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Fred Hollows

Hollows was born on 9th April 1929, was a New Zealand and Australian ophthalmologist. Hollows became more popular for his work in restoring eyesight for most of the Australians. Because of him more than millions of people in the world can see today, the most notable example being The Fred Hollows Foundation.

Early Life

His was born in Dunedin to Joseph and Clarice (Marshall) Hollows and has three brothers Colin, John and Maurice. He and his family lived in Dunedin for many years. At the age of 13 he did his schooling at Palmerston North Boys' High School and primary schooling at North East Valley Primary School for one year. He did his BA degree at Victoria University of Wellington.�

In 1950s and 1960s, he was the member of Communist Party of New Zealand.

He studied ophthalmology at Moorfields Eye Hospital in England in 1961. He did his post-graduate in 1965 at Wales. �At the University of New South Wales in Sydney he was associate professor of ophthalmology. He was chair person at opthamology divison who use to supervise teaching divisions at University of New South Wales, and the Prince of Wales and Prince Henry hospitals from 1965 to 1992.

He married to Mary Skiller in 1958 and after her death in 1975, Hollows married to Gabi O'Sullivan in 1980.

In 1985, he refused to take the award of the Order of Australia. Hollows adopted Australian citizenship in 26th April, 1989 and awarded with Australian of the Year in 1990. In 1991, he awarded with Companion of the Order.

Medical Career

In 1970s, he worked with the Gurindji people at Wave Hill in the Northern Territory and then with the other isolated communities. In 1971, he and his mother with others set up the Aboriginal Medical Service in housing Redfern in Sydney and then he established medical services in aboriginal people in Australia. From 1976 to 1978, he worked as an in-charge of organizing the Royal Australian College of Ophthalmologists to start the program called National Trachoma and Eye Health Program with support of federal government.

Overseas Work

He visited Nepal in 1985, Eritrea in 1987, and Vietnam in 1991 to train the local technicians to perform eye surgery. He arranged IOL laboratories in Eritrea and Nepal to produce and supply lenses at cost of $10 and in 1993 these both labs started working.