Obituaries

Dr Paul Gill passed away on 28 July 2012 after a courageous and inspiring battle with motor neurone disease during the past two years. He was 56. Paul graduated with first class honours from the University of Sydney in January 1979. He spent all of his working life within the NSW Department of Primary Industries (and its various other titles), having joined it as a Departmental trainee upon entry to Veterinary School. Following graduation, Paul was appointed as a Veterinary Research Officer, briefly at the Veterinary Research Station, Glenfield, and then at the Regional Veterinary Laboratory, Wagga Wagga. In 1982, he undertook a PhD on copper poisoning in sheep at Murdoch University, where he also worked part-time as a pathology tutor. In 1986 he joined the Regional Veterinary Laboratory at Wollongbar, and for the next 25 years he worked mainly as a diagnostic pathologist. After the closure of the veterinary laboratory in 2009, Paul continued working at the Wollongbar Agricultural Institute (including through the first 18 months of his progressive illness with MND) as Strategy Leader of Residue Management with NSW DPI.

In 1994, Paul was instrumental in establishing (and naming) NORSEQ, an informal gathering of veterinary pathologists in northern NSW and southeast Queensland. NORSEQ pathologists meet, usually at least once a year, to present cases of interest and hear a keynote speaker (including visiting international scholars such as Don McGavin and Gerald Wells). NORSEQ continues to fulfill Paul's vision of a flexible, regional forum for networking and education amongst the veterinary pathology fraternity (government, university and private) and it is one of his enduring legacies.

Paul's encyclopaedic knowledge made him an extremely effective diagnostic pathologist and he was also a very competent bacteriologist. He achieved Membership of the Australian College of Veterinary Scientists in Pathobiology in 1993. He derived great satisfaction from his work as a pathologist in a regional laboratory embedded in a rural community.

Paul was actively involved in his community in many other ways including as a volunteer with various school and church groups and with the Army Reserve. He was a very precise and organized person, disciplined and very fit, with a legendary sense of humour and a joke for every occasion. He took admirable pleasure in the simple things in life and cared deeply about others.

Paul is survived by his wife Margaret, and children Bethlyn, Andrew, Damian and Kathryn, to whom we extend our sincere condolences. We will miss him dearly.

2012 - GILL, Paul

Dear Colleagues and Friends:

I write with the sad news that Emeritus Professor Ken Jubb passed away peacefully in Werribee on February 27th after a relatively short illness.

Professor Jubb influenced many of us, and in many ways and over the coming weeks and months we will have the opportunity to reflect on this influence. I will be writing in the near future with details of a memorial service to be held by the Faculty in his honour.

Professor Kenneth Vincent Finlayson Jubb (BVSc Syd. PhD C'nell Hon.DVSc Murdoch Hon.DSc U.P.M. (Ag. U.Malaysia) MVSc FACVSc) graduated from the University of Sydney in 1951 and embarked on a career directed to veterinary pathology. He was honoured in many ways, including by being awarded the Gilruth Medal by the Australian Veterinary Association and a Medal of the Order of Australia. His many contributions to the veterinary profession, the University of Melbourne and the Werribee community included serving as Dean, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Melbourne, 1969-1990; Professor of Veterinary Pathology, University of Melbourne 1963-1990; and Emeritus Professor, University of Melbourne, 1991-2013.

Professor Jubb was an author and editor, with Peter Kennedy of the University of California, of Editions 1, 2, and with Nigel Palmer for Editions 3 and 4 of “Pathology of Domestic Animals”, which was renamed “Jubb and Kennedy and Palmer’s Pathology of Domestic Animals” for the 5^th (2007) edition edited by Dr. Grant Maxie. Professor Jubb contributed to the development of the 6^th edition, including authoring, with Dr. Andrew Stent, the chapter on diseases of the pancreas.

