Heslop, George Gordon, LVSc 1911, BVSc 1913, MVSc 1919, DVSc 1921
George Gordon Heslop entered the newly established Veterinary School at the University of Melbourne in the second intake of students and graduated LVSc in 1911 and BVSc in 1913. On graduation he joined the Victorian Department of Agriculture until he enlisted in the 1st AIF, where he was attached to the Army Veterinary Corps. He was the first Australian veterinarian to land at Gallipoli ten days after the main landing on 25 April. He advised that Anzac Cove was unsuitable for landing horses and arrangements were made for them to be put ashore nearby where the British forces had landed. On the battlefield he was seriously injured on the right side of his head by a horse when he was attempting to ligate a bleeding artery caused by a shrapnel wound on the horse’s chest. Despite the injury, which left his sight permanently impaired, he continued to his post until evacuated to Egypt to convalesce. He then served in France with artillery brigades, an ammunition column and in headquarters appointments, until repatriation to Australia after the war in April, 1919. He was discharged with the rank of Major, having been awarded the Distinguished Service Order and Mentioned in Despatches.
While overseas he took the opportunity to further his studies and was awarded the Diploma of Veterinary Hygiene at the University of Liverpool in 1919. On return to Australia he commenced work at the Veterinary Research Institute, with a Walter and Eliza Hall Research Fellowship in Veterinary Science. Here he began the initial studies on the serological diagnosis of contagious pleuropneumonia in cattle and was instrumental in developing a complement fixation test, which, when further developed in later years, culminated in the eradication of this disease from the cattle population in Australia in 1972. For his work he was admitted to the degree of MVSc in 1919 and DVSc in 1921.
Dr Heslop resigned from this position in 1924 and was appointed one of the stipendiary stewards to the Victoria Racing Club. This began an association with racing which extended over the next 50 years. Except for a short period in 1931-32, when he became the stipendiary steward and carried out a number of associated duties for the Rangoon Racing Club. Dr Heslop continued to act in this capacity for the Victoria Racing Club, the Melbourne Racing Club, the Victoria Amateur Turf Club, the Moonee Valley Racing Club and a number of country racing clubs until he resigned in 1946.
In the meantime, he had not severed his connections with the army; he continued to serve part-time in the Australian Militia Forces until the outbreak of the Second World War. He was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel in January 1928 and at various times held the appointment so Deputy Assistant Director, Veterinary Services, 2nd Cavalry Division, and Assistant Director, Veterinary Services, 3rd Division District Base. He finally retired from the army in December 1944.
In 1946 he commenced private practice in Caulfield, and although this was predominantly in small animals his main interest was still racing. He was consultant veterinarian to a number of prominent racing stables and acted as attending veterinarian at all metropolitan race meetings, at Geelong and Werribee Racing Clubs and at those clubs affiliated with the Port Phillip Racing Association, positions he held until he retired in 1974.
He was also on the panel of veterinarians that served the Royal Agricultural Society of Victoria and he served as a member of the Kennel Control Council of Victoria for a number of years, where his particular interest was Pekinese dogs. On a number of occasions he assisted the Animal Welfare League, giving his services voluntarily.
He was active in the Australian Veterinary Association and was involved in the liquidation and disposal of the original Veterinary Association of Victoria and served as foundation President of the reformed Victorian Division when it became a Division of the Australian Veterinary Association in 1942. He published a number of papers, especially on his original research and showed his diverse knowledge with an article published in the first issue of The Australian Veterinary Journal in 1925 – Notes on lead poisoning 1:34-36. His article The duties of veterinary surgeons in relation to racing, Aust. Vet. J. (1935) 11:22-27 contains much that is still valid today.
George Heslop was a kindly man and earned the respect of all he associated with. His vast knowledge and expertise, especially in horses, was widely acknowledged, and his advice was commonly sought in many fields but particularly in racing. His courtesy and willingness to explain difficult technical points, especially to the uninitiated, will be long remembered.
Although still sprightly when he retired from active practice at 87 years of age, his physical health began to deteriorate but he retained an alert and active mind. This distinguished scientist, soldier and sportsman died peacefully on 3 February 1983. To his surviving second wife, Jean, we extend our deepest sympathy.