peter gray (1954 – 2016) · 2017. 4. 17. · peter gray (1954 – 2016) it is with great sadness...

PeterGray(1954–2016)

ItiswithgreatsadnessthatwesharethedeathofourdearfriendandcolleagueDrPeterGrayinMaylastyearastheresultofdisseminatedmelanoma.

internshipattheUniversityofGuelph.A>eraperiodingeneralprac?ceintheUKhemovedontoMichiganStateUniversityforaresidencyandPhD.ItwastherethathealsobecameadiplomateoftheACVA.HisreturntoAustraliasawPetertakingalong-termresearchappointmentinrespiratoryphysiologyattheUniversityofWesternAustraliainPerth.HethenreturnedtoclinicalanaesthesiaandjoinedtheteamatMurdochUniversity.

Peter’sphlegma?ctemperamentmeanthewasideallysuitedtoanaesthesia,alwaysprovidingacalm,reliableoasiswithinthesome?mesfraughtandfrene?cenvironmentoftheopera?ngtheatre.Itwasadisciplinethatwasdeartohisheart,andhisexper?seinrespiratoryphysiologymadeithisfavouriteteachingsubject.

Besideshiswork,Peterranasmallwholesalegreengrocerbusinessandwasoccasionallylateoncampusduetohavingtogetjusttherighttypeofmango,plumoranotherloadofcabbagesforhiscustomers.ThisundoubtedlycontributedtothemostwonderfulcookingindulgedinbybothhimselfandMary–tothegreatbenefitofallvisi?ngfriends.Hewasalsoakeencyclistandwouldo>enwatchtheweatherradarinorderbestto?mehisridehome.

Whenre?rementbeckoned,PeterandMarybuilttheirdreamhomeonthenorthcoastofTasmania,whichwasabeau?fulandfiQnglastachievementforhim.DuringthebuildingofthehouseandwhiledoingalocumattheUniversityofQueensland,Peterwasdiagnosedwithstage4metasta?cmelanoma.Whiletheprognosiswasgrim,newmedica?ongavehimextendedgoodquality?meandhewasabletomoveintohisnewhomeaswellashelpcreateandenjoyitswonderfulgarden.

Peterhasle>manyfriends.Hesome?messpokeofhisinabilitytotoleratefoolsandwonderedwhetherthiswashisweaknessorstrength.Weknowwecountourselvesextremelyfortunatetohaveenjoyedbothhisfriendshipandhisprofessionalexper?seovertheyearsandmisshimdearly.

PeterwasborninMelbourneandgainedhisveterinarydegreetherein1977.HefirstworkedinWesternAustraliabutsoonstartedtravellingaroundtheworldwithhispartnerMaryinpursuitoftheircareers.Hespecializedinanaesthesiastar?ngwithan

Peterhadapassionforbothveterinaryanaesthesiaandteachingandhealwaysconsideredhimselfbothfortunateandprivilegedtoworkinanareahelovedsomuch.

GrietHaitjema&PollyTaylor;April2017