During his long career, Professor Jubb was active in administration of the University of Melbourne, including as a representative of the Professors of the University on the University Council, 1974-1980 (in various capacities), Vice-Chairman of the Academic Board 1977 and 1978, Chairman of the Academic Board 1979 and 1980, Pro-vice Chancellor and later Assistant Vice Chancellor (Special Projects) 1977-1980 with responsibility for triennial submissions to the Commonwealth Tertiary Education Commission, evaluation of all academic activities within the University, and plans for restructuring the University’s composition of Faculties and Schools. He was Chairman of numerous University Committees including: General University Costs, Central Budgets, Staff, Staff Numbers, Equipment, and Computing Policy.

Professor Jubb was a member of the Zoological Parks and Gardens Board of Victoria for over 2 decades, completing his term on the Board as Chair in 1990.

Outside the University, Professor Jubb was a passionate supporter of Werribee and the City of Wyndham. He served on numerous local committees, including the Biotechnology Precinct that oversaw development of the initial stages of a biotechnology park at Hoppers Crossing. Professor Jubb served as a Governor, chairman and member of the Executive of the Ian Clunies Ross National Science foundation and was a Fellow and Councillor of the Australian Academy of Technology Sciences and Engineering (FTS). He was a Foundation Fellow of the Australian College of Veterinary Scientists (FACVSC).

Professor Jubb was instrumental in the establishment of the Veterinary School at Murdoch University and was awarded an honorary DVSc from Murdoch in 1980 in recognition of this work.

Internationally, Professor Jubb was instrumental in the establishment of the Veterinary Faculty of the University of Putra Malaysia. His contributions were noted in the establishment of the Howell-Jubb Prize at the University, and his award of the honorary DSc by that University.

After his retirement from the University in 1990, Emeritus Professor Jubb had no formal responsibilities in the Faculty. However, he continued to attend his office in the Faculty at Werribee on a daily basis where he was an active and integral part of the veterinary pathology post-graduate training program. He conducted daily histopathology slide reading sessions with the tutors and other staff, was frequently consulted (daily) by clinical staff on interpretation of biopsy and post mortem results, and provided informal leadership in journal clubs. He led, and did so since his retirement, regular Thursday morning histopathology slide reading sessions attended by pathologists from throughout Victoria. For many years, he also led a Thursday afternoon session on pathology of the eye which was attended by veterinarians and human ophthalmologists. These activities were well above those expected of an Emeritus Professor.

On behalf of the faculty I have conveyed condolences to Mrs.Trudi Jubb and the family and expressed my sympathy on the passing of their husband, father, grandfather and great grandfather.

The family has requested that flowers not be sent.

Sincerely,

Ken

 

Professor Kenneth W. Hinchcliff

Dean

E:     hkw@unimelb.edu.au

T:     +61 3 9731 2261

F:     +61 3 9731 2366

Location:     Veterinary Clinical Centre, 250 Princes Highway,  Werribee  Victoria  3030 Australia

 

Obituary - Ken Jubb

William John Hartley

Dear Colleagues,

It is with great sadness that I must inform you of the passing of Dr. William “Bill” Hartley OAM, MVSc, DSc.

After qualifying from the Royal Veterinary College in England in 1945, Bill had a distinguished and diverse career in the field of animal disease investigation. In his 53 years as a veterinarian, Bill worked as a clinician, laboratory diagnostic officer, field disease investigator, researcher, and University of Sydney veterinary undergraduate and graduate lecturer. Bill’s professional interests and expertise were many and varied, including neuropathology, poisonous plants, perinatal mortality of large animals, protozoology and comparative pathology of wildlife.

Bill’s commitment to the advancement of comparative pathology is exemplified through the clinicians and pathologists he mentored and inspired, and his founding of comparative pathology registries in New Zealand and NSW agriculture departments, and the Australian Registry of Wildlife Health at Taronga Conservation Society Australia. Bill was also recognised as valued life member of the Australian Society for Veterinary Pathology.

