Vision Centre

Tribute to Dr C W (Bill) Austin 1932-2007

Dr Bill Austin was born on the 06/03/1932 to Clarice and Arthur Austin. Bill was raised in Brisbane by his uncle and aunty after his mother passed away from complications of his birth.

Bill attended West End State School and then Brisbane Grammar School from 1946 to 1949 where he excelled academically and on the sports field playing Rugby.

At the end of Grammar school Bill was offered a fellowship in Veterinary Science, but instead chose to take a job with the Bank of Australasia. Excelling in the bank he was sent to Melbourne Head Office in 1955.

In 1956 Bill decided to leave the bank and started saving for medical school. After a lottery win in November he handed in his resignation to the bank. While studying in medical school Bill met Esdene and they married in 1962. After moving back to Queensland to work as a GP in Brisbane Bill was president for a time of the Tipperoo Rowing club of Brisbane Grammar parents support club.

Avid bushwalkers Bill, Esdene and family enjoyed Mt Cootha, Binna Burra and the You Yangs in Victoria.

Bill’s next career jump was to study Ophthalmology. With four children the family moved back to Melbourne so Bill could qualify in Ophthalmology after two years at the Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital.

In 1976 he established the Western Queensland Eye Service travelling every few months at his own expense to provide care to rural patients in places such as Longreach, Blackall and Barcaldine. He continued these trips for 16 years stopping only after his wife’s health deteriorated.

Bill practiced Ophthalmology on the Gold Coast at Mermaid Beach for over twenty years and in 2000 joined the Vision Centre Gold Coast eye practice. He continued to offer wise guidance to his younger colleagues upholding traditional standards of care in the profession.

In his 70s, Bill was also a volunteer for the Gold Coast Palliative care group at the Gold Coast Hospital in his spare time while also practicing three days a week despite his own battle with cancer.

Sadly Bill passed away 23/12/2007. He will be greatly missed by family, friends, patients and colleagues.