2009-2010 has been a very busy year for me personally, and for OHNNG. A very successful meeting was run in Qld by Cheryl Kelly and Tracey Nicholls which we all enjoyed attending.

We have seen the usual changes in the way ENT surgery is carried out and the new innovations being brought to us from all of our surgeons and our sponsor companies. All in all for us involved in Otorhinolaryngology we are continually being shown new and remarkable ways of doing things every day.
The organization of the NSW 2010 meeting has been enjoyable but at the same time challenging. I hope the end result will be a meeting that will fulfill your expectations and the speakers will be both interesting and informative.

For me I personally, I am afraid that I have not been able to give OHNNG the time it deserves in NSW as my Australian Navy commitments have taken me away from home for quite some time during 2009- 2010. The up coming year does not appear to be any different with a long deployment overseas looming in the next couple of months. Therefore I am sorry to say that I will be standing down as the NSW Co-ordinator at this years AGM.

I thank you all very much for the support and friendships I have made over my time on the OHNNG committee. I will remain a very committed member and will look forward to seeing you all at every meeting in the future.

I wish the very best of luck to the person who takes over the role of NSW Co-ordinator.

Deirdre Smith
NSW Chapter Co-ordinator

As for most of you 2009 went past as a blur.

The year commenced with much excitement and expectation of the March conference on the Gold
Coast. In those early months I benefited a great deal from the experience of our esteemed president Tracey Nicholls on how to put together such a meeting. It was more involved than I imagined and Tracey should be well applauded for piecing together successful conferences year after year. I enjoyed the conference immensely and the opportunity to meet the current committee and take a role in the function of the group.

May, June and July were also busy months in Queensland. I attended the Post Laryngectomy course, the Head and Neck Cadaver Dissection course and the Skull Base Course. All the courses were held at the University of Queensland where nurses are invited to attend. At this point I must acknowledge the fine work of the unit secretary Judy Hawkins and her fantastic organisation and coordination of these events.

The 3rd quarter of the year was quiet for the group and the year culminated with a FESS Education evening (tremendously supported and facilitated by Kate Gaffney from Medtronic) The two hour event was well attended (beyond my expectations!) and afforded me another great opportunity to get our name out there and encourage membership. Professor Coman entertained us with his unique blend of humor and vast knowledge and I believe all who attended enjoyed the evening and felt it worthwhile. Kate has offered to support the group for future sessions and I hope to hold two education evenings this year and encourage attendance at the annual sessions run by the faculty from the University. The year was topped off nicely by the biannual Update on Thyroid & Parathyroid Surgery Conference held in Noosa in November. Lots of interesting speakers, in such a fantastic part of the world.

I’m sure 2010 will bring lots of challenges and rewards for us all. I look forward to catching up with
everyone in Sydney in March and with my Queensland colleagues at an education session sometime soon.

Cheryl Kelly
Queensland Chapter Co-ordinator

Once again we have seen consistent membership numbers for SA with many joining up at our quarterly seminars.

We continue to plan up and coming events here in SA which are posted on the website and kindly sponsored by Medtronic ENT Australia. On average 50 members have attended each meeting and enjoyed in 2009 the following three guest speakers covering topics;

Thursday 26th March presentation by Mr. David Wabnitz
‘Ear today, Deaf tomorrow’ – all about the ear and hearing

Thursday 30th July presentation by Mr Sam Robinson
‘Oh, so you don’t sleep all night’ – sleep aponea & current treatments

Thursday 12th November presentation by Mr Michael Switajewski
‘Just in the neck of time’ - neck dissection and the link between tonsil tumours and HPV.

We have already locked in four dates and speakers for 2010 and details are available on the web site.
Bronny and Tracey are currently discussing a full day study day for later in the year and we have begun planning for 2012 when the national meeting will once again be in Adelaide. Any one who would like to be part of the planning committee please let yourselves known, many hands make light work.

Silvia O'Connor
SA& NT Chapter Coordinator

This is Lanas first year but second round as Victoria’s State coordinator. Victoria has had two education sessions during our calendar year, annual meeting to annual meeting, The first was the Medtronic ENT Perioperative study day, held at “Leonda By The Yarra” centre in October. This was a great day and attended by over 100 delegates, from as far as Tasmania and South Australia…The venue was exquisite and the day packed full of interesting speakers and topics. Topics included

Difficult Airway management, sinus disease, sterilization techniques and otology including Diseases and Surgical Interventions, NIM monitoring & middle ear prosthesis. A great venue and day had by all. The second for the year was an educational session held in Feb “Updates in ENT”. This was a great session with a good attendance sponsored by Johnson & Johnson.

The third is planned for the 8th August at Monash Medical Centre. This will be a full day titled “ENT Clinical Fundamentals”. Topics include Voice Disorders, OSA, Paediatrics, Hearing Loss,
Rhinosinusitis, Airway & Common ENT Emergencies and more.

Tracey Nicholls for Lana Tutin
Victoria Chapter Coordinator

We have managed to have three education sessions this year. They have been sponsored by Smith Medical, Medtronic, Hartman and Convidien. Thanks to all these companies who have sponsored wine and food for these occasions.

The first meeting of 2009 was presented by Dr Paul Bumback a Senior Registrar. He did a very
interesting presentation. We had a good attendance. Paul was a very lively and interesting presenter.
The second meeting of 2009 was a presentation by Mr.Peter Friedland. A South African ENT surgeon who recently immigrated to Australia with his family. He did a very interesting presentation on assisted hearing. Mainly Surgical intervention. Also in his presentation he added plenty of interesting information about South Africa. We all sat in ore of the hospitals and conditions of work.

The last presentation of 2009 was Dr Lisa Wun – Senior Registrar and Mrs Louisa Waters- Senior
Speech Pathologist on the topic of Voice Restoration. This was a very interesting meeting. We had plenty of opportunity for “hands on” with some of the speech equipment. All the presentations last year were fantastic. Each presenter received a token for their time and efforts.

We have had small numbers for our meetings this year. This has not stopped the core attendees. We continue to advance the practice of ENT for nurses

This year I hope to pursue avenues to increase the attendance on a local level. We hope to have an ENT study day for all nurses later in the year. Depending on other work commitments. Fingers
crossed!

We are looking forward to our Sydney conference with about 6 or 7 WA attendees. Everyone is
looking forward to meeting other ENT Nurses and discussing their experiences.

Leanne Simpson
WA Chapter Coordinator