History
The Victorian Perioperative Nurses Group (VPNG) was founded in July 1957 as the Theatre Sisters Section, a subgroup of the Royal Victorian College of Nurses (RVCN) and later became known as the Operating Room Nurses Section (ORNS) in 1971.
In 1991, the ORNS amended its constitution to become the VPNG. In 2016 VPNG became an incorporated company and the 5 executive became the directors of VPNG Inc.
VPNG also received charitable status in 2016.
VPNG Presidents:
| 1957-58 | Ms June Allen |
| 1959-60 | Ms Amy Johnson |
| 1960-61 | Ms Freda Crandall |
| 1961-62 | Sister Rosarii |
| 1962-64 | Ms Margaret Brown |
| 1964-65 | Ms Murriel Jefferies |
| 1965-67 | Ms Dorothea Burnett |
| 1967-69 | Ms Mary Barry |
| 1969-71 | Ms Marge Bennetts |
| 1971-73 | Sister Mary Felix Thorburn |
| 1973-75 | Ms Marea Fennell |
| 1977-79 | Ms Pauline Bennett |
| 1979-80 | Ms Joan Cooney |
| 1980-82 | Ms Chloe Forsyth |
| 1982-84 | Ms Jackie Dalzell |
| 1984-86 | Ms Marea Fennell |
| 1986-88 | Ms Marilyn Cornish |
| 1988-90 | Ms Claire Collins |
| 1990-92 | Ms Bernadette Brennan |
| 1992-94 | Ms Leonie Lorenz |
| 1995-96 | Ms Helen Barallon |
| 1996-98 | Ms Michele Cullen |
| 1998-00 | Mr Jorge Acevedo-Rodriguez |
| 2000-02 | Ms Marilyn Schroeder |
| 2002-04 | Ms Lesley Gilbert |
| 2004-06 | Ms Helen Barallon |
| 2006-08 | Ms Judith Bridges |
| 2008-10 | Ms Nanette Lundie |
| 2010-12 | Mr Daniel Scholtes |
| 2012-17 | Dr Patricia Nicholson |
| 2017-19 | Ms Jane Thomas |
| 2019-21 | Ms Tarryn Armour |
| 2021-23 | Ms Elyse Coffey |
| 2023-25 | Ms Karolin King |
Interested in the history of VPNG?
Unmasked, by Carollyn R. Williams
A history of the Victorian Perioperative Nurses Group, by Carollyn R Williams looks at the 50 year history of VPNG from its humble beginnings on the evening of 31 July 1957, where a group of 30 theatre sisters met at the Coronado Nurses Home of The Alfred Hospital.
Enjoy Carollyn Williams’ historical account for the memories it engenders, the knowledge it displays, the respect it shows for our predecessors and the inclusiveness it brings to those of us who are perioperative nurses.
For your chance to read about our history, order your copy of Unmasked today.
The Victorian Perioperative Nurses Group acknowledges Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people as the traditional owners of the land and acknowledges and pays respects to the Elders past, present and emerging.
VPNG is comitted to safe and inclusive workplaces, policies and services for people of LGBTIQ communities and their families.
