The last 12 months have been an exceptionally busy time for the NSW Regional Committee. All of the major training programmes have been inspected, workforce issues continue to bubble away, a new Quality Improvement body, the Clinical Excellence Commission has been established and, like everywhere else, the ANZCA Taskforces have provided a major workload to many NSW Fellows. Communication between ANZCA and the ASA has never been better and I would like to particularly acknowledge the contribution of Dr Liz Feeney.

However, the most significant development in NSW has been the IMET (Institute of Medical Education & Training) review of anaesthesia training. IMET is a NSW government body that reports directly to the Minister of Health and has been reviewing various specialist training programmes. The review of anaesthesia training has been quite cordial, and in the main quite fruitful. Some issues remain to be settled and we await the final submission to NSW Health.

Of particular concern remains the funding for rural anaesthetic posts, and the extra paediatric training posts established in 2002. Why NSW Health seems so determined to withdraw funding for a programme that 2 separate independent reviews have commended is beyond comprehension .... anyway the battle continues.

The Part 1 & 2 short courses continue to be heavily subscribed and generate highly favourable comment from attendees. Peter Kam and Tim McCulloch, in particular, are to be congratulated.

After 12 years of hard labour Ross Kerridge, Tony Quail and I will be retiring from the Committee in June 2006. I would like to thank Jan Taylor and Annette Strauss their invaluable administrative assistance and also the substantial contributions of many NSW Fellows to the ever increasing demands of College Affairs.

John Keneally needs special recognition for his sterling efforts in editing 6 editions of the Blue Book ‘Australasian Anaesthesia’ (and the book ‘150 Years On’ - from the 1996 World Congress). The painstaking proof-reading of ever complex, practical, entertaining, etc, chapters has required many hours of patient review. Congratulations JK.

I am also sure that several senior colleagues will be glad to see the back of me, as I have regularly bailed-up Greg Knoblanche, Richard Walsh, Michael Cousins, Frank Moloney, Barry Baker and Peter Klineberg for advice/direction and help, particularly during my last 3 years as Chairman.

Our speciality has never faced more challenges. Both ANZCA and the ASA need the support of their Fellows and members. Please do not hesitate to communicate directly with us and all offers to participate will be gratefully appreciated