Dr C W (Bill) Austin
M.B.B.S
F.R.A.N.Z.C.O, F.R.C.S

  Inspirational all his life, Dr Bill Austin was born on the 3rd 0f June 1932 to Clarice and Arthur Austin. Bill was raised in Brisbane by his uncle and aunty after his mother passed away from complications at his birth. Bill attended West End State School and then Brisbane Grammar School from 1946 to 1949 where he excelled both academically and on the rugby field.

  On leaving Grammar school Bill was offered a fellowship in Veterinary Science, but instead chose to take a job with the Bank of Australasia. Excelling in his bank roles he was sent to the Melbourne Head Office in 1955. However in 1956 Bill decided he would leave the bank and he started saving to pay for medical school. A lottery win in November 1956 allowed Bill to resign from the bank and enter medical school straight away. While studying medicine Bill met Esdene and they married in 1962.

  On moving back to Queensland, Bill worked as a GP in Brisbane and was also, for a time, president of the Tipperoo Rowing Club parents support group at Brisbane Grammar School. Avid bushwalkers, Bill, wife Esdene and their family enjoyed hiking Mt Cootha and Binna Burra in Queensland, and they loved the You Yangs down in Victoria.

  Bill decided to study ophthalmology, so the family of now six moved back to Melbourne so Bill could qualify at the Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital over a two year period.

  Ever a Queenslander and back home again once more, 1976 saw Bill establish the Western Queensland Eye Service. He travelled every few months, at his own expense, to provide care to rural patients in places such as Longreach, Blackall and Barcaldine, and he continued those trips for 16 years stopping only after Esdene's health deteriorated.

  Bill practiced ophthalmology on the Gold Coast at Mermaid Beach for more than twenty years and in 2000 joined Vision Centre Gold Coast. He still continued to offer wise guidance to his younger colleagues to ensure that the very high traditional standards of professional eye care were maintained.

  In his 70s, Bill was still practising three days a week as well as volunteering for the Gold Coast Palliative care group at the Gold Coast Hospital in his spare time. He was also being treated for cancer.

  Bill passed away on the 23rd of December 2007, a very sad loss for so many people and for the medical profession. He is greatly missed by family, friends, patients and colleagues alike. A lovely, talented, compassionate man.