Blacktown City Council has paid tribute to late vet and former Mayor of Blacktown City, Dr Russ Dickens OAM, naming a new veterinary clinic in his honour.
Blacktown City Mayor Tony Bleasdale OAM officially launched the clinic, located within the new Blacktown Animal Rehoming Centre, known as BARC.
The clinic will serve as a teaching practice for students, through partnerships with Western Sydney University, University of Sydney and Richmond TAFE. It will service the needs of the animals at BARC and is currently not open to the public.
Mayor Bleasdale joined family and friends of Dr Dickens at the Blacktown City Pet Festival on Sunday for the unveiling.
"Russ devoted his life to animals, through his vet practice, his research and his contributions through Council," Mayor Bleasdale said.
"He was a passionate vet, who dedicated himself to his Blacktown veterinary clinic for many decades.
"He was one of the first vets in Australia to study disease in koalas and provide critical advice for their management.
"Russ served as a Councillor for 36 years, including a term as Mayor, between 1980 and 2016.
"He was a passionate volunteer, who dedicated much of his time to helping animals at the Council Animal Holding Facility.
"Russ Dickens was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australian in 1992, and in 2020, I was proud to awarded him the Key to Blacktown City.
"I wish that Russ could be here to see this wonderful facility, but his legacy lives on through the clinic, BARC and all the animals he so passionately cared and advocated for."
Picture: Blacktown City Mayor Tony Bleasdale OAM, Mayoress Nina Bleasdale, Deputy Mayor Chris Quilkey, Councillor Bob Fitzgerald, Russ Dickens' OAM family, BARC Senior Coordinator Rose Horton, former Animal Holding Facility Lead Ian Burr with his grandchildren at the new Dr Russ Dickens Veterinary Clinic.
