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384 Australian Veterinary Journal Volume 82, No 7, July 2004

Practising for 26 years in the countrymusic capital, Dr Best has played a keyrole in the post graduate education of

vets and promoting animal welfare within theregional community.

A registered veterinary specialist inanaesthesia and intensive care, he operatesthe ‘A’ class South Tamworth AnimalHospital that has forged an outstandingreputation as a veterinary referral hospital inNSW.

A founding member of AVA’s NewEngland Branch, Dr Best has been activelyinvolved in Branch matters providing clinicalpresentations and organization workshops in anaesthesia,intensive care and ultrasonography to members and their

professional staff. A variety of localcommunity groups continue to use Dr Bestas their keynote speaker.

In 1986, Dr Best in conjunction with theRegional Head of TAFE instigated aVeterinary Nursing Course at TamworthTAFE which has been successfully operatingfor approximately 18 years. Previouslycountry students had to move to Sydney togain this nursing qualification but thanks tothe Tamworth experiment, 60 students arenow enrolled in this course.

Dr Best was recognised 12 years ago byhis peers as ‘Veterinary Practitioner of the

Year’ and is a worthy recipient of Professions Australia’s HighCommendation Award.

Bringing out his BestTamworth veterinary specialist Dr Peter Best was recently awarded a ‘High Commendation’ from Professions Australia.

Dr Hugh Wirth, the nationalPresident of Australia’s RSPCAand passionate Melbourne

veterinarian was elected honorary Presidentof the World Society for the Protection ofAnimals (WSPA) on June 10.

Headquartered in London, theorganization now represents over 460animal welfare organizations in over 114countries. Dr Wirth’s two yearappointment was made at WSPA’sBiennial meeting in London and he is thesecond veterinarian and first southernhemisphere animal welfare representativeto be honoured with the position.

Receiving an Order of Australia (1985)for service to animal welfare, Dr Wirth’soutstanding animal welfare work will nowenjoy the support of 100 WSPA officestaff and field officers supported by animalwelfare societies on every continent.

Dr Wirth has spent the past decadelobbying for WSPA to pursue animalwelfare issues that transcend nationalboundaries and said he was lookingforward to making a difference backed byglobal resources.

“We have projects that help embryonicanimal welfare movements in variousdeveloping countries where there literallyare no animal welfare laws and we haveprojects that go to the heart ofinternational concern,” Dr Wirth said.

“We have a particular focus on whalingwhere Japan and Norway are currentlytrying to overturn the 25 year ban, longdistance transport of animals and we arealso targeting bear cruelty in both Chinaand Pakistan.”

Dr Wirth also cites WSPA’s ‘PetRespect’ program that promotes humanedog control in developing countriesthroughout Asia and the Middle East as anorganisational priority.

“We’ve never overlooked the majoranimal welfare issue in the world and thatis companion animal control,” he said.

“One of the most sickening things I’ve

had to endure as a WSPA board member isthe absolute tragic and widespread way inwhich dog control is implemented in somany nations including casting themdown pits until they die of disease orstarvation.”

“I’m talking about responsible petownership and our programs try toeducate the local people about desexing,nutrition and all those things thatAustralians take for granted.”

WSPA has also provided importantrelief work for animals effected by war andnatural disasters and is developing aUniversal Declaration on the Welfare ofAnimals which it hopes will eventually beapproved by the United Nations.

Inducted as an AVA fellow for animalwelfare in 1979, Dr Wirth said WSPA’splans to have animal welfare taughtworldwide as part of the veterinarycurriculum were well advanced. “Everyveterinary school Dean has been deliveredthe proposed WSPA program withencouraging responses,” he said.

Using technology to his advantage, DrWirth will remain in Melbourne asNational President of the RSPCA anddevoted veterinarian to the furry foottraffic of the Balwyn Veterinary Surgeryclientelle. He intends to pursue his dreamrole as WSPA President while upholdinghis other responsibilities as father of twodogs.

Wirth the wait By Mark Thornley

Dr Peter Best

Dr Hugh Wirth ready to take on the world.Photo: Courtesy RSPCA.