Bill was not one to seek the spotlight, yet his achievements and encyclopaedic knowledge of investigative and comparative pathology were acknowledged through: Fellowship of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons, Fellowship of the Royal College of Pathology, Master of Veterinary Science, Doctor of Science, Fellowship of the Australian College of  Veterinary Scientists, Peter Olafson Gold Medal (Cornell University, USA), and as a Member of the Order of Australia. Bill published more than 200 papers in national and international journals recording the results of his investigations and collaborations.

Bill is survived by his children Elizabeth, James, Alexandra, Sophia and Julian, and his grandchildren Adrien, Ben, Freya, Isabella and Sinclair, to whom we extend our sincere condolences.

We will miss him dearly.

Sincerely

Karrie Rose

 

Taronga Conservation Society of Australia

Australian Registry of Wildlife Health

 

2014_ HARTLEY, William

Martin Dunton Copland was born in South Africa, but his family moved to Norseman in Western Australia when he was 8 years old and, after a series of moves, finally settled in Bunbury.

After graduating from Bunbury High School, Martin followed his older brother into veterinary science at the University of Sydney. He graduated in 1966 and began veterinary practice in Taree on the NSW coast.

In late 1967, Martin decided to travel to Britain via his native South Africa. Coincidentally, foot and mouth disease broke in the UK and he quickly found himself immersed in the FMD eradication campaign. He returned to Western Australia in 1969, setting up a mixed animal practice at Waroona in the south-west. During this time he met and married his wife Joy.

Martin moved to New Zealand in 1973 to take a position at Massey University lecturing in large animal reproduction and returned to Australia in 1977 to join the South Australian Department of Agri- culture as the Regional Veterinary Officer at Naracoorte in the south-east of the state. He was part of the operational face of the national Brucellosis and Tuberculosis Eradication Program and under his management the Southeast region successfully completed the eradication ahead of time and within budget.

By 1980, Martin had taken a position as a veterinary pathologist in the government veterinary laboratory in South Perth. He found his professional niche in veterinary pathology and when he returned to South Australia in 1984 it was to work as a clinical pathologist, and later Chief Pathologist, in the Institute of Medical and Veterinary Science and then VETLAB, the South Australian government veterinary laboratory, when it split from the IMVS.

In 1994 he joined a private veterinary laboratory in Adelaide and, except for a brief period when he returned to government employment, he continued to provide high-quality clinical pathology ser- vices to South Australia’s veterinary practitioners until his death.

Throughout his career, Martin was an active member of the Australian Veterinary Association. In WA he served as secretary of the state Division and filled many roles in the SA Division, including president in 1995.  He was also president of the SA Hindmarsh Branch for 3 years. Martin regularly attended and enjoyed Small Animal Practitioner Branch and Rural Veterinary Practitioner Branch meetings. He was an invited founding member of both the Epidemiology Chapter and the Cattle Medicine Chapter of the Australian College of Veterinary Scientists.

Martin had an interesting and varied career and always considered himself to be very fortunate in loving his work. Outside of work, his interests were also varied. He was an intervarsity level hockey player, he attained the rank of Major in the Citizen Military Forces and pursued his passion for long-distance motorcycling. More recently he and Joy completed many 4-wheel drive trips into the heart of Australia. He was also a keen technophile and a very early adopter of computers both at home and in the workplace.

He was an intelligent man with deep conviction and dedication. He had ability and a sense of purpose combined with a wonderful sense of humour that made him a pleasure to work with. His strong family values and deep love for his wife and daughters were para- mount and his generosity of spirit embraced all around him. He will be dearly missed.

Martin died unexpectedly, but peacefully, in his sleep on the 5th October. He is survived by his wife Joy, daughters Linda and Lily and his brother John.

Rob Rahaley

doi: 10.1111/avj.12275

2014_ COPLAND, Martin

John Creeper was born and bred in Perth, Western Australia. After attending City Beach Senior High School he went to the Western Australian Institute of Technology (later Curtin University) where he obtained a Diploma in Medical Imaging (Diagnostic Radiology) in 1977 and then gained employment at the Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital as a radiographer.  He then decided that veterinary science would be a better career choice and enrolled in the course at Murdoch University.  He continued working part-time as a radiographer to fund his studies. He graduated with his BVMS in 1984.

