VETERINARY surgeon Barbara Wellington did not expect her love for animals to lead to a Medal of the Order of Australia.
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The Glenisla Crossing resident said being notified of the honour was both exciting and surprising.
‘‘I was literally rendered speechless,’’ she said.
Dr Wellington has been recognised for her significant service to veterinary science, professional associations, animal welfare and the community. She said she had always wanted to work with animals.
‘‘My family told me I had an interest in animals as a small child,’’ she said.
‘‘The interest grew as I did.’’ Originally from the eastern suburbs of Melbourne, Dr Wellington attended the University of Sydney and became a veterinary surgeon.
After graduating, she worked at a Ringwood practice before moving to the Wimmera.
Dr Wellington and her husband John first came to the region in 1965 when they took over a veterinary practice in Ararat. Dr Wellington was the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals chief veterinarian between 1985 to 1998, and 1999 to 2002.
She was the Australian Veterinary Association president from 1993 to 1994, policy councillor and a Veterinary Nurses Council of Australia representative in 1995.
She was the University of Melbourne Faculty of Veterinary Science Animal Ethics Committee member from 2000-13, Faculty of Veterinary Science and School of Land and Environment Animal Ethics Committee member since 2013, Faculties of Science and Land and Food Resources Animal Experimentation Ethics Committee member from 2006 to 2008 and Faculty of Science Animal Experimentation Ethics Committee from 2003 to 2005.
Dr Wellington was also a La Trobe University Animal Experimentation Ethics Committee member for 12 years and a Royal Melbourne Hospital, Royal Women’s Hospital and Monash Medical Centre Animal Experimentation Ethics Committee member for many years.
Dr Wellington also was able to travel to Papua New Guinea through the RSPCA.
After working in the Wimmera, Dr Wellington said she and her husband knew it was where they wanted to stay.
‘‘We got a liking for the area,’’ she said.
Dr Wellington and her husband will attend a breakfast at Brimpaen to celebrate today.