Who Are We?
Updated 14/05/2010
A brief history of the HGV
Over the years there have been several incarnations of a Victorian Histology Discussion Group. The current Histology Group of Victoria Inc. evolved from a committee formed by a group of like-minded senior histology scientists representing major public hospitals and private pathology providers in the state of Victoria. Their intent was to create a Histology discussion group that catered to the needs of all people with an interest in Histology. This was not to be limited to medical scientists, and had the primary goal of provision of education to local Victorian members. On August 6th 1997, the HGV officially became an incorporated association. The inaugural AGM of HGV Incorporated was on March 19th 1998. The elected committee was; President: Tristan Roberts Vice President: Sue Sturrock Treasurer: John Mills Secretary: Alan Sutton Committee: Clare Christian Irene Giouzeppos Piero Nelva Mike Rentsch Clyde Riley Ruth Wilkinson Jane Witte. The last of these to depart was Piero Nelva in 2006.
The HGV has run several one-day seminars, the most recent in 1998, 2002 and 2007, a joint meeting with HGSA at Coonawarra in 2003 and 2007 and in 2005 hosted the 2nd National Histology Conference in Melbourne which broke all records with a peak attendance of 327.
The HGV is proud to remain a non-profit organization whilst maintaining free membership. Our membership base has grown from just over 300 in 1998 to 560 present day.
In 2006 we registered our own Association rules, changed our web address to www.hgv.org.au and formally began regular communications with the other state histology groups to grow Histology education at a National level.
Where are we now?
The HGV mission statement encapsulates our goal of "providing a dynamic continuing education program in which all persons with an interest in Histology and Histotechnology are freely invited to participate". Whilst we cater specifically for Victorians, we have a membership in all states and territories and several overseas. Our membership is in excess of 550.
To further these aims we publish a bi-monthly newsletter - "Paraffinalia". The newsletter includes notification of scientific meetings, conference registrations, reports from previous scientific meetings, journal reviews, advertising, and other general histology news. The committee have been working to offer receipt of the newsletter electronically in line with the age of electronic media and in an effort to be environmentally conscious.
What's happening this year?
Melbourne hosted the HGV ODS in March this year. The seminar and workshops were very successful with excellent registrations. The committee is now working on preparation of a joint meeting with the Histology Group of South Australia to be held in the Coonawarra region. This will be the third time this has been held, and is always popular. The National meeting returns to Sydney in 2011, which should hopefully be followed by Melbourne hosting the event in 2013. In June this year we are holding one of our scientific meetings at the Victorian Institute of Forensic Medicine, which will include a tour. And come December the committee hopes that a Xmas social evening will be well attended. Additionally the committee is working to set-up an online database of IHX antibodies to assist Victorians locate laboratories that perform the ever-growing list of stains.
