17. Kerkmann A, Kuiper H, Ganter M, Distl O. Review of literature and results fromtest matings of East Friesian milk sheep affected with brachygnathia inferior. BerlMunch Tierarztl Wochenschr 2008;121:292–305.18. Ediger RD, Warnick CL, Hong CC. Malocclusion of the premolar and molarteeth in the guinea pig. Lab Anim Sci 1975;25:760–762.19. Hoodfar E, Teebi AS. Genetic referrals of Middle Eastern origin in a westerncity: inbreeding and disease profile. J Med Genet 1996;33:212–215.20. Steffen D. Reporting abnormal calves is an opportunity for proactive breed-ers. Angus journal. American Angus Association, 2008:33.21. Windsor PA, Agerholm JS. Inherited diseases of Australian Holstein-Friesiancattle. Aust Vet J 2009;87:193–199.

22. Tammen I, Houweling PJ, Frugier T et al. A missense mutation (c.184C>T) inovine CLN6 causes neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis in Merino sheep whereasaffected South Hampshire sheep have reduced levels of CLN6 mRNA. BiochimBiophys Acta 2006;1762:898–905.23. Becker D, Tetens J, Brunner A et al. Microphthalmia in Texel sheep is associ-ated with a missense mutation in the paired-like homeodomain 3 (PITX3) gene.PLoS One 2010;5:e8689.

(Accepted for publication 24 November 2010)

OBITUARY

Robert Edward Johnston

1941–2010avj_798 259..264

R obert (Bob) Edward Johnston BVSc FACVScwas a quiet, reserved man with a simpleapproach to his work: “Do it now and do it

well.” This philosophy caused him to drive and flymany thousands of kilometres, in all sorts ofweather and conditions, to administer his veteri-nary expertise throughout Australia, New Guineaand neighbouring islands. Nowhere was too far ortoo difficult. His grateful clients always knew onephone call was enough to get rapid, expert service.He was equally sought after and appreciated asconsultant, advisor and specialist veterinary practi-tioner by major pig and poultry organisations.

Robert Edward Johnston was born in December1941 and grew up in Strathfield. His sister, Dianne,also became a veterinary surgeon. He attendedSydney University and graduated Bachelor of Vet-erinary Science in 1966, beginning his veterinarycareer with the NSW Department of Agriculture in Sydney. He was amajor contributor to the pullorum disease eradication programfrom poultry breeding flocks throughout NSW in the late 1960sbefore he joined with Rob Shapcott in private practice in the rapidlydeveloping pig and poultry industries. In 1971 he became SeniorVeterinarian at Allied Feeds at Rhodes, where he set up AlliedAnimal Health as a service to feedmill clients, as well as animalhealth controller of the company’s large piggeries at Parkville andTamworth in NSW, and Glengallen in Queensland and the Checker-board Poultry Farms. He became a Pig Medicine Specialist, a Fellowof the Australian College of Veterinary Scientists, and was registeredas such in both Australia and New Zealand, which led to his role asExaminer for the Australian College of Veterinary Scientists in PigMedicine and Management.

Allied Feeds incorporated more mills, which increased the scope ofBob’s work, and eventually emerged as Ridley Corporation. Bobretired in 1996 to continue work as an independent veterinary con-sultant, taking over the support and infrastructure of Allied Animal

Health and continuing to develop it, which led tothe establishment of Allied Biotechnology andAllied Diagnostics, a further extension of the spe-cialised veterinary treatment Bob was able to give.In September 2000, a branch of Allied AnimalHealth was launched in Queensland. In 1990 hewas enlisted as a veterinary expert in a delegationto Singapore, UK Canada, USA and NZ to investi-gate the likely ramifications of the proposedimport, into Australia, of pig meat. In 1992 he wasthe representative of the National Farmers Federa-tion on the Board of Management of the CSIROAustralian Animal Health Laboratory at Geelong,Victoria.

Bob was Secretary of the Australian VeterinaryPoultry Association from 1968 to 1971 and Presi-dent from 1974 to 1975. He remained a valuablemember and scientific contributor to that and

many other poultry groups throughout his life. He took great pridein the fact that he was the honorary Poultry Vet for the Royal Agri-cultural Society for 34 consecutive years.

Besides work, Bob loved to go sailing, power boating and fishingwith his son. He was a keen stamp, coin and watch collector andphotographer. He liked to travel with his wife, Kay, and they wentoverseas several times, although Kay sometimes felt the holidaydeveloped into a fact-finding mission for Bob. He was an excellentcook and his greatest pleasure, in later life, was to prepare a barbe-cue for his family, especially after Kay died. Bob died in April 2010after a protracted illness. His contribution to the animal industrywill be long remembered, but the greatest loss will be felt by hisloving family, son Mark and wife, Karen, and grandchildren, Oliviaand Felicity, and daughter, Dale and husband Jason.

Anthony Carey, John Doyle and Clive Jackson

doi: 10.1111/j.1751-0813.2011.00798.x

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© 2011 The AuthorsAustralian Veterinary Journal © 2011 Australian Veterinary Association Australian Veterinary Journal Volume 89, No 7, July 2011 259