Brian Wilson OAM
The Trust is deeply saddened by the death of 1966 Churchill Fellow Dr Brian Wilson. Brian’s first involvement with the Trust came when he and his son knocked on doors on Churchill Appeal Sunday, 28 February 1965, for the fundraising campaign to establish the Churchill Trust. His Churchill Fellowship allowed him to study treatment of glaucoma in the USA, the UK, Germany, Switzerland. He had a long-standing personal commitment to the ongoing success of Churchill Fellowships in Australia as a member of the Queensland Regional Selection Committee from 1972 until 1979 and an active member of the Queensland Churchill Fellows Association. His commitment continued in a generous endowment made in memory of his first wife, Dorothy, establishing the biennial Dorothy and Brian Wilson Sponsored Fellowship to Investigate Strategies Aimed at Making a Difference in the Lives of Disadvantaged Children Though Education and Training, which has enabled six Fellowships to be awarded since 2008.
He was awarded Life Membership of the Churchill Fellows Association of Queensland in recognition of his continued dedication to the Association and its Fellows. In 2007 he was awarded an OAM for service to medicine in the field of ophthalmology as a researcher, clinician, teacher, which was testament to his high standing in the community. He retired from private practice in 1997 but continued to benefit his community and beyond by being an active member of the Queensland Churchill Fellows Association.
In January 2020 Brian was presented with the Churchill Trust Board Recognition Award in appreciation of his significant contribution to the Trust for forty-eight years.
His gentle nature and support for the Trust will be greatly missed by the National Chair, Board, Churchill Fellows and friends of the Churchill Trust.