In 1985 John did what many new veterinary science graduates in Australia do; he headed off to Britain where he worked in small animal veterinary practices in Blackpool and Clapham before finishing the year off backpacking around mainland Europe. On return to Western Australia in January 1986 he worked in a private mixed veterinary practice.

John started his career with the Department of Agriculture and Food on 5 March 1986 when he was appointed as a temporary veterinary officer at Derby to work in the Commonwealth funded Brucellosis and Tuberculosis Eradication Campaign (BTEC). He obtained a permanent position in the department on 21 May 1990.  He had a couple of short periods as the Officer-in-Charge of the Derby office in 1990 and 1991, and from 1 September 1991 to 31 October 1992 he was the Regional Veterinary Officer for the Kimberley.

It was during his period in the Kimberley that John developed the real talent of being able to communicate clearly, calmly and fairly with people with a diverse range of education and experience. This skill was most needed during his period as the Regional Veterinary Officer when he had responsibility for managing BTEC in the Kimberley during the final year before Impending Freedom from Tuberculosis was to be announced.  During this year John had to negotiate de-stocking activities with various stations, and ensure that all necessary testing was completed on time.  He also managed a budget of $1.07 million dollars, three veterinary officers and 9 technical officers.  He was paid a temporary special allowance because of the recognised extra responsibilities and stresses required during this period.

John's very dry, extremely clever sense of humour was refined to a very high level by his Kimberley experiences, as was his often used laconic form of communication.  It was also in Derby that John met Kim Lynette Wedge, a nurse and the daughter of a Dandaragan farmer, who he married in December 1989.

In November 1992 John transferred to the Animal Health Laboratories (AHL) at South Perth to commence his illustrious career as a veterinary pathologist. He obtained (by examination) Membership of the Australian and New Zealand College of Veterinary Scientists in the Pathobiology Chapter in 1995, the qualification subsequently required by NATA for all veterinary pathologists.  In addition to being the major consistent contributor to the veterinary pathology diagnostic team at the AHL for 22 years, he was seconded to the Department of Fisheries from 2002 to 2007 on a 0.5FTE basis as a fish pathologist.

During his career John worked on a number of research projects, including field evaluation of the CSL gamma interferon TB test, development of management strategies to improve liveweight and welfare of goats during export by sea, a health survey of the pearl oyster beds and farms in Western Australia, Northern Territory and Queensland, investigation into mortalities of cattle shipped live by sea, an abalone health survey and identifying causes of mortality in cattle shipped to the Middle East. He was an author of 21 scientific publications and industry reports.

As a pathologist John was widely known and respected by the veterinary and farming communities in Western Australia.  He was insightful and a lateral thinker, and these traits together with his ability to apply his scientific knowledge and experience in a practical manner led to him being regularly consulted by veterinary colleagues, farmers and members of the general public.  He developed a reputation as an excellent public speaker and became sought after for training courses, conferences and presentations to industry groups.  His talks were always well researched, supported by excellent and appropriate visual aids, and presented in a concise and clear manner.

Appropriate use of his characteristic humour always turned good presentations into excellent ones, and enabled him to always engage the audience no matter what their background.

Within the AHL John was one of the most loved staff members.  He was hugely respected, always reliable and always pleasant.  He handled a large work load extremely competently, and was always prepared to provide help when required.  We will all miss him dearly and he will be extremely hard to replace.

John was a loving and devoted family man and is survived by his wife Kim, daughters Kate and Hannah, and his two sisters Jan and Lesley and their families. Our thoughts are with them at this time.

2014_ CREEPER, John

The staff at Berrimah Veterinary Laboratories (BVL) sadly farewell Dr Anton Janmaat, who passed away May 19, 2018.

Anton immigrated to Australia from Holland at 18 years of age. Having an interest in the rural environment, he obtained work on various farms in Victoria. He was successful in obtaining Veterinary cadetship from the Victorian Department of Agriculture which allowed him to undertake his degree in Veterinary Science.  He completed the first year of his degree at the University at Melbourne then went to University of Sydney to complete his degree.

