Scientific

OBITUARY
Arthur William (Bill) Hudleston

B ill Hudleston died on 17 June 2002 aged 88 years. Born in

Perth on 29 January 1914 he was educated at Guildford
Grammar School and after a brief period as a jackeroo on
Marron station in northern Western Australia gained a diploma
in agriculture from Muresk Agricultural College. He then
attended Sydney University graduating with a Bachelor of
Veterinary Science degree in 1939. Bill joined the Department
of Agriculture, Western Australia in 1940 and enlisted in the
Australian Army Veterinary Corps in 1942 after assisting with
the eradication of the extensive outbreak of swine fever. He
married Cynthia Clarke in 1942. Over the next few years, tasks
included purchasing horses from the north west of Western
Australia for the Light Horse Brigade.
In 1945 Bill Hudleston resigned from the Department of
Agriculture to commence a long period as a veterinary practi-
tioner in the Perth metropolitan area. Initially he operated a
clinic from his Mt Lawley home and then in 1953 purchased an
equine and small animal practice from Leo Mahaffey. This
Ascot based practice rapidly expanded and by 1965 employed
seven veterinarians, two of whom (Bill Bellinge and Ron Peet)
were partners, operating from branch clinics in Midland,
Armadale and Bedford.
Throughout his professional life Bill was a committed and valu-
able supporter of the Australian Veterinary Association. He
joined the AVA in 1940 when there were only twelve members
registered in WA. He was elected President of the WA Division
in 1948 and again from 1958 - 1960. In 1972/3 he was the first
Western Australian to be National President of the AVA. In
1976 he was awarded a Fellow of the AVA and an MBE for
outstanding services to the veterinary profession and horse
racing.
Bill Hudleston was the on-course veterinarian at the West
Australian Turf Club for more than 30 years and was elected to
the Veterinary Surgeon’s Board of WA from 1960 – 1982,
serving as Chairman from 1968 – 1980. He was also the inau-
gural Chairman of the Practitioner’s Branch of the WA Division
of the AVA.
The painting by Chris Meinema of Bill Hudleston was presented
by Westralian Drug Holdings Ltd on 13 February 1982 and hangs
in AVA House Perth.
Bill was revered by his colleagues in the veterinary profession.
His good humour, calm disposition and wise counsel were
legendary. He was a strong advocate of the live sheep trade as
demonstrated by his presidential address in 1973 (Aust Vet J
1973;49:486-871) and was renowned in the industry for his
speed and efficiency in vaccinating huge numbers of animals for
anthrax protection. He was aptly described by his ex partner
Ron Peet as a wonderful veterinarian with a great sense of duty
and love of a small drop of whiskey at the end of a long day!
When the WA Division of the Australian Veterinary Association
obtained its own premises, Westralian Drug Holdings Ltd
commissioned a painting of Bill and the animals he so loved
and this now occupies pride of place in the Boardroom.
Bill officially retired from practice in 1974 and moved to a
farming property in the Brookton area of WA which he had
purchased in the 1950s. He enjoyed the country environment
until poor health forced a return to the metropolitan area
although his last 5 years were spent in a nursing home at
Brookton. His wife and great supporter Cynthia passed away in
September 2000. They are survived by four children, nine
grandchildren and one great grandchild. Sincere sympathy is
extended to the Hudleston family.
MEN, HMJ

The role of veterinary practitioners in reducing dog and cat relinquishment and euthanasia
he purpose of this report is to identify specific activities and programs that veterinary practitioners can adopt to strengthen the human-
T animal bond in order to reduce the millions of unwanted urban animals destroyed annually.
Although this is the result of investigation in the USA, there are strong parallels with the Australian situation.
The authors show that kittens make up the majority of cats euthanased. In dogs the largest group surrendered was from 6 to 24 months
of age. The reasons for this species difference are discussed.
The factors associated with relinquishment are examined in detail and cover undesirable behaviour such as inappropriate elimination,
aggression, destructiveness, disobedience and escaping. Compounding factors discussed include the animal’s age, household income,
length of ownership and degree of attachment to the pet.
It is shown that the frequency of surrender decreases if veterinarians are involved with the animal, particularly if the initial consultation
is used to effect before difficulties arise, and owners are given advice that corrects husbandry ignorance and fallacious folk-lore.
It is argued that a more proactive involvement of the veterinarian in addressing these issues will not only lessen the wastage but coin-
cidentally increase the veterinarian’s income.
Acknowledging that overpopulation is not the sole cause of the problem, the authors urge that neutering programs are encouraged and
that practitioners play an active part to lessen this significant urban issue.
Janet M et al. J Am Vet Med Assoc 2002;220:306-311.

642 Aust Vet J Vol 80, No 10, October 2002