In Memory of Dr Don Heath
Bayaka orchestra
A Bayaka family.
<<< Click on a cover to
view a previous article
<<< Click on a cover to
view a previous article
1967 - 2015
Dr Don Heath, holder of Zimbabwe professional hunter’s licence number 7 and former Senior Ecologist with Zimbabwe’s Department of National Parks and Wildlife Management, passed away suddenly in Sweden on the last day of October. For the past several years, Don had probably found his ideal dream job as Manager of Research and Development for the large Swedish ammunition manufacturing conglomerate, Norma Precision.
Don was born in Bulawayo, Rhodesia, and was educated at Gifford High School and then the University of Zimbabwe; in due course, he received his BSc, MSc, and Dsc degrees. He worked for the then Department of National Parks and Wildlife Management between 1986 and 1999, eventually leaving the department as acting Chief Ecologist. While with National Parks, Don’s chief area of responsibility was in setting and issuing scientifically-determined and sustainable hunting quotas for the safari industry. Upon leaving National Parks, Don completed the various components to get his professional hunter’s licence in 2000.
My old man sitting on the right taught me to shoot dogs.
How are we fellows to keep warm? Africanis pups, Magondi Tribal Trust Land, Zimbabwe, winter of 1977.
Don was an avid sport shooter, and held Zimbabwe national colours in both in the Bisley Service Rifle and the International Practical Shooting Confederation Practical Pistol disciplines.
Seeing how sport shooting and hunting skills could be beneficial to one another, Don was instrumental in bridging the gap between National Parks, the Safari Operators’ Association of Zimbabwe and the Zimbabwe Sport Shooting Federation, with the result that the shooting proficiency examination for aspirant Zimbabwe PHs and Guides was is now administered through the Federation with the sanction of National Parks and the safari operators, to the highest possible industry standards. Don served as Chief Examiner for SOAZ for many years
In 1999, Don joined the staff of African Hunter magazine as Editor. One of Don’s great passions was history, and he incorporated this into much of his writing. His personal favourite all-round African rifle calibre was the venerable 9.3 x 62mm. A crack shot and experienced reloader, it served him well throughout his time in the African bush. An in-depth look as other African “classics” resulted in a series of articles for African Hunter which evolved into the book Classic African Cartridges, co-authored with Charlie Haley. There are probably very few folk out there who don’t know that Don was also “Ganyana”, under which nom de plume he did some of his best writing.
It was my pleasure to have known Don for almost thirty years. He engendered in me an interest in the classic African rifle calibres, and he was also the one who developed my interest in taking up IPSC Practical Pistol competitively. Don’s last big match was the 2002 world championships in the then Pietersberg in South Africa where he acquitted himself very creditably with a Smith & Wesson model 610 revolver through which he fired .40S&W ammunition. All during the five-day match he held the voluntary post of national team manager, which added extra hours onto already long, hot days on the range. This, more than anything else, was characteristic of Don Heath – his unbounded willingness to offer whatever help and encouragement he could in any way to anyone.
It is truly a sad day to be sitting here writing this about Don. A larger than life character, our paths crossed shortly after launching the African Hunter magazine over two decades ago, following which Don came to work with us. His hunting, ballistics and historic knowledge were an asset that publications (and in fact any organization) only ever get to dream of. His contribution was simply unmatched!
Never a man to follow a system, and often hell-bent on breaking the rules (just because), he saw humour in most everything. That dry sense of humour, love of poetry and his ability to tell a story, made him a good travel companion and I was fortunate to spend quality time with him both in Africa in the bush, and on our various sorties on the Convention trail in the USA. There was never a dull moment...
Don would be disappointed in me - and probably all those who knew him - if I allowed myself to dwell on the grief of the moment. And while I am aggrieved, I prefer to remember the aspects of his life which made him the man he was. To this end, and aside from the videos on Youtube of Don sharing his wealth of hunting knowledge, I append a short clip of Don demonstrating some unique anti-tracking techniques only he seemed capable of. The video was shot during a visit we made together to the AccurateRelaoding headquarters in Dubai - the unmistakable laugh clearly that of Saeed, while Walter plays along. We both had a go with T-Rex too - as not to have done so would have been sacrilege (and the weapon did not disappoint) - among other weapons. Shooting was Don’s passion... I know this inclusion would have made him smile.
To those who knew Don, all will understand this is not a flippant inclusion, but a memory of a man whose company, guidance and support helped mould aspects of my life and the course of the African Hunter. Rest in peace friend, and try keep your feet pointing in the right direction. - Ant Williams.
For many years, “Dinner at Don’s” was a weekly fixture in Harare on Tuesday evenings. Don and Charlie Haley and I would get together, each of us taking it in turn to cook something more or less palatable, but the real emphasis was on camaraderie and conversation. We would be joined by the likes of the late Brian Marsh, the artist Ian Henderson, and other folk from the range, the Professional Hunters’ and Guides’ Association, or National Parks and by the end of the evening Don hadn’t quite as much Scotch as he had when we arrived, but all the continent’s problems had been solved for another week.
In due course, Don married Sheila Stakesby-Lewis, a Bulawayo girl, and they had two highly engaging and bright children, Johanna and Iain. As the situation continued to deteriorate in Zimbabwe, Don and Sheila looked toward the future of their family. Don, because of his encyclopaedic knowledge of the hunting industry and firearms and ballistics was offered a research and development job with Norma Precision in Sweden. It wasn’t long before he was department manager. I was invited across to take a look at the Norma operation in 2011 and, as was to be expected, it was outstanding.
Don will be very sorely missed by all who knew him. His other commitments to his community - Boy Scouts, church, Toastmasters, History Society, Police Reserve - were a side to him that few but his closest friends appreciated the scope of, and his passing will leave a big vacuum, as will his ready smile, encouragement and dry wit.
Rest in peace, old friend.
By IJ Larivers
Dr Donald Heath, doing what he loved...
Saeed, Don and Ant - Dubai 2007
 |
|---|
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |