LEFT TO RIGHT : LAUREATE PROFESSOR HUGH TAYLOR AC (’ 64 ); TIM BUDGE (’ 73 ); JOHN DE RAVIN (’ 73 ), SON JACK AND WIFE RACHEL GERAGHTY ; PROFESSOR MATTHEW SNAPE MBE (’ 86 ) RECEIVING HIS MBE FROM THE PRINCE OF WALES .
Controversial Ideas to champion freedom of thought .
‘ I ’ ve had pleasing success in fostering civil discussions among undergraduates on contentious ethical issues . In my teaching , I ’ ve encouraged students to consider careers that will do the most good with their abilities and provide a rewarding life for themselves as well .’
LAUREATE PROFESSOR HUGH TAYLOR AC (’ 64 ) has been named at number five in the world ’ s Top 10 ‘ EyeCons ’ ( eye consultants ) by The Asia-Pacific Journal of Ophthalmology . The journal set up a committee to seek worldwide nominations for ophthalmologists who were alive , or had been alive , in the 21st century , who had made major contributions to ophthalmology and eye care – in the journal ’ s terms , ‘ the most influential ophthalmologists who helped shape the world of ophthalmology in the 21st century ’. They selected 24 and ranked the top 10 , placing Hugh at number five . He was the only Australian to figure in the top 24 .
Hugh is the Melbourne Laureate Professor Emeritus , at the University of Melbourne . He has been a leading Australian corneal and refractive surgeon and was the Founding Director of the Centre for Eye Research Australia . He has worked for many years to improve the eye health of Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island people . However , much of his work has been about global eye health , including trachoma , onchocerciasis , and the harmful ocular effects of cigarette smoking and UV exposure . He has over 800 scientific publications .
Hugh has received many international awards and is a Companion of the Order of Australia ( AC ). He has had many leading international roles and was the President of the International Council of Ophthalmology .
1970s
Like most , TIM BUDGE ’ S (’ 73 ) career trajectory has varied ; as he describes it , ‘ sometimes stunning achievements and sometimes … perhaps just ahead of my time !’ After Scotch , inspired by masters such as KEN EVANS OAM (’ 47 ) and a love of maths , he completed an honours degree ( Applied Maths ) before teaching at inner-city high schools , places worlds away from his schooling .
In 1986 , he started a ground-breaking employment organisation in Footscray , which now has 20 offices across Melbourne-Geelong . In 1991 , he moved into international development , his global interest stemming from his early upbringing in Asia . Initially with World Vision , he oversaw projects across Africa , the Middle East and Asia . In 2006 , Tim and partner Meredith moved to Timor-Leste , overseeing crisis-response , social development and capacity-building programs for Plan International .
A subsequent posting in Zambia sometimes felt neo-colonial , but he learned about indigeneity and decolonisation ; big themes in his PhD on fostering social change . Based in Australia since 2013 , he has been posted to Tanzanian refugee settings and in the Pacific and led evaluations in occupied
Palestinian territories and Africa .
Now retired , he says he advocates for lost causes , like disarmament , Palestine and climate action . He loves his community radio show EarthChat on SeymourFM , cycling and time with his grandsons . Tim and Meredith live on 36ha of conservationcovenanted land , Taungurung Country , in central Victoria .
JOHN DE RAVIN (’ 73 ), his wife Rachel Geraghty and son Jack have moved to Italy for a year and are renting an apartment in Verona , in the ‘ old town ’ and very near the Castelvecchio (‘ Old Castle ’). John says it is a beautiful , interesting and historic part of the world . He told Great Scot : ‘ My wife Rachel was the main driver for the relocation : she is an Italophile , having been learning Italian for four or five years , and having visited once or twice a year during that time . She loves everything Italian : the people , the culture , the architecture , the sights , the language , the food ...
‘ Our son Jack and I are enjoying the move too ; it ’ s certainly a big change from our lives in Sydney . We have already been on a ski holiday in Cortina ( a beautiful location ) and although I was initially very worried about getting back into skiing at the tender age of 67 after a 40-year gap , I found that it was indeed like ‘ riding a bike ’ – it does come back to you . The only downside was that by day four on the slopes , I heard regular cries from my 14 year old behind me on the slopes ( after a lifetime skiing experience of only four days ), of “ hurry up , old man !”’
John says that while the family is in Italy they also plan to catch up with a lot of European-based friends , in France , Germany , England and Ireland .
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