Photo courtesy of Robert Pearce / Fairfax Photos.

About Fred

New Zealand born and bred, Professor Fred Hollows was a world renowned eye-doctor, humanitarian and social activist. Fred believed that everyone had the right to high quality and affordable eye care no matter who they were or where they lived. 

He championed the introduction of modern cataract surgery in developing countries and had the groundbreaking idea of setting up intraocular lens factories in Eritrea and Nepal. The latter of these achievements made cataract surgery affordable for millions of people living in the developing world. Read more about Fred's enduring legacy

Fred Hollows is considered a Kiwi hero by many and was named one of New Zealand's Top 100 History Makers. 

Photo courtesy of The Fred Hollows Foundation
Fred's Achievements at a Glance
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It has been estimated that through Fred's initiatives, over one million people around the world have had their sight restored. Read a quick list of Fred's lifetime achievements.
Photo courtesy of The Fred Hollows Foundation
Fred's Work
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Fred was an eye doctor, skilled surgeon and social justice activist who championed the right of all people to high quality and affordable eye care and good health. Read about Fred's life and working history here.
Photo courtesy of Bob Aitken
Recognition and Awards
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It goes without saying that Fred Hollows was a remarkable character. Thanks to his hard work and vision, more than one million people around the world can see today. During his time Fred received much recognition and many awards for his dedication to ending avoidable blindness. Find out about the awards.
Photo courtesy of Stephen Ellison/Outline
Fred in Bourke
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Fred had a very special relationship with Bourke, a country town in northern NSW in Australia. He spent a lot of time there and made many lifelong friends as a result. In accordance with his own wishes, Fred was laid to rest in Bourke, where the red dirt and mulgas signal the start of the outback which he loved so much. Read about this special place.
Photo courtesy of The Fred Hollows Foundation
Fred's Legacy
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Fred on File is the ultimate resource for information about Fred Hollows. Fred was a fascinating character and during his lifetime he conducted many interviews with journalists and others interested in his work. As a result, there is a lot of rich material we can draw on to learn about Fred. Explore this terrific collection of radio interviews, websites, poems and more.