OBITUARY
John Michael Bourke AM egarded as the ’Founding Father’ of Equine Veterinarians Australia (EVA), John Michael Bourke BVSc (Hons) FAVA MANZCVSc, EVA’s inaugural President, died in Melbourne on 27 February 2015.
R
At the AVA Conference in Canberra in May 1971, together with eminent equine veterinarians of the time, John spoke of the imperative that veterinarians working in the equine field had their own special interest group within the professional association to further their professional development and to act as an advocate for the profession on important issues. This was the first formal meeting of the Australian Equine Veterinarians Association (now EVA) and just one of the brilliant milestones in this veterinarian’s amazing life.
OBITUARY
1932-2015 Continuously a member of AVA’s Victorian Division’s Committee from 1958 to 1972, he was Secretary on two occasions and the President in 1970–71. John was the Honorary Secretary to the Organising Committee of AVA’s 1962 and 1967 Annual Conferences. As the Honorary Assistant Secretary to the Council of AVA from 1967 to 1969, and as the Honorary Secretary and Convenor to AVA’s Standing Committee on Administration from 1972 to 1976, he was a willing, hardworking and astute volunteer, contributor and leader. In December 1975, the AVA presented John with its highest order of membership, a Fellowship. The honour of an AVA Fellowship is limited in number and reserved for “the Great and the Good.”
John was responsible for important innovations that benefited the racing industry and John was born at South Yarra, Melbourne, on the veterinary profession. John developed 15 March 1932. At the completion of secondary standards for the veterinary judgements that schooling as a boarder at St Patricks College, Source: Alan Lambert are required in racing and was a source of adBallarat, Victoria, John matriculated to the Univice on veterinary procedures at racecourses. John was active in setversity of Melbourne to study veterinary science. As the University ting the standards for the use of drugs in racing and advised the of Melbourne taught only the first year in veterinary science, with Conference of Principal Racing Clubs on the subject. The Conference the latter years of the degree being completed at either Sydney or was the precursor to the Australian Racing Board. A constant seeker of Brisbane, John completed his Bachelor of Veterinary Science degree the truth, John was passionate about new veterinary science and with honours at the University of Queensland. pushed the VRC to establish the Equine Research Fund, which has Returning to Victoria after graduation in December 1954, John started now contributed hundreds of thousands of dollars to research on his professional career with the Victorian Government’s Department the equine athlete at the centre of the sport of racing. John Bourke of Agriculture as a Government Veterinary Officer at the Wodonga was an authoritative scientific author, with many papers to his name, office in 1955. He worked for 3 years with the Department, prior to predominantly on the subject of medication control, injuries and moving to Melbourne and joining private industry in 1958. John’s wastage in Thoroughbred racing. He was often invited to speak at move was to take up the role of Veterinary Research Officer and later, conferences both in Australia and abroad. a Technical Service Officer, with The Nicholas Institute. In the 1940s, 50s and 60s, Nicholas Pty Ltd was a leading Australian pharmaceutical In 1985, John was elected Chairman of the newly formed International company, with great innovations to their name. The positions that Group Specialist Racing Veterinarians. This was a great international John successfully held at the company were prestigious and highly honour and one that helped carry the authority and expertise of Aussought after. John continued to be an active member and contributor tralian veterinary science in racing to the world. The Commonwealth Government announced John as a Member of the Order of Australia to the AVA’s Victorian Division during this period. in the Queen’s Birthday Honours in June 1999, for Service to Equine Coming from a family who owned a racecourse, racing was never Veterinary Science and to Horseracing. John was a generous mentor far from John’s interests and when the Victoria Racing Club (VRC) to numerous equine veterinarians, many of whom have gone on to beadvertised in 1963 for a ’Stipendiary Steward (Veterinary)’, John come presidents of EVA themselves as they followed in his footsteps. immediately applied because the role encapsulated all that was dear to him. The role of Veterinary Stipendiary Steward at a race John Michael Bourke AM is survived by his children Rosemary, Katherine, Margaret, Jane and Claire and grandchildren Sam, Molly, club was a first in the world of racing, not just in Australia. Iggy, Hughie, Mia, Lizzie and Sid to whom he was affectionately John was very successful at the VRC and over the next 34 years, he was known and loved as ’Jacko’. able to grow the role considerably in its scope and authority. A tireless worker, John attended every metropolitan race meeting in Melbourne J Wilkinson and earned enormous respect from trainers, jockeys, his employers and professional peers. doi:10.1111/avj.12322 Australian Veterinary Journal Volume 93, No 5, May 2015
© 2015 Australian Veterinary Association
151
John Michael Bourke AM egarded as the ’Founding Father’ of Equine Veterinarians Australia (EVA), John Michael Bourke BVSc (Hons) FAVA MANZCVSc, EVA’s inaugural President, died in Melbourne on 27 February 2015.
