logologo-optometry

Certificate of honorary life membership of the Victorian College of Optometry for Bertram Nathan

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Catalogue Number: 1647
Certificate of honorary life membership of the Victorian College of Optometry for Bertram Nathan
Category: Papers
Sub-Category: Certificate, diploma
Institution: Victorian College of Optometry
Year Of Publication/Manufacture: 1960
Time Period: 1940 to 1999
Place Of Publication/Manufacture: Melbourne
Publisher/Manufacturer: Victorian College of Optometry
Description Of Item: A4 size stiff white card being a certificate of election to honorary life membership of the Victorian College of Optometry of Bertram Natahn, hand written caligraphy, dated 21st October 1960 and signed by Professor Sir Arthur BP Amies, President, and GH Henry, First Vice President, framed in an ebony and silver A4 size frame
Historical Significance: Bertram Nathan was the first Chairman of the Optometrists Registration Board 1936. He played a very important role in establishing a four-year university level optometry course in 1940 and in the foundation of the Australian College of Optometry. He was a key figure in steering the new College through internal disputes that threatened its survival in its first years. See his profile in 'People who made history' on this web site. He was Treasurer of the VCO 1955-1956 and was instrumental in obtaining a grant from the Government of Victoria to enable the College to buy property in Cardigan Street Carlton on which it could build its own building . He was also the first person to persuade the Government of Victoria to make regular recurrent grants to the College that enabled it to appoint its first full time lecturer and later to make a building grant to the College in 1957. He studied optometry in London gaining the FIOO and the FSMC diplomas and returned to Australia on the end of World War 1. See also Cat Nos 10, 142, 143, 144, 387, 799, 890. 896. 914 - 916, 967, 1242.
How Acquired: Donated by John Nathan, son of Bertram Nathan and an honorary life member of the College
Condition: Very good but signatures faded. Frame is not original
Location: Archive room. West wall. Unit 2 Drawer 4

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