Woodruff, Harold Addison
HAROLD ADDISON WOODRUFF,
B.Sc. (Melb) M.R.C.V.S., M.R.C.S., L.R.C.P.
Professor H.A. Woodruff, Emeritus Professor of Bacteriology, and formerly Professor of Veterinary Science, and Director of the Bacteriology Department, University of Melbourne, died in Edinburgh on 1st May 1966, in his 89th year.
Professor Woodruff came to Melbourne in 1913 as Professor of Veterinary Science to succeed Dr. J.A. Gilruth who had been appointed as Administrator of the Northern Territory. In 1915, he obtained leave of absence to join the A.I.F., and he served in Egypt and France as a Major in the A.A.V.C. for over two years. Because of doubts regarding the future of veterinary education in Victoria at the time, Professor Woodruff was recalled by the University authorities in 1918 to help with the efforts which were being made to save the school from extinction. For in the next ten years the school lead a financially precarious existence, although during this period the calibre of the graduates in Veterinary Science reached a high level under the guidance of Woodruff.
At the time that the State Government withdrew its support for veterinary teaching in 1928, the position of Director of the Bacteriology Department became vacant with the sudden death of Dr R.J. Bull, and Woodruff was appointed to the position. Eventually a Chair of Bacteriology was established in the Medical School, and Woodruff occupied the position of Professor of Bacteriology until his retirement in 1944.
Professor Woodruff was the President of the Veterinary Association of Victoria from [1913 to 1914 and] 1920 to 1922, and President of the Australian Veterinary Association in 1922-1923. He was a foundation member of both associations, and took a leading part in the early formative years of both bodies.
While he was Professor of Veterinary Science, Woodruff had a marked influence on the undergraduates in Melbourne, most of whom will look back with affection and respect for his interest and concern in their day to day problems.
He was a man of great personal charm, with a deep concern for humanity, and he was for a long time associated with the League of Nations Union, and other bodies striving to reduce human suffering throughout the world.
Our sympathy is extended to his sons, Prof. M.F.A. Woodruff, Professor Surgical Science, University of Edinburgh and Dr P. Woodruff, Director of Public Health, South Australia.
Group portrait of men of 3rd Australian Division Headquarters before the division embarked for France. Back row, left: Maj H A Woodruff, Assistant Director Veterinary Services. November 1916 Image courtesy of Australian War Memorial