A new book is celebrating the life, work and legacy of late University of Queensland veterinarian and lecturer, Dr Reg Pascoe AM.
Reg Pascoe: The Vet They Called God tells the story of how a young man from a poor rural Queensland family became a cornerstone of the Australian horse industry for over 50 years.
It’s author, Australian writer and Reg’s granddaughter Ana “AZ” Pascoe, said her grandfather had not only been a brilliant vet, but an incredible problem solver, researcher, and possessed an endlessly curious mind, all of which made him famous in his profession.
“Reg’s life was defined by his quiet and unyielding belief in service: to animals, to other vets, to his local community,” Ms Pascoe said.
“He seemed to be everywhere and involved with everything, particularly veterinary institutions, to who he provided considerable skills and knowledge.
“In his five-decade long career he became Queensland’s leading equine vet – famous not only within Queensland, or even Australia, but internationally renowned for his brilliance and his dedication.
“His skills ran the gamut of reproduction – invaluable across the Darling Downs, Queensland’s cradle for thoroughbred breeding – surgery, medicine, and dermatology.”
After graduating from UQ’s first full Bachelor of Veterinary Science class in 1951, Reg's career began in the small rural town of Oakey, 30 minutes west of Toowoomba, with a Department of Primary Industries cattle tuberculosis contract.
“It was a steady, low-wage job and as Reg built trust in the local community, his lifelong interest in horses gradually led to an increasing equine client base,” Ms Pascoe said.
“And as his career and expertise expanded, Reg played a fundamental part in fostering professional veterinary organisations and mentoring junior vets in the Australian veterinary profession.
“What stuck with many, many people, was Reg’s composure in the face of disaster and his capacity to connect with a patient couldn’t speak to tell him.
“One horse showed up with head and throat swelling that was slowly killing him, with no clear cause, but Reg and his vets revealed that the owners had recently moved to a property with a large avocado tree – avocados are highly toxic to horses.
“This kind of intuitiveness was just one reason he was referred to as ‘God’ by a whole generation of equine vets.”
Ms Pascoe hopes that Reg’s story will provide inspiration, not only to up-and-coming veterinary students, but for all Australians looking to forge a bright future.
“Despite the challenges that met him during his journey, Reg never allowed himself to be constrained by his fears or the limitations others may have placed upon him,” she said.
“My grandfather’s life is an example of who we might be if we, too, pursue our dreams with fervour and with a genuine desire to serve those around us.”
Reg Pascoe: The Vet They Called God is available through online book retailers, including Amazon and Booktopia.
Media: Faculty of Science Media, science.media@uq.edu.au, +61 (0)438 162 687.