R
At the AVA Conference in Canberra in May 1971, together with eminent equine veterinarians of the time, John spoke of the imperative that veterinarians working in the equine field had their own special interest group within the professional association to further their professional development and to act as an advocate for the profession on important issues. This was the first formal meeting of the Australian Equine Veterinarians Association (now EVA) and just one of the brilliant milestones in this veterinarian’s amazing life.
OBITUARY
1932-2015 Continuously a member of AVA’s Victorian Division’s Committee from 1958 to 1972, he was Secretary on two occasions and the President in 1970–71. John was the Honorary Secretary to the Organising Committee of AVA’s 1962 and 1967 Annual Conferences. As the Honorary Assistant Secretary to the Council of AVA from 1967 to 1969, and as the Honorary Secretary and Convenor to AVA’s Standing Committee on Administration from 1972 to 1976, he was a willing, hardworking and astute volunteer, contributor and leader. In December 1975, the AVA presented John with its highest order of membership, a Fellowship. The honour of an AVA Fellowship is limited in number and reserved for “the Great and the Good.”
John was responsible for important innovations that benefited the racing industry and John was born at South Yarra, Melbourne, on the veterinary profession. John developed 15 March 1932. At the completion of secondary standards for the veterinary judgements that schooling as a boarder at St Patricks College, Source: Alan Lambert are required in racing and was a source of adBallarat, Victoria, John matriculated to the Univice on veterinary procedures at racecourses. John was active in setversity of Melbourne to study veterinary science. As the University ting the standards for the use of drugs in racing and advised the of Melbourne taught only the first year in veterinary science, with Conference of Principal Racing Clubs on the subject. The Conference the latter years of the degree being completed at either Sydney or was the precursor to the Australian Racing Board. A constant seeker of Brisbane, John completed his Bachelor of Veterinary Science degree the truth, John was passionate about new veterinary science and with honours at the University of Queensland. pushed the VRC to establish the Equine Research Fund, which has Returning to Victoria after graduation in December 1954, John started now contributed hundreds of thousands of dollars to research on his professional career with the Victorian Government’s Department the equine athlete at the centre of the sport of racing. John Bourke of Agriculture as a Government Veterinary Officer at the Wodonga was an authoritative scientific author, with many papers to his name, office in 1955. He worked for 3 years with the Department, prior to predominantly on the subject of medication control, injuries and moving to Melbourne and joining private industry in 1958. John’s wastage in Thoroughbred racing. He was often invited to speak at move was to take up the role of Veterinary Research Officer and later, conferences both in Australia and abroad. a Technical Service Officer, with The Nicholas Institute. In the 1940s, 50s and 60s, Nicholas Pty Ltd was a leading Australian pharmaceutical In 1985, John was elected Chairman of the newly formed International company, with great innovations to their name. The positions that Group Specialist Racing Veterinarians. This was a great international John successfully held at the company were prestigious and highly honour and one that helped carry the authority and expertise of Aussought after. John continued to be an active member and contributor tralian veterinary science in racing to the world. The Commonwealth Government announced John as a Member of the Order of Australia to the AVA’s Victorian Division during this period. in the Queen’s Birthday Honours in June 1999, for Service to Equine Coming from a family who owned a racecourse, racing was never Veterinary Science and to Horseracing. John was a generous mentor far from John’s interests and when the Victoria Racing Club (VRC) to numerous equine veterinarians, many of whom have gone on to beadvertised in 1963 for a ’Stipendiary Steward (Veterinary)’, John come presidents of EVA themselves as they followed in his footsteps. immediately applied because the role encapsulated all that was dear to him. The role of Veterinary Stipendiary Steward at a race John Michael Bourke AM is survived by his children Rosemary, Katherine, Margaret, Jane and Claire and grandchildren Sam, Molly, club was a first in the world of racing, not just in Australia. Iggy, Hughie, Mia, Lizzie and Sid to whom he was affectionately John was very successful at the VRC and over the next 34 years, he was known and loved as ’Jacko’. able to grow the role considerably in its scope and authority. A tireless worker, John attended every metropolitan race meeting in Melbourne J Wilkinson and earned enormous respect from trainers, jockeys, his employers and professional peers. doi:10.1111/avj.12322 Australian Veterinary Journal Volume 93, No 5, May 2015
© 2015 Australian Veterinary Association
151
