2024 AVA Awards Gilruth Prize Winner: Dr Peter Reid

There was one event in Dr Peter Reid’s life that would change the course of his career. 

It was 1994 and the equine veterinarian was the attending clinician during what was at the time, an unknown, lethal virus outbreak in thoroughbred horse stables in the Brisbane suburb of Hendra.  

After witnessing the deadly impact that the virus was having on horses and humans, Dr Reid was motivated to do as much as he could to help. 

“Horse trainer Vic Rail was killed, and I saw how devastating this disease was in horses, and the horrible risk that it posed towards human and horse health, and the racing industry,” Dr Reid said. 

“I went to the funeral of Vic in 1994 and after that, I went to two other funerals, fellow veterinarians Ben Cunneen in 2008 and Alister Rodgers in 2009.” 

“I remember the funeral of Alister in Rockhampton when I was talking to his wife and family, and said to them, that I was going to do everything I could to make sure this never happened again.” 

In late 2009 and early 2010 he advocated at State and Federal Government levels for the development of a horse vaccine, and has spent countless hours educating and supporting fellow veterinarians and the horse owning public. Dr Reid eventually co-founded the Horses as Sentinels project, a group who, along with the University of Sydney, identified a previously undetected new strain of Hendra virus in 2021.

Dr Reid’s advocacy work doesn’t end there. He was also appointed co-inquirer in 2019-2020 at the Independent Inquiry into the management of retired racehorses, and the regulatory and oversight arrangements of abattoirs, making 55 recommendations to improve the treatment of the animals. 

“I just loved looking after racehorses, and I got a lot of self-satisfaction out of that and dealing with racehorse trainers.” 

While Dr Reid has now retired from clinical work, he represents the AVA and EVA on Queensland State Government horse industry stakeholder reference groups, and is still loosely involved in local collaborative research into new and emerging viruses, including with leading scientists in the United States. Last year he was invited to deliver a seminar on Hendra virus at the Uniformed Services University of Health Services, in Bethesda, Washington DC. 

This work, interlaced with hundreds more untold stories, has spanned 50 years of service to the equine industry.  

This incredible body of work was recognised earlier this year by the Australian veterinary community, when Dr Reid was awarded the Gilruth Prize at the 2024 Australian Veterinary Association Awards.  

The Gilruth Prize is awarded after years of service to the industry and is highest honour given by the AVA each year. The award provided time to reflect on a career that faced challenges, and the support received from his family. 

“It's a bit sobering and a reality check at the same time to realise how long you've been doing work that you really enjoy, and have put your heart and soul into,” Dr Reid reflected. 

“I feel so privileged to be in a profession that I love, treating and looking after animals, having successes along the way, being confronted with lots of challenges to deal with, and having the support of a lovely wife and family.

“Receiving this kind of recognition, it gives you time to reflect on that and take a deep breath and realise everything that's happened, and to reflect on some of the good times and some of the bad times, and some of the achievements.” 

Nominations for next year’s AVA Awards will open in November and be presented at the AVA Awards Gala Dinner at the conclusion of the 2025 AVA Conference.