Ross McKenzie

Ross McKenzie is a retired veterinary pathologist, toxicologist and research scientist from the Queensland Department of Primary Industries where he diagnosed and researched diseases of livestock for 36 years (1973-2009). Known as 'the whistling pathologist', he carried his fair share of the veterinary workload of the central diagnostic laboratory at Yeerongpilly in Brisbane, for instance personally handling 10,000 case accessions from livestock disease investigations throughout Queensland...See more

Ross McKenzie is a retired veterinary pathologist, toxicologist and research scientist from the Queensland Department of Primary Industries where he diagnosed and researched diseases of livestock for 36 years (1973-2009). Known as 'the whistling pathologist', he carried his fair share of the veterinary workload of the central diagnostic laboratory at Yeerongpilly in Brisbane, for instance personally handling 10,000 case accessions from livestock disease investigations throughout Queensland during 1990-2002. He is also a retired conjoint senior lecturer from the University of Queensland where he taught toxicology to veterinary students for 14 years (1994-2008). His students called him 'Toxic Ross' and his 2007 class gave him a 'Joie de Vivre' award for making the study of toxicology enjoyable. They had thought it would be deadly! He earned a Bachelor of Veterinary Science degree (with Honours) from the University of Queensland at the start of his career, then the degrees of Master of Veterinary Science and Doctor of Veterinary Science some 20 years later, recognising his research achievements. He won the Australian Veterinary Association Excellence in Teaching Award for 2002, the Queensland Natural History Award for 2004 and in 2009 was honoured with the Public Service Medal within the Order of Australia for his research in veterinary pathology and toxicology. He has authored over 100 scientific publications reporting original contributions to knowledge and has contributed to several international veterinary text and reference books. He is now an Honorary Research Associate of Queensland Herbarium and of Biosecurity Queensland. He is also a (very) amateur botanist and photographer. His family roots are in the earth of the Maranoa district of rural Queensland. He lives in Brisbane with his wife Glenyth, and a garden containing many poisonous plants. See less