Following graduation, he worked in the Victorian Department of Agriculture as District Veterinary Officer in Bendigo for several years before entering veterinary practice    at Naracoorte on the Victoria/ South Australia border.  Following some years in practice, he once again heard the calling of academia and returned to Holland to pursue his interest in veterinary pathology.  Anton was appointed to a senior lectureship in veterinary pathology at Utrecht University.

Anton then decided to pursue a more research focussed career which led him to Massey University in New Zealand.  Here he undertook a Masters degree in Veterinary Science which involved research into ceroid lipofuscinosis of sheep. Following the successful completion of his Masters degree, Anton returned to Australia and joined the Australian Quarantine Inspection Service (AQIS) as a Veterinary Officer, based on Cocos Island at the Quarantine Station where he was responsible for running the laboratory and pre-import testing on animals destined to enter Australia.

From AQIS, he again returned to academic studies, commencing a PhD at James Cook University (JCU) in Townsville in the Department of Tropical Veterinary Science, undertaking research into pestiviruses. Anton’s time at JCU instilled in him a deep interest in tropical animal health and production and left him with a commitment to working in tropical areas.  Following the successful completion of his Doctorate, Anton joined the West Australian Department of Agriculture in Kununurra, where he worked on the fat-tailed sheep program.  This program, together with Anton, was subsequently transferred to Wongan Hills in southern Western Australia.

Pursuing his interest in tropical animal health, 15 years ago, Anton joined the BVL team where he remained until his retirement in 2007.  Over his career, Anton made substantial contributions to animal health in Australia and elsewhere.  It is fair to say that nowhere has his contribution been greater than in the Northern Territory. Anton is an accomplished and experienced veterinary pathologist with a sound knowledge of veterinary microbiology and parasitology, who has contributed enormously to our understanding of the diseases affecting animals in the Territory and to protecting the livestock industries from disease. Through his activities and the activities of other staff at BVL, he supported exports of animals and ensured market access for Northern Territory products.  Anton was also been instrumental in working with field staff on many quarantine and disease eradication issues.  Anton encouraged and participated in international collaboration between BVL and animal health laboratories in a number of our neighbouring countries.

Anton was the driving force behind BVL attaining National Association of Testing Authorities accreditation which was a huge achievement for all staff, the Department and the Territory.  Anton, along with other BVL staff, was instrumental in incorporating aquatic animal disease diagnostic capabilities into the overall administrative, technical and scientific fabric of BVL.  Many staff at BVL credit Anton with supporting and advancing their careers, as well as being not only our boss, but our friend.

Anton represented the Northern Territory on the Subcommittee on Animal Health Laboratory Standards for many years and was a long-term member of the Australian Society for Veterinary Pathology.

Anton is survived by his wife, Alison Dickson, and sons Jan and Paul.

 

2018 Anton Janmaat

Vale Philip William Ladds 1939-2018

It is with sadness that I am writing to inform you of the death of Dr Philip W. Ladds AM, a long-standing and highly respected member of our community. Philip was surrounded over the past days by family and friends while in hospital on the Gold Coast. Many of you knew Philip personally, or know of him through his significant contribution to our understanding of wildlife diseases in Australia.

Dr Ladds was a specialist veterinary pathologist with an enduring commitment to, and extensive experience in, the pathology of Australian wildlife that culminated in 2009 with the publication of his remarkable and exhaustive review, Pathology of Australian Native Wildlife, which remains the most comprehensive and authoritative work on the subject. While Dr Ladds returned to the region of his childhood eight years ago – he grew up on a banana farm at West Burleigh, he had a long and diverse career in veterinary science across Australia, a career that spanned decades and, despite suffering from Parkinson’s disease for 18 years, was only finally halted in the last couple of years. His work was defined by excellence and generosity. He was a mentor to many in our field, his approachability and kindness helping to define the culture of our association.

