Bain Fallon Memorial Lectures History

The contributions of the following outstanding equine veterinarians to Australian equine medicine and surgery are acknowledged annually in the presentation of the Bain Fallon Memorial Lectures.

Andrew Murray Bain BVSC MRCVS MACVS

Murray Bain died in Scone in New South Wales on 18 March 1974 after a long and painful illness courageously endured. Murray graduated from the Royal (Dick) Veterinary school, Edinburgh, in July 1937. After service in the Royal Army Veterinary Corps in the Middle East during World War II and followed by brief periods spent gaining experience of Thoroughbred breeding in Kentucky and New Zealand, he settled in Scone, NSW in 1950, where he worked until his passing. In this time, he built up a large group practice, based primarily on work with Thoroughbred horses and cattle.

His particular interests were infertility in the mare, diseases of newborn foals and many management problems associated with Thoroughbred breeding. He kept detailed records of all his cases and over the years published many authoritative papers based on his observations. He took an active interest in the postgraduate education and was one of the foundation members of the Post-Graduate committee in Veterinary Science of the University of Sydney. He was a gifted speaker and gave many interesting lectures to veterinary surgeons and horse breeders throughout Australia, New Zealand, America, and Great Britain. He was awarded the Seddon Prize by the Australian Veterinary Association for his major contributions to clinical veterinary medicine.

Peter Fallon BVSC MACVS

Peter Fallon died suddenly at his home in Burwood, Victoria, on the 25th of June 1974 on the eve of his departure to attend the Equine Reproduction Symposium in Cambridge. A native of Christchurch, New Zealand, Peter studied Agricultural Sciences at Lincoln University, Christchurch, before transferring to the School of Veterinary Science, University of Sydney, where he graduated in 1948. Following a period as resident veterinary surgeon on two major Thoroughbred studs in Victoria, Peter established a private practice in Tallangatta in Northeast Victoria in 1955. Three years later, he moved to Burwood in Melbourne where, up to the time that he died, he admirably served the veterinary needs of many important Thoroughbred studs in Victoria and major racing stables in the metropolitan area of Melbourne. A man of great drive, energy and common sense, Peter was always outspoken in his opinions, which were always backed by more than 20 years of hard work, experience and keen observation on Thoroughbred breeding and racing. While not a man of the written word, he nevertheless frequently presented the results of his original research and clinical investigations in his own inimitable style at numerous meetings of veterinary surgeons throughout Australia. As a result, other veterinary surgeons engaged in equine stud practice greatly benefited from his long experience and clinical acumen.