John Holt, a member of the Glebe Society and resident of Wigram Rd and Mt Wilson, died peacefully at home on 24 June 2013 aged 82. He is survived by his wife, Mary. As he came to appreciate and enjoy the many elements of this diverse, convenient and appealing suburb, he became a keen and kind supporter of the Society’s Blue Wren Subcommittee.

John was a wonderful person: dignified, respected, caring and with a passion and determination for the things he thought were right. He was an impressive, visionary veterinarian, who developed the St George Animal Hospital, Carlton into a showpiece practice that from the 1960s set the standard for small animal veterinary practice in Australia. He built a group of six practices in Sydney and employed and mentored many veterinarians during the following decades. John and other like-minded practitioners established the Australian Small Animal Veterinary Association and in 1986 he became the President of the World Small Animal Veterinary Association, to this day the only Australian to have held that position.

Outside his professional life John represented Australia in the shooting team at the 1960 Rome Olympics and he and Mary were generous supporters of the Australian Brandenburg Orchestra and the Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Sydney. He was a shy and modest man, who avoided the limelight and was uncomfortable when his achievements were recognised. John will be sadly missed.

William Porges and Andrew Wood