Since its inception the SRB (or ASRB) membership has been a world leader in contributions at the cutting edge of ovarian and oocyte biology. Discoveries by Australian researchers that have changed the field over the last 50 years, too numerous to list in detail, cover the hormonal actions of the ovarian follicle, the signalling interactions between ovarian somatic cells and the oocyte, the importance of nutrition and metabolism to oocyte quality and many others. These achievements to date are substantial, but more importantly, this culture of excellence is continuing. Exciting current research building on the example and training of our SRB founders promises new heights in understanding of ovary and oocyte biology and translation into important reproductive medicine and biotechnology applications.