Jewish scientist who tamed redbacks dies

FOR a refugee from Poland who made Australia his new home, Dr Saul Wiener, who died on September 15, could not have repaid his adopted country more fittingly.

The distinguished immunologist will go down in history for his 1950s breakthrough — developing an anti-venom for that terrifying Australian outdoor pest, the redback spider.

Working at Commonwealth Serum Laboratories, Dr Wiener took two years to develop the anti-venom, which now saves some 250 lives each year.

To perfect his serum, Dr Wiener had to work through a complex process, milking venom from thousands of spiders, then injecting it into horses.

Although horses do not become sick from the venom, they start to make antibodies that are purified from horse blood and used as anti-venom.

When injected into a human spider-bite victim, they recognise and neutralise the spider venom.

Dr Wiener is also credited with developing the world’s first anti-venom for the poisonous stonefish and the deadly funnel-web spider.
In the twilight of his life, the Melbourne resident was recognised for these landmark developments in this year’s Queen’s Birthday Honours, becoming a Member of the Order of Australia (AM).

The then 86-year-old told The AJN he was pleased he had been able to give something back to the country that gave him a home.

“I was very elated about receiving such an honour from the Queen,” he said. “But I was just happy that I managed to do something in my active life to pay back the Australian people for giving me refuge in this country.”

Dr Wiener was raised in Poland but moved to Germany as a young man to study medicine. He escaped the Shoah with members of his family and made a new life for himself in Melbourne.

The great-grandfather also led a rich communal life, and was closely involved in the founding of the Council of Orthodox Synagogues of Victoria (COSV) in the early 1960s.

From there, he went on to establish Kosher Meals on Wheels, a service run by the COSV.

Dr Wiener was at various times a congregant at South Caulfield and Caulfield shuls, as well as the Chabad House in St Kilda East.

Former COSV president Moshe Trebish said he recalled Dr Wiener as “a very interesting, learned and cultured man, with an extensive Jewish knowledge”.

Dr Wiener’s funeral was held at the Adass Cemetery. He is survived by a son, Rabbi Yonason Wiener, two daughters, Rebecca and Vivienne, and a sister, Paula.

PETER KOHN