Professor Fred Hollows was famous for being an eye doctor, a universal health advocate, and a humanitarian. But he was also a loving father who adored his children. This Father’s Day, his son Dr Cam Hollows shares some memories of his dad in a special video, plus some of his favourite family photos.
COVER PHOTO: Cam Hollows with his dad Fred Hollows (1980s) Photo credit: The Fred Hollows Foundation
My father - Professor Fred Hollows - had many roles in his lifetime. He was a doctor who restored sight, a champion for the disadvantaged, and an advocate who demanded better. To my family, he was simply “dad” - a father who loved his children very much.
I hope you all enjoyed the short video I’ve recorded to share some of my favourite memories of my dad, Fred Hollows with you. I wanted to say thank you to all our supporters who’re helping keep dad’s vision alive.
I was only 10 years old when dad died, and my sisters were even younger. We’re very lucky to have so many photos and recordings of him to look back on and keep his memory alive. He also lives on through the work of The Foundation, where so many people help to carry on dad’s dream of ending avoidable blindness.
My dad had many roles in his lifetime but to my family, the most important role was simply that – him being our dad. I’m a dad myself now with two daughters, Tabitha and Matilda. Even though they will never meet their grandad, they will always know how much Fred enjoyed being a father. And I know he would have enjoyed being a grandfather even more.
Here are 10 of my favourite photos of dad that I love sharing with my children, and now I’m sharing them with you.
I love this photo of dad, mum and 9-year-old me. Dad had just come back from Eritrea, and mum and I were so happy to have him home. My dad was a captivating storyteller, so it was always fun hearing about his travels.
This photo of my sisters and I with mum and dad makes me smile – we were quite a handful! It was taken at home in Randwick after dad was nominated for Australian of the Year.
Mum and dad, and us kids are holding up fivers in this one for the Seeing is Believing campaign that dad started because people were stopping him in the street giving him five dollar notes to help end avoidable blindness.
Photo credit: Michael Amendolia, Newspix (1992)
This is a happy photo of my sisters and I with dad. We were at the Rotary Award Day at the Prince of Wales Hospital in Sydney in late January, 1993. Dad knew how to have fun and make us kids laugh.
I joined dad on his trip to Vietnam and here we’re going for a little ride, checking out the local sights.
Photo credit: Hollows Family (1992)
I was pretty little in this photo but it’s one of my favourites of dad and I hiking in the Snowy Mountains. He loved nature, and being up in the mountains or in the bush was one of his great passions.
I was lucky to join dad on his Vietnam trip and see the impact his life’s work was having on people’s lives at a fairly young age. Since then, I’ve been fortunate to have gone back to Vietnam as a medical student. By becoming a doctor I hope to make a positive impact on people like my dad did – big shoes to fill!
I was just a toddler here but I love this photo of me perched up on dad’s shoulders after his fun run for the Prince Henry Hospital.
This is such a nostalgic photo of my dad as a young man with my uncles in New Zealand. It’s postcard-perfect! They are pictured oldest to youngest: Monty Hollows, Fred Hollows, Colin Hollows and John Hollows.
This is a photo of my dad when he was pretty young. He’s standing here with my grandad Joe Hollows and I love how alike they look.
Thanks for taking this walk down memory lane with me. More importantly, thank you for keeping my dad’s dream of ending avoidable blindness alive by helping The Foundation restore sight to millions of people around the world.
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