Dr. Harold Spira, a Hungarian immigrant, arrived in Australia in the 1930’s.
Dr. Harold R. Spira, BVSc MRCVS MACVSc HDA, most commonly referenced as Dr. Harry Spira, was an Australian Veterinarian, geneticist and dog fancier who was instrumental in the development of dog breeding programs which used artificial insemination and frozen semen. An author and respected dog-show judge, he was active in the Australian National Kennel Club and proposed an alternative system of dog breed grouping.
Among his myriad activities, Harry Spira participated in the promotion of the Afghan Hound in Australia and was an outspoken opponent of breed-specific legislation against the German Shepherd dog. His book Canine Terminology, which has come to be considered a standard text on the subject, was reprinted in 2006.
Dr Spira was the first Australian appointed to judge the coveted Best in Show award at Crufts Dog Show in England. He originally gained a diploma in agriculture at Hawkesbury Agriculture College and then entered Veterinary Science – he graduated in 1952. He started the original Ku-ring-gai Veterinary Hospital in his father’s garage in McIntosh St. Gordon. He then bought 2 acres of land at 9 Curagul Rd North Turramurra in the late 50’s. He established the hospital as its own entity which included a purpose built hospital facility and stables for horses and a dog boarding kennel for 100 dogs. The accent of the practice in those days was around dog breeding and showing. In those days there were only 4 Veterinary Practices from North Sydney to Hornsby. Dr Spira left Ku-ring-gai Veterinary Hospital in 1977.
In early 1960’s Dr. John Geschmay joined the practice and was a partner until 1965. Dr.Geschmay then left to take over his father’s Veterinary Practice in Adelaide.
In 1966 Dr. Robert Kibble BVSc MACVSc HDA joined the practice. Dr. Kibble had also attended Hawkesbury Agricultural College before entering Veterinary Science. Dr. Kibble had been working in Tamworth for the Department of Agriculture before he joined Ku-ring-gai Veterinary Hospital.
Dr. Robert Kibble went to Hong Kong in 1979 and set up a branch practice of Ku-ring-gai Hospital in Kowloon, one of the first modern western style veterinary practices in Hong Kong. He left the practice in 1980. He passed away from cancer in the early 2000’s. He received an Order of Australia for service to Veterinary Science and Animal Welfare, particularly through the Delta Society Australia and the NSW Animal Welfare League.
In 1966 a third year veterinary student Greg Ross (father of current partner of the hospital, Angus Ross) started working as an animal assistant in the University vacations.
Greg Ross BVSc.( Hons)MRCVS. graduated as a Veterinary Surgeon in 1968. Greg was advised by Harry Spira and Bob Kibble that he needed to get experience before he came back to Ku-ring-gai Veterinary Hospital. Greg initially in 1969 worked as a rural Vet in Bellingen NSW before working in mixed practice in the UK in 1970. In fact he worked for a practice in Staines Middlesex, near Windsor Castle that was by appointment to her Majesty the Queen Mother.
Greg returned to Australia in 1971 and commenced work as a vet at Ku-ring-gai Veterinary Hospital in 1972. Greg became a partner after buying out Harry Spira in 1973.
Dr. Graeme Allan BVSc. MVSc. FACVS. DACVR commenced work in 1975 at the hospital after some time at North Shore Veterinary Hospital and became a partner in 1976. He left the practice to study to become a specialist radiologist at Cornell University USA in 1978. Graeme introduced specialised Veterinary Radiology to the hospital on his return to Australia.
In 1978, Dr William Bradley BVSc. MVS MACVSc, also having worked at North Shore Veterinary Hospital, joined he practice. He became a partner in 1979 and was a keen Orthopaedic Surgeon and introduced many new procedures and techniques to the hospital.
Through the efforts of Dr’s Ross, Bradley and Allan, the accent of the hospital changed from the animal breeding focus to elite veterinary care over a period of years.
In 1980, Dr. Peter Coote and Dr. George Russ joined the practice. They both became partners in 1981. Peter had been in rural practice in Cootamundra after graduating in 1967. George had been in small animal practice in Mosman since graduating in 1978. He was a key figure in Taroonga Zoos Rhino project and left the practice in 1995 to continue this work.
In 1994 the old Shell garage at 290 Bobbin Head Rd. North Turramurra was purchased. After a lengthy application with Ku-ring-gai Council the current facility was opened in September 1996, and thus was born the hospital as we know it today.
Dr. Angus Ross BVSc (Hons 1) MBA MRCVS commenced his association with Ku-Ring-Gai Veterinary Hospital as an animal attendant in 1991 and learnt the daily operations of the practice from the ground up as he progressed through his university degree. Upon graduation, he worked at Castle Hill Veterinary Hospital with Dr Richard Naylor, before travelling overseas to work in England with his now wife, Deanne, who is also a veterinarian. He returned to join the practice as an associate in 1999 and was made a partner in 2000. Greg Ross retired from the partnership in 2003 selling his share to Dr Peter Chitty, who was a partner until 2005.
Dr. James W Geddes BVSc (USyd) CMAVA graduated from the University of Sydney in 1996. He joined the practice in 2002 and became a partner in 2004. Jamie started a Masters of Veterinary Medicine and Surgery with Murdoch University in 2002 and was awarded chartered membership of the Australian Veterinary Association in 2005.
Angus and Jamie went to school and university together, and have been in partnership since 2004.
Together they have shaped the culture and ethos of the modern day Ku-Ring-Gai Veterinary Hospital, making it a centre of excellence in providing preventative and medical care to companion animals, with a strong focus on personalised service.
The pioneering spirit which led to the creation of this unique facility still continues today. Many examples of this include:
- Construction of an onsite helical CT facility.
- Research and development of stem cell technologies in partnership with Regeneus Animal Health and as a world first, the subsequent treatment of over 150 dogs with this new Adicell procedure. This work, and the protocols and procedures established for it, has now been translated into human arthritis and has led to a 40 person double blinded trial at North Shore Hospital and the establishment of a number of treatment facilities across NSW.
- Creation of a proactive health screening programme for the preventative health care of older pets.
- Adoption of digital radiology and the integration of a telemedicine service allowing overnight access to the latest specialist advice from all over the world.
- Adoption of the most sophisticated in house haematology, biochemistry and blood gas analysers.
- Integration of ultrasonography as a core component of routine diagnostic investigation.
- Creation of a nuclear medicine facility in 2011.
- Accreditation by Sydney University as an approved undergraduate training facility.
- AQIS export accreditation.
- Establishment of Australia’s first and only haemodialysis unit for animals.
We look forward to what the future holds for our unique practice, we thank you for your patronage and stand ready to care for your pets now and always.
Dr. Jamie Geddes & Dr. Angus Ross