More than 30 years ago a very green, inexperienced post grad, fresh out of uni, joined the FMD lab at the Onderstepoort Veterinary Institute for her first job.  Gavin appointed me as a research scientist which if one looks back, was a big gamble.  No PhD, no experience, maybe just a bit of faith?  Or maybe because I came cheap!  Initially, it was a bumpy ride, but Gavin was a great mentor, although I don’t think he was consciously being one.  He could be tough, he often challenged me, but he also believed in me.  I am so grateful for the opportunities Gavin provided me: to travel, to further my education, to engage with stakeholders, and to have fun.  He fully supported our crazy ideas for spring days with the rest of the Institute and did what we asked him to do.  Even if it was to pretend riding a FMD infected bicycle (see photo).  Although we were all a bit scared of him, he was a great leader and boss.  We were proud of him and grateful for the leadership he provided to the FMD lab and later for the Institute as director.  

Gavin had a great, inquisitive mind and was a deep, scientific thinker – he was a visionary.  In all things he was looking for the reason, the better way of doing things and trying to understand.  He engaged with modelling when most people thought modelling meant showing off designer clothes.  His model on FMD childhood epidemics in buffalo calves is still mentioned today, nearly 30 years later.  I think a number of us sees Gavin as the father of commodity-based trade, a solution to trade and improving livelihoods for communities in FMD affected areas.  Not many people have such varied interests in science and that was one of the reasons I loved working with Gavin.

Even though our paths separated when I emigrated, we remained in contact and my respect for him only increased.  Before his untimely death, I thanked Gavin for putting me on my career path and the inputs he had into my life.  I want to say it again: thank you Gavin, I will forever appreciate your role in my life and remember our discussions and disagreements with fondness.