Dorothy and Brian Wilson

Dr Brian Wilson’s association with the Churchill Trust goes back to the 28th of February 1965 when he and his 15 year old son knocked on doors in Brisbane collecting donations on Churchill Appeal Sunday. Little did Brian know that he would directly benefit from the generosity of the Australian community a year later. In 1966 Brian was the recipient of one of the six inaugural Churchill Fellowships to be awarded in Queensland. Brian was an accomplished ophthalmologist who travelled to the United States, United Kingdom, Germany and Switzerland to visit a number of glaucoma centres for consultation and study. Brian played a pivotal role in the advancement of ophthalmological treatment and practice particularly in the area of glaucoma. Along with regular teaching sessions at Brisbane hospitals, Brian worked as an examiner and lecturer in optics for the University of Queensland and the Royal Australian College of Ophthalmologists. Brian served on the Queensland Regional Selection Committee of the Churchill Trust from 1972 until 1979 and became an active member of the Queensland Churchill Fellows’ Association. Brian retired from private practice in 1997 and his friendship and compassion were greatly missed. In 2007 Brian was awarded an OAM for service to medicine in the field of ophthalmology as a researcher, clinician and teacher, and for his service to the community. This Fellowship was established in honour of Brian’s late first wife, Dorothy, and will be awarded biennially in perpetuity.