Jones, William Aeron, LVSc, BVSc 1915
WILLIAM A. JONES, B.V.Sc.
We regret to record the death of one of our senior colleagues, Bill Jones, who passed away on 20 December 1971, a short while after his 81st birthday. He had been in indifferent health for about a year, but his death was unexpected.
Bill was educated at Scotch College, Melbourne, and he graduated in Veterinary Science at the University of Melbourne in 1915. Immediately on completing his course he was commissioned as Captain in the Australian Army Veterinary Corps, his main activity being the acquisition of remounts for the Australian Military Forces. Bill's knowledge of and love for horses made him eminently suited for this role.
On the termination of the War in 1918, he gradually developed a business primarily to supply remounts for the British Army in India. His shrewd business sense, and his ability, not only to select suitable animals, but to deliver them expertly and safely by sea to the Indian Army, laid the foundations for an export business in all kinds of livestock, which he ran successfully until a short while before his death. Among his customers were racehorse owners in Singapore, Hong Kong and other parts of the East, cattle owners in the Philippines, and at one stage he negotiated the sale of numbers of poultry to Ceylon. He took a great deal of pleasure in owning and supervising the training of good show horses, and one of his saddle horses, "Random", took first prize at all the major shows in Australia last year.
Although Bill never actually practised his profession, he took a lively interest in the affairs of the Australian Veterinary Association. He regularly attended annual general meetings throughout Australia, and in 1943 he was elected President of the Victorian Division. He also served on AVA Council between 1943 and 1945.
Bill was a generous man, and many of his colleagues have enjoyed the hospitality so freely given by his wife, Judy, and himself.
We offer our sincerest sympathy to his wife and son, Peter.