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© 2009 The Authors

Australian Veterinary Journal

Volume 87, No 8, August 2009 Journal compilation © 2009 Australian Veterinary Association

of abiotrophy, a hereditary condition has been suggested and anautosomal recessive mode assumed.

3,8

We investigated the occur-rence of similar neurological signs in the siblings of the present case,but none were reported. Veterinarians should consider cerebellarcortical degeneration in koalas showing cerebellar signs, even withonset at an advanced age.

This work was partly supported by a Grant-in-Aid for ScientificResearch from Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS) (no.19580359 and 20580341).

1. Jokinen TS, Rusbridge C, Steffen F et al. Cerebellar cortical abiotrophy inLagotto Romagnolo dogs.

J Small Anim Pract

2007;48:470–473.2. Berry ML, Blas-Machado U. Cerebellar abiotrophy in a miniature schnauzer.

Can Vet J

2003;44:657–659.3. Willoughby K, Kelly DF. Hereditary cerebellar degeneration in three full siblingkittens.

Vet Rec

2002;151:295–298.4. Scott PR, Henshaw CJ, Watt NJ. Cerebellar abiotrophy in a three-month-oldCharollais lamb.

Vet Rec

1994;135:42–43.

5. Blanco A, Moyano R, Vivo J et al. Purkinje cell apoptosis in arabian horseswith cerebellar abiotrophy.

J Vet Med A Physiol Pathol Clin Med

2006;53:286–287.6. Negrin A, Bernardini M, Baumgärtner W, Castagnaro M. Late onset cerebellardegeneration in a middle-aged cat.

J Feline Med Surg

2006;8:424–429.7. Shamir M, Perl S, Sharon L. Late onset of cerebellar abiotrophy in a Siamesecat.

J Small Anim Pract

1999;40:343–345.8. Sandy JR, Slocombe RE, Mitten RW, Jedwab D. Cerebellar abiotrophy in afamily of Border Collie dogs.

Vet Pathol

2002;39:736–738.9. Kemp J, McOrist S, Jeffrey M. Cerebellar abiotrophy in Holstein Friesian calves.

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1995;136:198.10. Johnstone AC, Johnson CB, Malcolm KE, Jolly RD. Cerebellar corticalabiotrophy in Wiltshire sheep.

NZ Vet J

2005;53:242–245.11. Summers BA. Cerebellar cortical abiotrophy. In: Summers BA, editor.

Veterinary neuropathology

. Mosby, St Louis, 1995:301–305.12. Milne EM, Schock A. Cerebellar abiotrophy in a pedigree Charollais sheepflock.

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1998;143:224–225.13. Barone G, Foureman P, de Lahunta A. Adult-onset cerebellar corticalabiotrophy and retinal degeneration in a domestic shorthair cat.

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2002;38:51–54.14. Mitchell PJ, Reilly W, Harper PA, McCaughan CJ. Cerebellar abiotrophy inAngus cattle.

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1993;70:67–68.

(Accepted for publication 18 January 2009)

Acknowledgment

References

Blackwell Publishing Asia

OBITUARY

Leslie Raymond Grono

1925–2009

L

eslie Grono was born in Concord, Sydney on19 January 1925, the son of a butcher. Afterschool at Homebush and Fort Street High

(in the same class as Neville Wran), Les enteredthe University of Sydney Veterinary School. Hegraduated in 1948 and spent 1949 as a registrarin veterinary surgery. Attracted by a TB testingcontract, Les moved to Woodford in south-eastQueensland where he lived and worked from ahotel for 18 months before buying a house andmoving to Clontarf on the Redcliffe peninsular.While at Woodford, Les had started a practice,which he established at Redcliffe after the moveto Clontarf. Ten years later, he joined the University of QueenslandVeterinary School as a Lecturer in the Department of VeterinaryClinical Studies in 1960.

In 1965, Les was promoted to Senior Lecturer and in 1967 completeda PhD on otitis externa in the dog. With an interest in biomechanics,he went to the University of Surrey in 1968 and completed a MScin that subject and returned to the University of Queensland. He waspromoted to Reader in 1971 and became a member of the AustralianCollege of Veterinary Scientists in the same year. With the establish-ment of the Department of Veterinary Surgery in 1978, Les wasthe senior staff member under the Professor, and became Head ofDepartment in 1984 when Professor Rex became Dean of the Faculty.

An outwardly mild, reserved manner hid a devilishsense of humour. He enjoyed social functionsand as befits an ex-country veterinarian, he waskeenly interested in cars and their performance.Who else would demonstrate the prowess ofhis Volvo by driving it down the steep steps bythe kennels, or the cornering ability of his Mercaround the University perimeter road before theintroduction of speed bumps: an event witnessedfrom his college window by a fourth year studentwho saw the car traveling fast, at least 2 metresabove the road and upside down. Both eventsfollowed student functions. Les resigned in 1985,

along with two other long-time staff members, George Osborneand Charlie Prescott.

He had an uncanny instinct and taste for property and acquireda number of farms over the years from Dayboro to Tamborine toFlaxton and Cooroy to which he travelled for 10 years and wherehe held at least one memorable party for staff members. Les spenthis last few years overlooking Moreton Bay at Cleveland. He issurvived by his wife Joan and three children.

John Thornton and Alan Frost

doi: 10.1111/j.1751-0813.2009.00467.x

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