|
LECTURE CITATIONS
The W E Gillies Medal
of the Australian and New Zealand Glaucoma Interest Group
Dr William (Bill) Elliott Gillies commenced ophthalmology when he started as a Resident Medical
Officer at the Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital in 1952. He obtained the Diploma of Ophthalmology
of The University of Melbourne in 1953, and after some years at Moorfields Glaucoma Clinic he returned
to Melbourne in 1958.
By 1966 he was Ophthalmologist in charge of a General Eye Clinic at the RVEEH, which position he
held for 25 years. He was ophthalmologist in (1962 to 1972) and then ophthalmologist in charge of
(1972-1991) the Glaucoma Investigation and Research Unit at the RVEEH, and in 1991 he became Emeritus
Ophthalmologist to the Hospital.
In 1988 he established the Australian and New Zealand Glaucoma Club - now the Australian and New Zealand
Glaucoma Interest Group - as the College's first special interest group. He aimed to bring together
those interested in glaucoma on the basis of equality and informality. He was Chair of the Club from
1988 until 2005. The Glaucoma Interest Group established the Gillies Lecture in 2006 to recognise his
contribution to the study of glaucoma in Australia, and his role in establishing the Group.
He was a member of the Committee of Management of the RVEEH and served for many years on its Research
and Ethics Committee, the Theatre Advisory Committee and numerous other committees. He was a director
and then secretary of the Eye Ear Nose and Throat Research Institute from 1995 to its cessation in 2005.
He held weekly special teaching clinics for registrars on his general eye clinic at the RVEEH for 33 years.
He also founded the Melbourne Ophthalmic Alumni in 1991, bringing ophthalmologists from across Melbourne
to regular clinical meetings at the RVEEH. He also founded the Australian and New Zealand Squint Club in
1991, and was active in developing the orthoptic profession in Australia.
Bill is a brilliant observer and clinician. He pioneered iris angiography at the RVEEH and this work
was the basis for his 1995 Council Lecture entitled "Disorders in Perfusion of the Anterior Segment of the Eye".
He had a special interest in glaucoma, in particular pseudoexfoliation of the lens capsule. He has over
100 publications in refereed journals.
He was Chairman of the Australian Trachoma Committee of the College, a member of its Medicolegal Special
Interest Group, and a Council member of the Victorian State Branch of the Australian Medical Association
for many years. He was an examiner for the College's Part 2 examinations for many years.
In 1998-9 he was President of the College.
It was therefore not surprising that in 2003 he was awarded an OAM, the Medal of the Order of Australia,
for his contribution to ophthalmology in Australia, and in 2006 he was awarded the Medal of the Royal
Australian and New Zealand College of Ophthalmologists for distinguished, meritorious and selfless service.
The Ronald Lowe Medal
of the Australian and New Zealand Glaucoma Interest Group
RONALD FRANCIS LOWE (1913-1998) had a fascinating and rewarding career extending through pharmacy, medicine,
the army, ophthalmology, tourism, administration and medical history.
From secondary schooling at Wesley College in Melbourne, he proceeded to pharmacy (Dr Ph C. 1934) and then
to Medicine (M.B., B.S., 1939), a year at the Alfred Hospital and then the army (1941-1946), with the rank
of Captain-Major and saw service in the New Guinea and Darwin. He was seconded as R.M.O. to the then Eye
and Ear Hospital before proceeding to London, Moorfields Hospital and the Institute of Ophthalmology as
Tutor-Registrar. Whilst there he gained the first F.R.C.S. in Ophthalmology. Returning to Melbourne his
long and illustrious career at the (Royal) Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital began in the clinical field
culminating as Emeritus Ophthalmic Surgeon in 1973.
In 1963 he became the second director of the Glaucoma Research Unit at the hospital (1963-1975). This
was the first special ophthalmic unit formed at the hospital in 1957 and the first Glaucoma Research Unit
in Australia. He was on many committees at the hospital including the Board of Management from 1955-1973.
At various times he was Chairman of the Medical Staff, Dean of the Clinical School and was greatly
involved with the Orthoptic Clinic and Orthoptic Board of Australia. Most important was the Library
Committee resulting in its very significant development to form the "Ronald Lowe Library", a conjoint
affair of the R.V.E.E.H. and the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Ophthalmologists.
Apart from this he did important teaching and research, especially on angle closure glaucoma, resulting
in many papers. In 1966 he was awarded the M.D. Much earlier he had received the Gordon Craig Travelling
Fellowship from the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons and was awarded the Shorney prize for research
in ophthalmology on two occasions (from Adelaide).
He gained the F.R.A.C.S. in 1947 and was on several committees, including the Court of Examiners of this
college (1960-1967). Similarly he was involved with the Ophthalmological Society of Australia, the
Ophthalmic Research Institute of Australia, the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Ophthalmologists
and the Asian Pacific Academy of Ophthalmology, becoming an Office Bearer and President of most at various times.
He was particularly interested in Asia Pacific Ophthalmology and led numerous ophthalmic tours in the area.
A member of several ophthalmic societies he contributed over 150 papers, books, and contributions to
books and pamphlets for patients.
Later in his career he became interested in medical history, especially concerned with the R.V.E.E.H.
and some of the founders and of his distinguished predecessors. This resulted again in numerous papers
of considerable interest. In 1989 he became a foundation Fellow of the Royal College of Ophthalmologists (F.R.C.Ophth).
Lowe had a few outside interests including photography and gardening. A particular interest in Liliums led
to several papers and at one stage President of the Lilium Society.
Married twice he had one son, and his widow Zena, also an ophthalmologist, is with us today.
A friendly, stimulating, knowledgeable man who greatly encouraged his juniors; he is greatly missed, and
this Medal is a fitting tribute to his memory.
|
