Vetnuus | August 2025 39 Dr Paul Bartels Dr Clive Peter Marwick We honour and remember the contribution 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 this time of bereavement. Bruce Harold Fivaz : 1946 - 2025 Bruce was born in, the then, Salisbury, Rhodesia, to parents Harold Fivaz (1916-1999) and Ethel nee Chimowitz (1921-1996) and he had two sisters, Sue (now Kennedy) and Debbie (now Hay). He attended Avondale Junior School and Churchill Boys High, and after A Levels in 1964, proceeded to the University of Natal in Pietermaritzburg before being accepted for the BVSc degree at Onderstepoort from 1966-1969. Following graduation, he served as Government Veterinary Officer at Rusape, where he was highly regarded by the farming community, before moving to the Diagnostics Section of the Central Veterinary Laboratory in (then) Salisbury, followed by a spell in private practice with Crispian Trace in Highlands. He was awarded a Master of Science degree by the University of Birmingham (UK) in 1979 and a Doctorate in Philosophy by the Faculty of Science, University of Zimbabwe in 1985. In 1983, Bruce moved to a small animal private practice with Lawson Cairns in Hillcrest in Natal, South Africa and in 1988, he joined the Tick Research Unit at Rhodes University in Grahamstown, where he became Head and Professor until 1993. His research focus was on the host resistance to ticks in ruminants and immunological responses to ticks, but included the first report of Lyme Disease in South Africa. His tick research culminated in his senior authorship of the book “Tick Vector Biology: Medical and Veterinary Aspects”, 193 pages and published in 1992. His research was recognised by the conferral of the SAVA’s Research Award in 1992. He published 37 scientific articles, of which 28 were in peer-reviewed, accredited journals. Bruce Fivaz was a multi-talented man who could turn his hand successfully to many endeavours – private practice, companion animals, livestock, wildlife, diagnostics, research and pharmaceuticals. He set up an ostrich farming venture on the Dawson family farm and was the consultant vet for the Malilangwe Conservancy, where he was also involved in breeding buffalo. He was appointed as Veterinary Consultant to Pfizer in Zimbabwe to advise on the company’s products and their use, and later consulted for a veterinary product supply company, Fivet. Bruce was also an avid sportsman, playing rugby for the Onderstepoort team in the UP Hostel League, and later participated in long-distance running events, including two Comrades Marathons. Long-distance cycling was his favourite sport, and he took part in numerous cycling events like the Cape Argus. The most epic of these marathons was cycling from Harare to Cape Town to raise funds for destitute pensioners in Zimbabwe. He was always quick to help those in need, and many attest to his kindness, generosity and consideration towards others. Bruce was the devoted husband of Jane Dawson, whom he married in Rhodesia in 1975. They had two daughters, Nicola, ‘Nikki’ (now Crouch), and Angela, ‘Ang’ (now Dales). Bruce was always very supportive of his family and proud of his daughters’ progress through life. He will be sadly missed but fondly remembered by those who knew him and whose lives he touched. The veterinary profession salutes our colleague and friend for his many contributions over the years. v Gareth Bath Photo: Facebook Mdala Trust
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