Histology Group of Victoria Inc.
Updated 18th March 2008
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 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 550 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 that includes all Australian states and territories and internationals from the UK, US, New Zealand, China, Italy, Sudan and Slovenia.
To further these aims we publish a bi-monthly newsletter - "Paraffinalia". The costs of its production are off-set by advertising from companies specializing in histology-related products. We have a mailing list of 550. The newsletter includes notification of scientific meetings, conference registrations, reports from previous scientific meetings, journal reviews, advertising, and other general histology news.
What's happening this year?
Following a successful year in 2007 at both the Geelong ODS and joint meeting with HGSA in the Coonawarra, the committee is focusing on events in Melbourne for 2008. Our regular Thursday evening scientific meetings will continue with five being planned throughout the year. Additionally, following the success of the Basic Cut-up workshop at last years ODS and following the fantastic feedback, we are venturing into an Intermediate Cut-up workshop. Given the enthusiastic responses over the past two years to our workshops, this will also be extremely popular.
As the HGV are the premier providers of Histological education in Victoria, the Australian Institute of Medical Scientists (AIMS) has once again invited us to create the Histological program for the AIMS National meeting in Melbourne in October. With pride we have assembled some fantastic speakers on a diverse range of topics to showcase both Victorian and interstate talent. This will include an international speaker, Karen Burg, Professor of Bioengineering, Clemson University, USA, with a field of expertise in tissue engineering. The HGV will of course have a social function for Histologists during the week of the conference.
The HGV committee maintains a keen interest in the progress of the Medical Laboratory Science undergraduate course at RMIT, and is delighted to again sponsor the prize to be awarded to the top student in Cellular Pathology.
But it will not be all work, again we will have our ever popular trivia night and though the attendance was tentative in 2007, a Christmas function will be planned for 2008.
