ACT Division President Report - April

Death of Dr Lyndy Scott (1952 to 2023)

Many ACT members were saddened to hear of the death of Lyndy Scott on 10 March this year. Lyndy lived and worked in the ACT from until about 2003, when she returned to her home State of Western Australia. Later she lived and worked in Canberra, back again in WA, but mostly in Robertson NSW where she lived until returning to live with her sister Scotty in WA, shortly before her death.

Graduating from Murdoch University in 1981, Lyndy had a wide ranging career including private practice, sheep AI, meat and abattoir inspection, and CEO of the veterinary research program within Murdoch -an appointment that hit the WA media because she was both young, and a female.IN Canberra Lyndy worked for the Pig Research Development Corporation, providing on-site assessment and support of research projects, and for Animal Health Australia as well as DAFF. She did further study in Behaviour, and later in holistic medicine, working especially with alternative nutritional remedies.

Lyndy was an active and passionate member of the AVA, serving on many committees and groups, including long terms on both the AVA Benevolent Fund and the Animal Welfare Trust, where she chaired the Grants approval sub-committee. She also served on the Western Australian Veterinary Surgeon’s Board.

Once met, never forgotten, and never forgotten by her! Bright clothes, bright spectacle frames, and a brighter personality. Lyndy lived life to the full, including sky-diving and scuba diving. Her life was filled with family and friends, and she made new friends everywhere she lived and worked. At a memorial for her held in Robertson, several work colleagues from Canberra spoke of how she became one of their family, especially loving and supporting their children, as well as mentoring younger colleagues in the work environment. As an example she organised work experience for my eldest daughter at the PRDC.

Of course, her life was also about and for animals. In Canberra, I had the privilege to provide vet care for her two dogs – ‘Brindy’ and ‘Bella’ – whose names also form an example of her humour. Later she shared her life with standard poodles.

And everywhere she lived, Lyndy was an integral member of her community. In Canberra she volunteered at Radio for the Print Handicapped (RPH), reading newspaper articles and other material. She loved and was much loved in Robertson, where she formed a group supporting he elderly to live in their own homes for longer, was a founder and very active in an environmental preservation and restoration group, and in the local book club. In Western Australia, she lobbied for the preservation of aboriginal rock art.

Sadly, she had recent diagnosis of dementia and then lung cancer, and succumbed quickly to these diseases. In her final weeks the Robertson community returned her to Western Australia to live with her sister Scotty, on an isolated property surrounded by animals.

Vale Lyndy – you brightened our lives and gave so much of yourself to so many. Like so many veterinarians, your personal and working life contributed so much to both animal health and welfare and to the community.

Michael Hayward
President