My friend, Fred

It’s been 30 years since The Fred Hollows Foundation was established to help end avoidable blindness. As his friend Ray Martin reflects on this groundbreaking work, Fred’s legacy continues to change lives around the world.

- 

As one of Australia’s most respected journalists, Ray Martin has covered some of the world’s biggest stories and sat down with an array of notable figures from Sir Donald Bradman to Sir Elton John. Yet there was one story that stayed with him. “I’ve easily interviewed 10,000 people over my career, and Professor Fred Hollows is probably the most remarkable human being I’ve ever met,” Ray tells The Weekly today.

Ray first met Fred and his wife, Gabi, in 1980 for a 60 Minutes story on the National Trachoma and Eye Health Program which Fred helped roll out across Australia to tackle the high incidence of blindness in Indigenous communities. While Ray recalls thinking Fred was a “cranky old bugger”, he was seriously impressed by his work, not only restoring sight but highlighting the appalling state of Aboriginal health, and a close friendship ensued.

After Fred was diagnosed with cancer, he and Gabi realised their time to make a difference was limited, and so they embarked on a mission to ensure Fred’s work would continue after his death. Ray, then host of