Comments

Thanks so much Dr Antonino. I think that Stephen’s interview focussed on the early days of developing a model for the sustainable control of Newcastle disease. It’s been a privilege to work with you and your team in Timor-Leste since 2006 and we gratefully acknowledge the support given to our work by your own Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, the FAO, the Crawford Fund and the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (which is currently funding the Timor-Leste Village Poultry Health and Biosecurity Program through their Government Partnerships for Development Program and the Australian Department of Agriculture and Water Resources and USyd).

It’s definitely inspiring to read Robyn’s story. For me, as a young woman, Robyn’s story gives me hope that anything is achievable so long as you have a passion for making a difference. As much as it gives me hope, her experiences have also revealed to me how important it is to aim for long term achievements rather than short term successes. Reading abut Robyn’s journey in this blog post has also taught me that being innovative is the easy part, actually implementing an idea and seeing it through to fruition is much more difficult and a real test of character. I think it’s very interesting to see the crucial role that animals play in improving the health and well being of individuals and communities. This project really does emphasize how important it is to embrace the collaborative nature of scientific research. In recent years, there has been a shift towards the need to have a more multi-dimensional approach when solving global issues such as food security. The One Health approach that this project has taken really showcases how much we can achieve if we work together towards a common goal. I really look forward to seeing how this project progresses and what conclusions can be drawn from the results obtained.

Am i reading it right, that funding to meet commitments at Paris accord will be (at least partially) taken from aid budget for climate change related projects?

Robyn has done a fantastic job and continues to work hard in order to help people - and chickens - to get a better life. I had an opportunity to know Robyn in Mozambique during several years and even if we - her friends - sometimes made jokes about her involvement and love for chickens, we also testified and recognized her great contritubion for well-being of people at the countryside, of those most vulnerable. Robyn has achieved great success due to her own capacity and personality - tolerance, understanding, empathy, willingness to learn and to teach, humility, perseverance.. She has worked very hard in a very unselfish way. For her the vulnerable people at the countryside - and their chickens - have always come first.

Livestock is said to be the 'Cinderella sector' when it comes to development efforts and funds; but even within livestock development, backyard poultry stands out as an unjustly neglected area. Given that poultry are so important to the livelihoods of women, it is fitting that chooks have been championed by Robyn, a woman vet from Australia. Myself an Irish woman vet, based in Kenya, I have had the privilege of working with Robyn on a number of initiatives over the years. Her work is highly known and highly appreciated in southern Africa and beyond. It is great also to see attention for good news stories on how things are getting better in rural Africa, driven mainly by the aspirations and talents of Africans themselves, but with a helping hand from luckier or wealthier countries.

Bravo Robyn, I know Robyn for long time. Her valuable experiences in developing our veterinary services especilly in controlling of New casttle disease is in Timor Leste. This article is not complete without that

The article in the Canberra times was a great read and very moving on many levels. I have only known Robyn for a short time, having only just begun a project for my university degree with Robyn as my supervisor. However it is during this short time that I have witnessed Robyn’s positive and kind yet determined attitude that is reflected within the article. I wasn’t aware of all the work that Robyn has accomplished in her career, but has nonetheless found her career achievements inspiring. She has evidently been involved in a huge amount of work that has impacted positively on the lives of many people (and animals!). To recognize the issues and to persist with them aiming to succeed with life changing results is truly inspirational.

Robyn has been a long standing contributor to development in many ways. Her tireless contribution in the 1980s and 90s to educate students in Veterinary Medicine must also be commended. Robyn has trained many of her students to work in the field and save wildlife too. KYEEMA foundation was a great vision that has brought brilliant results! Robyn Alders is one of a kind and is a leading professional. She inspires many women and men.

Thanks for this post. I'd be interested to know more about this assertion: "Importantly, key improvements were noted in all central government agencies headed by women or with women in executive positions. Clearly, critical gains can be made when women occupy leadership positions." What are the 'key improvements' and 'critical gains' that have been achieved in these agencies?

Hi Nicole I agree with the overall thrust of your article but dispute its factuality in several cases. In both Simbu and Western Provinces in PNG, women head provincial health services. I am proud of the fact that, when working in both these Provinces, my advice was sought and I was able to contribute to their selection/ appointments. The appointment of women to senior positions is of course only part of the battle. I know from my own experience that the appointments are often deeply resented and there are ongoing pressures to undermine their effectiveness because they are women. Sadly, this comes not only from the Papua New Guinea side, but also from 'development partners'. A lot more needs to be done on the appointment of women to senior position but also in acceptance and support of women to ensure they are able to be effective. Cheers, Phil

Great to read the Alders article in yesterday’s CT – it is indeed an fantastic story about an amazing women and the support that the aid program was able to provide to her work - resulting in huge impacts. I have had the pleasure of travelling with Robyn through Tanzania and Ethiopia and have seen firsthand the impacts this work has had on empowering women and the flow on effects of cultural change in the villages re gender roles and improved child nutrition. The AIFSRC was really pleased to be able to continue the support for Robyn’s work, especially in quantifying the impacts of Newcastle disease control on maternal and child health. So much flows from that - congratulations on the article. There are a number of stories of resilient Australian women in agricultural development, who have defied the odds and the system to facilitate real global impacts.

I believe the accolade is well deserved. In 2011, Robyn got the OA for her work. You might also be interested in some words I wrote in a little corner of <a href="http://www.ruralpoultrymalawi.org/nrpcgenesis.html" rel="nofollow">our web site</a>. One wonders what might have happened (or not happened) without Robyn: I'm not sure whether they really know it but Australian development agencies top the international arena in terms of their persevering support for Newcastle disease control in village chickens. They can stand proud of the fact. They were supporting it in South East Asia in the 1980s and later in Mozambique in the 1990s. That early work was enabled with technical expertise from Prof Peter Spradbrow at the University of Queensland and was financially supported by ACIAR. During the early 2000s, the work in Mozambique expanded to several other countries with financial support from AusAID and continues to the present day. And in the midst of it all! In 2003, very appropriately, the KYEEMA Foundation was born and helped push all this along.