John Holt (veterinarian)
{{short description|Australian veterinarian and sports shooter (1931–2013)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2017}}
{{Use Australian English|date=July 2015}}
{{Infobox sportsperson
| name = John Holt
| birth_name =
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| residence =
| birth_date = {{birth date|1931|3|7|df=yes}}
| birth_place = Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| death_date = {{death date and age|2013|6|24|1931|3|7|df=yes}}
| death_place = Mount Wilson, New South Wales, Australia
| height =
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| country =
| occupation = Veterinarian
| sport = Sports shooting
| event =
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| show-medals = yes
}}
John Holt (7 March 1931 – 24 June 2013) was an Australian veterinarian and sports shooter, who was the president of the World Small Animal Veterinary Association, co-founded its Australian chapter, and represented Australia at the 1960 Rome Olympics.
Biography
Holt was born on 7 March 1931 in Sydney. He graduated with a Bachelor of Veterinary Science from the University of Sydney in 1954 and then worked briefly as a cattle veterinarian and had a short career in the animal industry.{{cite news|url = http://theveterinarian.com.au/?p=1439|title = Remembering John Holt|date = 15 September 2013|work= The Veterinarian|first=Anne|last=Fawcett|access-date = 14 January 2021}}{{cite news|url=https://tributes.smh.com.au/obituaries/49627/john-holt/|title=John HOLT Death Notice|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|date=20 July 2013|access-date=14 January 2021}} In 1959 he purchased St George Animal Hospital, which specialised in treating pets at a time when many vets preferred working with larger animals; his business eventually expanded to six practices around Sydney and produced eight university professors. He cofounded the Small Animal Clinicians Group in 1967, which was later known as the Australian Small Animal Veterinary Association and was eventually merged into the Australian Veterinary Association, and financed and edited its journal, the Australian Veterinary Practitioner.{{cite web|url=https://www.ava.com.au/about-us/ava-groups/small-animal/|title=Small animal|publisher=Australian Veterinary Association|access-date=14 January 2021}} He often travelled to North America to learn about veterinary practices relating to small animals there and was a guest lecturer at institutions including the University of Guelph in Canada and the Washington State University College of Veterinary Medicine.{{cite web|url=http://www.wsava.org/article/loving-memory-passing-great-wsava-veterinarian-john-holt|title=In Loving Memory, the passing of a great WSAVA veterinarian, John Holt|publisher=World Small Animal Veterinary Association|date=11 July 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130726063357/http://www.wsava.org/article/loving-memory-passing-great-wsava-veterinarian-john-holt|archive-date=26 July 2013|first=Jolle|last=Kirpensteijn}} He was the president of the World Small Animal Veterinary Association from 1986 to 1988. He strongly supported the campaign against live animal export.
In sports shooting, he competed in the 300 metre rifle, three positions event at the 1960 Summer Olympics.{{cite web |url=https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/ho/john-holt-1.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200418123126/https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/ho/john-holt-1.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=18 April 2020 |title=John Holt |access-date=1 July 2015 |work=Sports Reference}} His brother Neville represented Australia in shooting at the 1948 London Olympics, and he and John participated together in the 2000 Summer Olympics torch relay.{{cite news|url=http://news.theage.com.au/sport/australias-oldest-olympian-dies-at-95-20080213-1s1r.html |title=Australia's oldest Olympian dies at 95 |work=The Age|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111011124429/http://news.theage.com.au/sport/australias-oldest-olympian-dies-at-95-20080213-1s1r.html|archive-date=11 October 2011|date=13 February 2008 }}
He married Mary, a pharmacist, in 1960. They have both been noted patrons of animal- and biodiversity-related causes (for which Mary received a Medal of the Order of Australia in the 2024 King's Birthday Honours), along with the Australian Brandenburg Orchestra.{{cite news|url=https://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/art-and-design/a-new-orchestra-baby-to-make-mozart-fans-rejoice-20060918-gdoetc.html|title=A new orchestra baby to make Mozart fans rejoice|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|date=18 September 2006|access-date=14 January 2021}}{{cite news|url=https://www.theleader.com.au/story/8657571/mary-holt-awarded-oam-for-conservation-work/|title=Mary Holt awarded OAM for conservation work|work=St George and Sutherland Shire Leader|date=10 June 2024|first=Jennie|last=Curtin|access-date=23 November 2024|url-access=registration}}{{cite web|url=https://honours.pmc.gov.au/honours/awards/3026529|title=Ms Mary Holt, OAM|publisher=Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet|access-date=23 November 2024}} He died aged 82 on 24 June 2013 in the Blue Mountains village of Mount Wilson; he was privately cremated.
Recognition
Holt received the World Small Animal Veterinary Association's Award for Service to the Profession in 1998, a Waltham Award for International Service from the American Academy of Veterinary Nutrition, and honorary memberships in several organisations such as the American Animal Hospital Association.{{cite web|url=https://aavnutrition.org/page-1075377/9084625|title=Congratulations 2020 AAVN Waltham Award and AAVN student blog writing competition winners!|publisher=American Academy of Veterinary Nutrition|date=6 July 2020|access-date=14 January 2021|archive-date=26 January 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210126151847/https://aavnutrition.org/page-1075377/9084625|url-status=dead}} In 1973 he received the Australian Small Animal Veterinary Association's inaugural Practitioner of the Year Award and in 2007 the organisation gave him a special award for Meritorious Service and named its distinguished service award in his honour.
In 2014, the year after his death, Holt's wife Mary established the Dr John Holt Scholarship for Animal Welfare at the University of Sydney School of Veterinary Science in his honour, with an initial $135,000 gift.{{cite news|url=https://www.sydney.edu.au/content/dam/corporate/images/alumni-and-giving/challis-bequest-society-newsletter_2020-edition.pdf|title=Advocates for life|work=Challis Bequest Society News|publisher=University of Sydney|year=2020|access-date=23 November 2024}} In 2021, Holts' long-eared bat (Nyctophilus holtorum) was named in honour of Holt and Mary for their support of Australian biodiversity conservation.{{Cite Q|Q110218497}}
References
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Category:Australian male sport shooters
Category:Australian veterinarians
Category:Olympic shooters for Australia
Category:Shooters at the 1960 Summer Olympics
Category:Sport shooters from Sydney
Category:University of Sydney alumni