Professor Barry L Cole giving a lecture at the State University of New York

Historical Significance: Professor Barry Cole (1934 - ) was appointed the first full time member of the academic staff of the Victorian College of Optometry in 1959 and immediately urged the College to negotiate with the University of Melbourne for the optometry course run by the College to be a degree course of the University. This occurred in December 1960. With John Nathan and Geoff Henry he started the first research program of the College. He became Director of the College in 1964 succeeding John Nathan. He was appointed Head of the Department of Optometry in the University of Melbourne when it was established in 1973 and was appointed the foundation professor of optometry in 1978. He retired as Professor Emeritus in 1999. He was awarded an honorary Doctorate of the University by the Queensland University of Technology in 1999 and an honorary Doctorate of Science by the State University of New York in 2006. He was also made an honorary life member of the Optometrists Assocation.