Fred Hollows was born on September 9, 1929, in Dunedin, New Zealand. He grew up in a low-income family and was raised by his single mother after his father passed away when he was just four years old. Despite facing financial struggles, Fred was determined to pursue a career in medicine from a young age.
He studied at the University of Otago, where he completed his medical degree in 1954. After graduating, Fred moved to the United Kingdom to further his studies. He completed his postgraduate training at Moorfields Eye Hospital in London in 1961, specializing in ophthalmology.
After completing his training in the UK, Fred Hollows returned to Australia in 1965. He began working as an eye doctor at the Royal Prince Alfred Hospital in Sydney, where he quickly gained a reputation for his skill and dedication to his patients.
One of Fred's most significant contributions was his work with Aboriginal communities in remote areas of Australia. He was shocked to discover the high rates of preventable blindness among Indigenous Australians and dedicated himself to providing eye care to those in need.
Throughout his career, Fred Hollows received numerous awards and accolades for his pioneering work in the field of ophthalmology. In 1990, he was named Australian of the Year in recognition of his efforts to eliminate preventable blindness in Australia and around the world.
Fred Hollows was married twice in his lifetime. He married his first wife, Mary Skiller, in the 1950s, with whom he had two sons. After their divorce, Fred married Gabi O'Sullivan in 1980, with whom he had a daughter.
Despite being diagnosed with cancer in the late 1980s, Fred continued to work tirelessly to improve eye health in developing countries. He traveled to countries such as Nepal, Eritrea, and Vietnam, where he trained local doctors and performed sight-saving surgeries.
Fred Hollows passed away on February 10, 1993, but his legacy lives on through the Fred Hollows Foundation, an organization he co-founded that continues to provide eye care to those in need around the world.
Fred Hollows was a visionary eye doctor who dedicated his life to restoring sight to those who were needlessly blind. His tireless efforts and groundbreaking work have left a lasting impact on the field of ophthalmology, and his legacy continues to inspire others to follow in his footsteps.
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