Obituary: Frazer J Allan

OBITUARY

FRAZER JAMES ALLAN (1966-2021)

We first became familiar with Frazer when he entered 4th year of the Massey BVSc course. Here was an enthusiastic and organized student with clear goals, who not only wanted to learn and achieve but also to enjoy student life and all that the University had to offer. His Territorial Army training created the organized approach to clinical problems and making diagnoses, that he developed. He was clever and I was pleased that on graduation he chose small animal medicine as a discipline when many of his contemporaries went to large animal practice. Frazer had some time in small animal practice in Hamilton before he returned to Massey to undertake residency training in internal medicine with both of us as supervisors. What a great time that was! As expected he applied himself to the program, worked hard, was fun to work with, accepted the challenges, solved the medical puzzles with application and study and even survived the ‘set ups‘ that we thought would test him. The research study component of his program validated the use of BIPS for the diagnosis of gastrointestinal diseases in dogs and cats, his first taste of clinical research which led to his Master of Veterinary Medicine degree. In addition, he became a member of the Australian and New Zealand College of Veterinary Scientists in canine medicine. The expectation was that he would complete his specialist diploma examinations, but his decision was to undertake a PhD program with Keith Thompson, after many earnest discussions about this decision, and its wisdom. Complete the PhD he did, on aspects of lipoprotein metabolism related to diet in pigs but having completed the bench research he decided to leave Massey to work at The Pet Practice in Hamilton. He wrote up his PhD and submitted whilst working as a medicine clinician at the practice, on time and to plan. After three years at The Pet Practice, he returned to academia to become director of the Massey University Veterinary Teaching Hospital, the beginning of his administrative career. We were not sure how Rebecca and Frazer’s children might cope with the frequent moves and Frazer’s changes of plan but I am sure they knew what was best for their family at the time. It was with great skill that Frazer ran the Massey University Veterinary Hospital and Clinics. He made the hospital a financial success and established a structure that was nurturing for both academic and support staff. Frazer undertook a Diploma in Business Administration (with distinction) and with that management training he was able to apply business principles to the academic environment. He retained the goodwill of veterinarians and clients as well as creating a productive workplace for staff. His managerial and administrative experience and abilities became clear, and his non-confrontational style of management was accepted by all staff. Importantly, all staff were confident that what he said was true, without hidden agendas. He was respected by colleagues for his leadership and management skills. When Grant Guilford left Massey for University of Auckland Frazer became Head of School for the Institute of Veterinary and Biological Sciences(IVABS), a role in which he showed continued leadership and managerial skills. He was a passionate leader, while retaining a friendly, cheerful countenance with a broad smile that everyone remembers. He was a team player and wanted all sectors of IVABS to advance, to be productive and to work together. He looked after students, attended all their functions, listened to their concerns, and acted when required to do so. He supervised the curriculum review and the reaccreditation process for the AVMA visitation that was completed successfully. Overall, Frazer was an inspiring academic leader for IVABS. Whilst Frazer’s academic career was advancing, he did not forget that he was part of the wider community. He supported his children with time on the management board of the Massey Childcare Center, on the Parent Teachers Association of Tiritea school, as a coach of schoolboy cricket and as treasurer of the United Cricket Club. For the veterinary profession he served on the NZVA Board for some time and played a key role behind the scenes for the organization of the WSAVA congress held in Auckland in 2014. His work with NZVA and the profession was acknowledged in 2017 with the NZVA President Award, which recognizes those

