Robert C Shapcott

Robert C Shapcott
Died	8 November 1992
Nationality	New Zealand
Alma mater	University of Sydney
Known for	one of the pioneering poultry veterinarians in Australia

Rob C. Shapcott was a New Zealander who did the veterinary course at the University of Sydney just after the war, graduating in 1950. He became one of the pioneering poultry veterinarians in Australia.

Career

After club practice in New Zealand he returned to New South Wales to work in poultry and mixed practice with Tom Hungerford at Penrith. Many colleagues benefited from his support and clear sighted diagnostic skill in that large practice. For some years he had his own practice at Mona Vale and then developed a poultry practice in association with Rural Chemical Industries at Glenorie. In 1968 when the poultry industry began to become integrated, he joined Allied Mills as company veterinarian. For two years from 1973 he had his own small animal practice in Parramatta. In 1975 he joined Ingham’s Enterprises with New South Wales responsibilities at first, but eventually became Chief Veterinarian for Inghams, Australia and finally was Ingham’s New South Wales Southern Farming manager.

Retirement

Rob influenced many colleagues, with his genial but determined personality, his excellent clinical skills and his concern for the client, whether farmer, pet owner, service personnel, managers or the leaders of giant enterprises and associations. He left Ingham’s Enterprises on account of his health and retired to Toowoomba with his wife Marilyn to look after their horses. He said he never wanted to see another chicken, but within a few months he was doing consultancy work with the Queensland poultry industry. On his retirement the Australian Veterinary Poultry Association presented him with a special citation because of his contribution to poultry health in Australia. Rob died suddenly on his farm on 8 November 1992. He influenced many of us both personally and professionally.

Sources

Information sourced from an Obituary written by Paul Gilchrist & published in the Australian Veterinary Journal, March 1993.