Dr Eddie Donaldson
Sydney Morning Herald
Monday June 5, 2000
Dr Eddie Donaldson
AO Ophthalmologist
1920 - 2000
A brilliant light of the Australian medical profession has gone out with the death of the doyen of Australian ophthalmology, Dr Eddie Donaldson, at the age of 79. He was a pioneer with a global reputation in retinal surgery and was respected and admired as a man by colleagues and patients.
His career culminated with the presentation to him in 1997 of the Medal of Honour of the Royal Australian College of Ophthalmologists. The citation noted that while this was the college's highest honour, it was no more than a token acknowledgment of his accomplishments.
Edgar John Donaldson was born on a cattle farm near Toowoomba, Queensland. The family moved to Sydney and a small slight lad with glasses found himself first at Mosman Public School and later at North Sydney Boys' High School. He watched the spans of the Harbour Bridge grow out across the water and, eventually, close together.
As a high school student he worked at weekends collecting eggs and tending tennis courts. He wasn't much of a sportsman and joked that at football he was only the orange boy but a very, very good orange boy. In truth he played on the wing; his mates called him the Professor and then just plain Eddie.
He enrolled in medicine at the University of Sydney, working in the holidays as a road ganger with the local council to help pay his fees. Perhaps it was these earlier experiences that made him able to deal with all kinds of people. Though he cared for many famous Australians, they got the same care given to the ordinary bloke.
Having graduated with first-class honours, he was a resident at Sydney Hospital and its first ophthalmic registrar from 1945 to 1949. It was there that he met his wife, Marjorie; they were 51 years married.
Donaldson was among the first ophthalmologists to be fully trained in Australia and one of the first to receive the University of Sydney's diploma in ophthalmology, in 1947. An honorary surgeon at Sydney Eye Hospital from 1950 to 1985, he was chairman of the staff from 1979 to 1985.
In addition to his vigorous role in professional bodies, Donaldson was a driving force in Sydney Eye Hospital's development into a centre of excellence. In 1952, he established the retinal unit at a time when retinal detachment surgery frequently failed from a lack of understanding and poor surgical techniques.
He soon reversed that situation, devoting an enormous amount of time to perfecting his technique at home and in Europe and the United States. In 1964 he started teaching retinal registrars and thus expanded the training of ophthalmologists in retinal surgery and disease. He also introduced new treatments such as laser surgery.
All this greatly enhanced his skills and knowledge of ophthalmology in general and retinal disease treatment in particular. He leaves an enduring legacy; the multiplier effect of his work as a specialist practitioner, researcher and teacher has saved the sight of thousands of people.
A modest man who always played down well-deserved praise on being made an officer in the Order of Australia, he quipped: ``Well, I guess I did something right to be honoured like this" his professional achievements aren't the full story of a great and good man who lived a full and productive life.
He had an impish sense of humour and his laugh was infectious; there has long been a lot of laughter in the Donaldson family. His grandchildren, who first called him Dee and then ``the teasing doctor", were dispatched to hunt crocodiles behind the shed at the back of the garden or for birdies under the couch.
He was a keen carpenter who made many pieces of furniture for the home, and an enthusiastic photographer who developed his own films in earlier years.
Cruelly, in 1978 he contracted Felty's syndrome which combines severe arthritis and reduced immunity while slowly crippling. Some mornings he could not unclench his hands and had to soak them in hot water to get them moving so he could operate. No complaints. Work to be done.
His greatest joys in later years were his family and friends, reading and music.When he realised that he was about to die he was typically worried that he had no gift for his wife for Mother's Day and with effort communicated the same. His passing was eventually peaceful and swift, in the arms of all the members of the family.
He is survived by Marjorie, their children, Jill, Wendy, Craig and Ann, and a sister, Joan.
© 2000 Sydney Morning Herald
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