who accomplish extraordinary achievements on behalf of the profession and provide meritorious service to the profession in the broadest sense; a prestigious achievement. Frazer moved to Victoria University of Wellington in 2015 becoming its Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Engagement). He was an enthusiastic advocate for the close engagement of universities with their communities. He championed the University’s civic-university ideal - strengthening relationships with central and local government, the private sector, community groups, alumni and friends. He saw engagement as a pan-university activity and led the development of the University’s first engagement strategy which ensured that leaders right across the university played their part in building enduring relationships. He led the University’s engagement group which had representation from different sectors of the University and melded their individual professional talents into the University mission. For those of us who knew Frazer as a veterinarian, it was not without amusement to hear that he enthusiastically extolled the virtues of the latest avant-garde exhibition at the Adam Art Gallery and revelled in the latest publishing success at the Ockham Book Awards. One of Frazer’s key achievements while at Wellington was overseeing the creation of the Miramar Creative Centre in partnership with Miramar Creative Ltd. The Centre has gone from strength-to-strength and is a fine example of Frazer’s ability to build enduring partnerships. In 2018 Frazer moved from Wellington, being appointed Head of School and Dean of Veterinary Science at University of Sydney. He had a vision for the future of veterinary science and was about to put that vision in place. The seeds are sown, but alas, those plans will not now be progressed by Frazer. Frazer was greatly respected by his contemporaries and was an exceptional and inspirational leader and beloved manager by those who worked with him. His colleagues remember him as being genuinely kind, particularly when a fellow staff member required support, having a true sense of egalitarianism, and always showing respect to those around him. Staff in all workplaces have fond memories of the lively and purposeful encounters with him. He was friendly, cheerful, a team player and led with professionalism. He was a determinedly positive individual, committed to those around him and to making the world a better place. Frazer and I (BRJ) spoke reasonably often especially after his move to Sydney to talk not only about veterinary matters and his vision for change and progress, but also about sport. He was a keen supporter of New Zealand cricket through all its ups and mostly downs. The winning of the test match series (and the mace) a few days before he died must have given him immense joy. He always kept us up to date with what his children Sophie, Fergus and Phoebe were doing. He was incredibly proud of his children and would often share stories of their lives and their successes. His other activity outside work was mountain biking. He was a keen rider in the hills around Palmy and in Wellington; a competitive cyclist, often leaving others in his wake. Several of his colleagues benefitted greatly from his 6am, enthusiastic road cycling challenges, especially the weaker, shorter ones who could benefit from drafting behind Frazer’s bulk! He was chairman of the Wellington Trails Trust and advocated for the development of more mountain biking tracks around Wellington. Some accidents and the perils of cycling in Sydney led to his interest in rowing in a veterans crew at the Leichardt Rowing Club. Rowing was his new sport. Frazer’s life has been one of great success, cut short and with future plans unfulfilled, but it is clear that he made a major contribution to veterinary medicine and the veterinary profession in New Zealand. We must thank him for his vision, his enterprise and his success on our behalf. Our sympathies go to Rebecca, Sophie, Fergus and Phoebe who shared most of Frazer’s life and its ups and downs, and to his wife Leith and stepson Felix, whose future plans with Frazer have been unexpectedly and suddenly curtailed. Farewell Frazer you have been a good friend and colleague. Boyd Jones and Grant Guilford August 2021

Haralambus R et al. Detection of synovial sepsis in horses using enzymes as biomarker. Eq Vet J. June 2021; DOI 10.1111/evj.13459

Sixty-seven synovial fluid samples were assigned to: healthy control (n = 10); aseptic (n = 27); and septic synovitis (n = 30) Groups. The enzyme activity assays for lysozyme (LYS), myeloperoxidase (MPO) and elastase (ELT) were compared with standard synovial fluid parameters and broad-range bacterial 16S rDNA PCR. LYS and MPO activities were significantly different between septic synovial samples and both aseptic and control samples (P < 0.001). LYS achieved a 100% sensitivity and 100% specificity in differentiating between septic and aseptic (cut-off value 751.4) or control (cut-off: 484.6) samples (P < .001). MPO reached 93.33% sensitivity, 100% specificity for distinguishing septic from control (cut-off value: 0.1254) synovial samples and 93.33% sensitivity, 81.48% specificity for discriminating between septic and aseptic (cut-off value: 0.1305) synovial samples (P < 0.001). ELT activity could not be measured in any synovial sample. Both the LYS and the MPO measurements were highly correlated with bacterial rDNA PCR (LYS r = 0.79, MPO r = 0.69), synovial leukocyte count (LYS r = 0.752, MPO r = 0.571), % neutrophils (LYS r = 0.751, MPO r = 0.663) and each other (r = 0.744, all P < 0.001). It was concluded that increased MPO and LYS activities allow reliable, rapid diagnosis of synovial sepsis with high sensitivity and specificity.