The Murray Bain Service to Industry Award honours the outstanding achievements of those in our industry who champion exceptional service to industry and hands-on best practice. This year’s Murray Bain Service to Industry Award is presented to the irreplaceable, Dr John Freestone BVSc, DACVIM (LAIM), FRCVS, MACVSc.
A veteran equine veterinarian with over 40 years experience, valued and respected by his peers and fellow colleagues here and abroad, John personifies the values, drive and passion for excellence of fellow veterinarian, the late Murray Bain, whose legacy we honour through this award.
John has embodied hands-on world’s best veterinary practice, and shared his dedication and commitment with the many people he has worked with, taught, trained and mentored throughout his distinguished career.
A graduate of Sydney University, colleague of the esteemed Dr Peter Rossdale OBE and equine veterinary medicine pioneer, Dr Doug Byars, DVM, John practiced in Canberra and completed a Large Animal Internal Medicine residency at the University of California before taking up the position of Associate Professor at the Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge. It was here that John achieved Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine and was board-certified as an Internal Medicine specialist in the UK and Australia.
A prolific researcher with many published veterinary research papers and an academic at heart, John has led an outstanding career providing exceptional veterinary care to thoroughbred horses in the Hunter Valley, Kentucky, Newmarket and Ireland.
25 years ago John and his wife Helen made the Hunter their home when he accepted the resident veterinarian position at Coolmore Australia. Over this time John has overseen the foaling and care of thoroughbred horses and many international stallion flights shuttling some of the best thoroughbred champions between Australia, Ireland, America and Japan. John avidly follows the progress of thoroughbreds under his care and their progeny on the racetrack. He continues his love for veterinary research, serving for seven years as the Horse Research Manager for the Australian Government’s Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation (now known as Agrifutures Australia).
John Freestone’s contribution to the thoroughbred industry and its people is outstanding. The HTBA is very pleased to honour Dr John Freestone for his hands on service to our industry and award him the 2021 HTBA Murray Bain Service to Industry Award.
