Letter
from the chairman
Dear Colleagues,
We have a nice mix of pathology, pharmacology and personal experiences for you
put up your feet to, rest back on the sofa and educate and entertain yourself. Vets
have a tendency to be alpha type personalities, wanting to be in control, know all
the answers and solve all the problems. That serves us well, but it can also detract us
from peace.
Laurens van der Post wrote “The Bushmen in the Kalahari Desert talk about the two
“hungers”. There is the Great Hunger and there is the Little Hunger. The Little Hunger
wants food for the belly; but the Great Hunger, the greatest hunger of all, is the
hunger for meaning.... There is nothing wrong in searching for happiness. But of far
more comfort to the soul is something greater than happiness or unhappiness, and that is meaning. Because
meaning transfigures all. Once what you are doing has for you meaning, it is irrelevant whether you’re happy or
unhappy. You are content - you are not alone in your Spirit - you belong.”
Our world is challenging and it is easy to feel overwhelmed. But we must illuminate the meaning in our life that
gives us peace. We must avoid being dragged down by the sensationalistic drama of the world. Now that we
know more about what is going on around us we feel we have to fix more. Yet, the world in many ways is better
than ever before. Easing the pain of an animal, protecting a species, providing jobs to others, helping a farmer
improve her herd health or taking a lunch break to have a meal with a family member. Focus on your meaning in
your world, the world that matters, and enjoy the peace.
In the SAVA WG world our important meanings are the conference for next year, helping the Buffalo Control
Diseases Committee find a solution to the problems associated with testing buffalo and issues related to
veterinary medicines.
We mourn the passing of a colleague, Dr Freek Snyman, who died in a helicopter accident. Be safe out there.
Happy vetting.
Greg
2018
AUGUST
3