EUROPEAN  TISSUE  REPAIR  SOCIETY

The catalyst for the formation and development of the Australian Wound Management Association can be traced back to the founding Committee of the West Australian Wound Care Association (WAWCA).
The WAWCA evolved from the West Australian Wound Care Interested Nurses Group, which was formed in May 1990. These nurses 'identified a need to update current knowledge of wound management'.¹ Group members were: Mrs Keryln Carville, Ms Helen Cadwallader, Mrs Madeleine McPherson, Ms Pam Thompson, Mrs Jenny Prentice, Ms Anne Bailey and Ms Winnie Felle. During the group's first study day entitled 'Wound Care - A Time for Change', September 1990, delegates supported the concept of formalising the interest group into the West Australian Wound Care Association.

The Association during a general meeting in June 1991 was addressed by Mr Chris White, National Sales Manager, Coloplast Australia, who complimented the Association on its formation, rapid growth and initiatives, and commented that the Association had the ability to set the foundations for a national organisation. And so it came to pass that in August 1991 plans were set in motion for Australia's first national conference on wound care.

The Organising Committee was comprised of Ms Helen Cadwallader, Mrs Madeleine McPherson and Mrs Jenny Prentice (Chair). A Scientific Committee from members of the WAWCA assisted the Organising Committee. Two of WAWCA's objectives for the Conference were:

• the formation of a national association for wound care, and
• the development of an Australian journal on wound care.²

The Inaugural Australasian Conference on Wound Care 'Turning Wound Care Upside Down' was held on 9-12 March 1993 at the Sheraton Perth Hotel, Perth, Western Australia. It was an outstanding success with over 450 delegates from Germany, Hong Kong, Singapore, South Africa, UK, USA, New Zealand and Australia. The Conference was supported with over twenty-six trade displays bringing conference attendance numbers to well over 500. Smith & Nephew were the principle sponsors.

The success of the Conference was due to the enthusiasm of our delegates and invited speakers, six of whom were international guests;
      Mr Michael Callum (Consultant Vascular Surgeon) UK
      Dr Diane Cooper, USA
      Mrs Madeleine Flanagan, UK
      Mrs Prilli de Stevens, South Africa
      Dr David Leaper, UK
      Dr Keith Harding, UK

Figure 1. Terence Ryan with members of the West Australian Wound
Care Association, 1992, spreading the word.
Left to right (standing): Mrs Mary King, Mrs Penny Tonkin, Mrs Keryin Carville.
Left to right (sitting): Mrs Jenny Prentice, Mr Michael Stacey, Mrs Madeleine McPherson and Prof Terence Ryan.