Emeritus Professor Ken Jubb died in Werribee on February 27 following a brief illness. Despite formally retiring in 1990, Professor Jubb continued to attend the veterinary school daily until recently.
As a world renowned pathologist, educator, mentor and a key contributor to the establishment of numerous veterinary schools, Professor Kenneth Vincent Finlayson Jubb’s leaves an impressive legacy.
After graduating from Sydney University in 1951, Jubb embarked on a career in veterinary pathology, later acting as author and editor – alongside California University’s Peter Kennedy – of editions one through four of Pathology of Domestic Animals. The fifth edition, published in 2007, was renamed Jubb and Kennedy’s Pathology of Domestic Animals. Jubb contributed to the development of the sixth edition, co-authoring the chapter on diseases of the pancreas with Andrew Stent.
Jubb helped establish the Melbourne veterinary school and its curriculum in 1963, later acting as dean from 1969 to 1990. He was instrumental in creating Werribee Open Range Zoo in the mid 1970s, and also helped establish veterinary schools at Murdoch University in Perth and Putra University in Malaysia.
Among his accolades, of which there are many, Jubb recieved a Medal of the Order of Australia in the general division for services to veterinary science and pathology in 2011. He is a previous recipient of the Australian Veterinary Association’s Gilruth Medal. Jubb was awarded an honorary DVSc from Murdoch University in 1980, and an honorary DSc from Putra University.
Outside of his role within the veterinary school, Jubb was involved in the establishment of a biotechnology park in Hoppers Crossing. He served on the Zoological Parks and Gardens Board of Victoria for more than twenty years, completing his term as chair in 1990. He served as Governer, chairman and member of the Executive of the Ian Clunies Ross National Science Foundation and was a Fellow and Councillor of the Australian Academy of Technology Sciences and Engineering. He was also a Foundation Fellow of the Australian College of Veterinary Scientists.
According to Melbourne University veterinary faculty Dean Ken Hinchcliff, Jubb’s loss will be felt for a long time to come.
“After his retirement from the University in 1990, Emeritus Professor Jubb had no formal responsibilities in the Faculty,” he said. “However, he continued to attend his office on a daily basis where he was an active and integral part of the veterinary pathology post-graduate training program.”
Throughout his retirement Jubb conducted daily histopathology reading sessions, was consulted daily by clinical staff on interpretation of biopsy and post-mortem results, and participated in journal clubs. His regular histopathology slide reading sessions were attended by pathologists throughout Victoria.
“For many years he also lead a Thursday afternoon session on pathology of the eye which was attended by veterinarians and human ophthalmologists. These activities were well above those expected as an Emeritus Professor.”
Jubb is survived by his wife Trudi and son Tristan.
A memorial service was held on March 28.
ANNE FAWCETT