get them excited about interacting with animals and learning more.
“This is an incredible opportunity for students, as it helps you forge new connections, pick up new skills and pushes you out of your comfort zone.”
The UQ VETS veterinarians, along with assisting UQ students will be returning to the Ekka in 2019.
Image: UQ Bachelor of Veterinary Science (Honours) student, Courtney Bartels, in the Ekka Animal Nursery.
Media: Dr Rachel Allavena, r.allavena@uq.edu.au, +61 7 5460 1826; Dominic Jarvis, dominic.jarvis@uq.edu.au, +61 413 334 924.
