Sometimes compiling the Bulletin, especially as deadlines rapidly approach and teaching heats up, is more stressful than not. The December Issue, however, is always a joy to put together, as it typically sees me (Ben Gooden) slumped against a tree in the sun, often next to a creek, reading through report after report of studentresearch achievements and awards, field adventures and new year research and management aspirations of our members! The December Issue also typically covers many of the popular events from ESA's annual conference, which this year was held in Alice Springs. The red dust (which still covers my tent and sleeping bag!), lazy moans of crows and burgeoning blue sky set the scene for my favourite conference yet and some extremely inspiration presentations, many of which are presented in the pages of this Issue.

As usual, I present reports from ESA’s President and Board, and award-winning student members, including a summary of the 2014 student research award recipients. I am particularly grateful to PhD candidate Tim Doherty for a lovely “Labs in the Limelight” piece on the research currently being done by Rob Davis’ wildlife ecology research group at Edith Cowan University.

As always, I value feedback about the Bulletin (good, bad and ugly) and material for inclusion in future Issues. Thank you to our members for such a lovely and productive year, and best wishes to all for the much-needed holiday season.