Two important events in 1961 shaped his life: he graduated as a veterinarian from the University of Queensland and met his wife, Jennifer. Dr Ladds was involved in the eradication of contagious bovine pleuropneumonia in Queensland, on which he based his Master’s thesis, and completed his PhD thesis, Sequential Studies of Ovine Listeric Abortion, at Kansas State University, USA, in 1970. He worked in Townsville, Tasmania and Lismore over the years, driven by his passion for veterinary pathology, teaching and research. He was a clinician, a diagnostician, an educator and a researcher. While at James Cook University, as senior lecturer and then associate professor, he became the head of the Post Graduate School of Tropical Veterinary Science’s pathology department from 1993 to 1998 and pioneered research on the diseases of crocodiles and turtles. He was professor of veterinary pathology at Ross University in the West Indies from 1997 to 98. His contribution to the field of veterinary pathology included the publication of over 100 peer-reviewed articles and books, and he played an important role in maintaining the high standard of veterinary pathology in Australia through his involvement with the Australian and New Zealand College of Veterinary Science. Dr Ladds was a life member of the Australian Veterinary Association and a long-standing member of the Australian Society of Veterinary Pathology and the Wildlife Disease Association Australasia. In addition to the many students he directly supervised over his career, he was a mentor to countless others and many early career professionals in whom he inspired the pursuit of excellence.

This year, Dr Ladds was made a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) for his significant service to veterinary science as a clinician, to education as an academic, researcher and author, and to professional associations. On behalf of the Wildlife Disease Association Australasia I pay tribute to the lifelong contribution of Dr Ladds to our association and to the field of wildlife pathology, and I extend our sincere condolences to his wife, Jennifer, and his family and friends.

Andrew Peters

Chair of the Wildlife Disease Association Australasia

Philip William Ladds - obit

Dr Nigel Palmer passed away on April 19th 2019.

Nigel Palmer was on faculty, and carried out PhD studies under KVF Jubb, in the Dept. of Veterinary Paraclinical Sciences at the recently re-established Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Melbourne, from 1965-70. Subsequently he briefly was on faculty in the Department of Pathology, Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph (his alma mater, 1963), then served as a diagnostic Veterinary Pathologist with the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture and Food in Guelph until his retirement.

An outstanding pathologist, Nigel co-edited, with Ken Jubb and Peter Kennedy, the 3rd and 4th editions of "Pathology of Domestic Animals"

On behalf of the membership and committee of the Australian Society for Veterinary Pathology we extend our sympathy to his wife Judy and children Dean and Donna and their families.

Roy was a long-time member of the Tasmanian State Service, starting life in the public service in 1963. His most recent area of work was at the Animal Health Laboratory (AHL) at Mt Pleasant between 2005 and 2016, where he was well respected and very highly regarded in his role as a pathologist.

Roy’s case throughput over his long career was quite incredible, managing over 15,000 submissions from the mid 1990’s, when digitised records started, through to his retirement in Feb 2016, and then factoring another 30-odd years of service prior to that!

This astounding body of work stands as testimony to his strong work ethic and dedication to his profession and it will be a herculean challenge for his case management numbers to ever be surpassed.

Roy’s special interest was avian pathology, and he was very well regarded for his expertise in this area of veterinary science. Clients would deliberately dispatch avian samples to coincide with Roy being on-duty – it was because of this that Roy’s rostered days were affectionately referred to by AHL staff as ‘bird days’.

According to his colleagues, time spent in Specimen Reception with Roy was an educational experience: “He greatly encouraged all staff to understand not just what we do, but why we do it.

“His willingness to explain case histories and how he determined the appropriate testing was of great benefit to all undertaking Spec Rec tasks and in turn enabled us to provide more efficient service to clients.

“From what [we] observed of his interactions with other pathologists, particularly trainees, his willingness to share knowledge was greatly appreciated.

“He had an immeasurable, positive impact on Animal Health and Welfare in Tasmania across the course of his decades long career.”