Hugh Wirth

Hugh John Wirth AM[2] (9 September 1939 – 5 February 2018) was an Australian veterinarian and animal welfare advocate in Victoria, Australia. In March 2011 he celebrated 30 years as the resident vet on 774 ABC Melbourne.[3]

Hugh Wirth

AM
Born(1939-09-09)9 September 1939
Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Died5 February 2018(2018-02-05) (aged 78)[1]
NationalityAustralian
EducationXavier College
Alma materUniversity of Queensland
OccupationVeterinarian
Employer
Known for
  • Animal welfare advocate;
  • Resident veterinarian for 30 years on 774 ABC Melbourne radio
AwardsGeorge T Angell Humanitarian Award from the Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (1988)

Education and employment

Wirth attended Xavier College in Melbourne from 1949 to 1957. He graduated from the University of Queensland with a degree in veterinary science.[2]

Wirth commenced work as an associate veterinary practitioner at Drouin veterinary surgery, from 1964 to 1965. After this he was employed as associate veterinary practitioner, Balwyn Veterinary Surgery, from 1965 to 1966. Wirth took over the Balwyn practice in January 1967 after the veterinarian went into hospital for an eye operation and never returned to the practice to work. He was the principal in the practice from January 1967 to his retirement in August 2006.[2]

Animal welfare advocacy

Wirth joined the RSPCA as a junior member in 1948, trained in veterinary science and practised as a veterinarian for 47 years, and became one of Australia's best known and outspoken animal welfare advocates.[4] He had now been a council member for RSPCA Victoria from 1969, and President from 1972.

He was the first non-European to hold the position as president of the World Society for the Protection of Animals (now known as World Animal Protection).

On the live export trade Wirth was a staunch opponent arguing "that the animal is killed in an Australian abattoir. Subject to head-only stunning so that it meets the Koran's demands."[5] Similarly, Wirth opposed duck hunting calling it cruel and unnecessary and no longer an acceptable cultural practice for Victorians.[6] In March 2011 Wirth said that RSPCA Australia would investigate all reports of animal cruelty resulting from the Eden Park Kangaroo Cull and also said herding of kangaroos, which has been reported as part of the kangaroo cull, was in breach of a Victorian kangaroo management plan compiled by the DSE and approved by the RSPCA years ago.[7]

Honours

Wirth was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) on 10 June 1985 "for service in the field of animal welfare particularly with the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA)".[8]

In 1988, Wirth was the first Australian to receive the George T. Angell Humanitarian Award from the Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (MSPCA).

Wirth was named Victorian of the Year in 1997.[9]

Published works
  • Wirth, Hugh (1995). Living with Dogs: A Commonsense Guide. HarperCollins. ISBN 978-0-7333-2888-6.
  • Wirth, Hugh (1997). Living With Cats: A Commonsense Guide. HarperCollins. ISBN 978-0-7333-2889-3.
  • Wirth, Hugh; Crawford, Anne (2012). Doctor Hugh: My life with animals. Sydney, Australia: Allen & Unwin. ISBN 978-1-7433-1104-2.

References
  1. "'One of a kind' former RSPCA Victoria president Hugh Wirth dies". ABC News. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 5 February 2018. Retrieved 6 February 2018.
  2. Australia Day, Australia Day Ambassador Hugh Wirth, Australia Day website, Accessed 18 September 2011
  3. Saturday with Hilary Harper, 30 years of answering your pet calls on ABC Radio, Australian Broadcasting Corporation, 774 ABC Melbourne, 5 March 2011. Accessed 18 September 2011.
  4. Guestroom - Dr Hugh Wirth, Australian Broadcasting Corporation, 105.7 ABC Darwin, 10 February 2011. Accessed 18 September 2011.
  5. "Talking for the animals". The Age. 13 June 2011. Retrieved 18 September 2011.
  6. Wirth, Hugh (20 March 2011). "Expect a massacre: Dr Hugh Wirth". Sunday Herald. Retrieved 18 September 2011.
  7. Cheryl Balfour, RSPCA on watch for Eden Park roo cull cruelty Archived 27 April 2011 at the Wayback Machine, Whittlesea Leader, 15 March 2011. Accessed 17 September 2011.
  8. "Hugh Wirth", It's an Honour website. Accessed 18 September 2011.
  9. "Victoria Day Awards" Archived 28 March 2018 at the Wayback Machine, Victoria Day website. Accessed 18 September 2011.
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