VN June 2021

Vetnuus | Junie 2021 24 Dr Victor Arthur Liebmann: 1938/11/22 – 2021 † Dr Johan Krige passed away on 21 April 2021 † Dr Gordon Beverley: 14 March 1937 – 02 Feb 2021 † We honour and remember the contributions made by our colleagues who recently passed away. We honour their contribution to our profession and society in general and pray that their families and loved ones will find the strength to carry them through these times of bereavement. with its headquarters in Nairobi, Kenya. After five years in that position, which involved extensive travel in West, Central and East Africa, and included travelling in convoys stopped by gunfire ahead, taking a shower in Chad under the beady eye of many cockroaches and travelling a narrow precipice-hugging road in Eritrea, as well as less alarming experiences, he reached FAO retirement age. After six further months in Nairobi at the International Livestock Research Institute helping to set up the Global Alliance for Livestock Vaccines, now the Global Alliance for Livestock Veterinary Medicines (GALVmed), he returned to South Africa in 2005. Soon after his return he set up with Prof Mary-Lou Penrith as partner a consulting company, TAD Scientific. He was appointed as Extraordinary Professor in the Department of Veterinary Tropical Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Pretoria and supervised a number of postgraduate students on FMD and related topics. One of Gavin’s greatest talents and pleasures was scientific writing, and he was the author of numerous scientific articles and book chapters. While still at OVI he and a colleague, Prof Koos Coetzer, conceived the idea of a comprehensive book on infectious disease of livestock. At the time many international researchers were reluctant to be associated with anything to do with South Africa, so the first edition was entitled Infectious Diseases of Livestock, with special reference to Southern Africa. With two other editors, they compiled a magnificent two-volume textbook that was published in 1994 and received national and international acclaim through receiving two prizes: the Bill Venter Literary Award for the best academic book published by personnel of a South African University in 1996 and the Malbrant-Feuten Prize of the French Veterinary Academy (Académie Vétérinaire de France) in 1998 for producing a book of international standard. Before leaving South Africa, Gavin had become concerned with the plight of cattle farmers in areas not free from FMD and thus were excluded from higher value markets, and applied his innovative mind to the problem. He realised that both the way in which FMD was managed and the trade standards for beef needed to change. He was still working on the former until shortly before his death. First he focused on how freedom from FMD virus in the beef could be assured regardless of the area of production and came up with the concept of commodity-based trade. The approach resonated with conservationists, who were deeply aware of the negative effects of the veterinary cordon fences used to separate livestock and wildlife were having on wildlife. Working with the AHEAD (Animal Health for the Environment and Development) team of the World Wildlife Foundation, later based at Cornell University, considerable progress has been made, including modification of some of the OIE trade standards, and we are hoping that this legacy of Gavin’s will grow and gain international acceptance to eventually open up better markets for cattle producers in areas that are adjacent to wildlife conservation areas and also reduce the need for veterinary cordon fences. What was this outstanding scientist like otherwise? When I started to work with him, I was told that he was a gentleman and that he did not suffer fools gladly! Both of those things were true, but there was so much more. He was a kind, loyal and inspirational friend, he had a remarkable sense of humour, and he was knowledgeable about many things, including South African history, and was very well read. He was passionate about sport, in his youth a keen and accomplished rugby player, who also ran marathons including the Comrades, cycled, canoed, played squash and loved to watch sport both live and on television. Apart form his true passion for his work, Gavin was a devoted family man, and will be greatly missed by his wife of 48 years, Marguerite, his three daughters, Charlotte, Rowena and Robyn, and his greatest pride and joy, the three grandchildren Sean, Jenny and Ryder. He will also be missed by his many colleagues and friends, in particular those of us who will try to build on the foundations laid by a pioneering spirit who inspired many to do better than they had ever believed possible. Well done, and rest in peace. v Koos Coetzer and Mary-Lou Penrith In Memoriam