Jack Ayerbe Journey of a Vet

The joint meeting of the Hawthorn and Kew Rotary Clubs was treated to a wonderful two part  address by Jack Averbe a well-known veterinarian of over 30 years’ experience.   Introduced by Chairman David Rush we should have been ready for the breadth of his address by the diverse list of achievements and qualifications.

Graduating in Vet science at Melbourne University in 1969 Jack told of his adventures as a young practitioner in Ireland---in his mind it was like Australia of the 1930’s. Recounting "James Herriot” like tales of dealings with the locals of the region near the village Ballina in Eire, Jack quickly had the audience hanging off every word waiting for the humorous punch line.

Jack brought along his own sympathetic (?) audience,- his Mother-in-law. Her support was never needed.  One can imagine that his recent book “To Ballina & Back” on the same subject material would be highly readable and entertaining.

Having been many times touched personally by cancer in his life, Jack spoke passionately of his involvement with experimental drug therapy on elderly dogs as cancer patients.  As a director of the company EcoBiotics harnessing  promising drugs from unique native North Queensland flora we were shown some marvellous before and after shots of dogs with tumours and the dramatic positive effects of one such drug. It had been injected into the tumour and acted to enhance the body’s own immune system to combat it.   Highly encouraging he told of the plans by this company to further develop and test such drugs, ultimately for human application.