D. S. Hart

Dennis Stephen Hart, Ph.D., M.A., Dip.Dy. Dip.Shp. 1915-1989. Reader in Animal Science Staff Member 1949-1981. 

Denis Stephen (Joe) Hart was a scientist, sheep breeder tutor, university lecturer, rugby enthusiast, and Lincoln College stalwart. He was the first scientist in New Zealand to successfully transfer fertilised sheep eggs from one animal to another. 

Born in Wellington in 1915, he attended Wellington College before going to Massey College, where he completed both the Diploma in Dairy and the Diploma in Sheep. He was appointed to the staff of Feilding High School, where he taught science and agriculture and managed the farm.

The Second World War saw him on active service with the Royal Navy, in which he rose to the rank of lieutenant in the Home Fleet.

He then attended Cambridge University (Downing College), graduating in 1949 with M.A. Hons. During 1949 he was recruited to the Animal Science Department of Lincoln College as a lecturer in reproductive physiology. During the next 32 years until he retired, Dr Hart gave himself wholly to the academic and student affairs of the College advancing to the position of Reader.

Dr. Hart's contribution to teaching and research was notable. During his Ph.D. studies on the effects of photoperiodism on sheep production, he discovered enhanced wool growth could be achieved by using thyroxine. This discovery attracted some commercial interest until it was discovered that it occurred at the expense of body weight.

Dr. Hart was a pioneer in the study of sheep ova and was the first scientist in New Zealand to successfully transfer fertilised sheep eggs from one animal to another. His interest in physiological research led to a close collaboration with medical scientists working at the Colleges' Johnstone Memorial Laboratory and Christchurch Clinical School. Together they developed innovative techniques to measure and monitor the effects of hormones.

Dr. Hart's other major interest in animal production was in sheep breeding. Together with Professor Henderson, he was responsible for the Sheep Breeding Programme at the College between 1950 and 1979 with Corriedale, Border Leicester, Romney, Southdown, and Dorset Down sheep. This involved the supervision and manual selection of stud sheep for sale, breeding, and show competition.

Dr. Hart had a deep personal interest in the welfare of students. He was appointed senior tutor and was responsible for the organisation and participation of other staff in the tutor system. His interest in students extended outside the classroom to the playing fields -
particularly the rugby field. Dr. Hart will be remembered by hundreds of students as the coach and mentor of the Lincoln College 1st XV/senior team over a period of 25-30 years.

His involvement with the Lincoln College Rugby Club was lifelong as a coach, selector, club president, and patron, a position he still held at the time of his death. "DOC", as he was known to his rugby players, was a master tactition and strategist. He had a deep love of the game, in particular for constructive, bright, attractive rugby. It is no coincidence that under his tutorage the Lincoln College Senior team achieved
widespread recognition for its exciting style of play.

As a mark of the respect in which he was held Dr Hart, following his retirement from the College in 1980, was invited to manage the first ever tour overseas by a Lincoln College rugby side, to North America. The team spirit and playing abilities developed in a young, inexperienced side on that tour contributed markedly to the success of the team in the Christchurch senior rugby competition that year.

Dr. Hart's other recreational pursuit was yachting. Together with his family, he was involved with the Banks Peninsula Yacht Club, and was active in inshore and off-shore racing. 

Dr. Hart's involvement with rugby was not solely confined to Lincoln College. Between 1962-4 he was a South Island University and New Zealand University selector. In 1974, along with Peter Clark, he was the selector for the Canterbury A rugby team.

Dr. Hart kept in close contact with the practical farming scene, and was a member and technical advisor to the N.Z. Sheep Breeders Association. Together with his wife, he ran the Swanleigh Border Leicester Stud, which competed with success in local A & P shows. His love of agriculture was instilled into his family. Two of his three sons graduated from Lincoln with masterate degrees, and one progressed on to a Ph.D. in Soil Science. The other son, not drawn to Lincoln College, became a Rhodes Scholar at Oxford University.

Dr Hart died on September 30, 1989, in Christchurch and was survived by his wife Monica and his three sons.

Source: 1989 Lincoln College Magazine p103-104