Roy Wright (physiologist)

He was born in Central Castra, Tasmania. He became Professor of Physiology at the University of Melbourne from 1939 to 1971 and was later Chancellor of the University from 1980 to 1989.[1] He advised the leaders of the optometry profession who were responsible for setting up the Victorian College of Optometry in 1939 and 1940 and helped plan the first four-year optometry course. He was involved again when the optometry course was transferred to the university.

Wright married Julia Violet Bell, a nurse, on 24 September 1932 at Camperdown, Victoria; they subsequently divorced. On 22 July 1964 he married Meriel Antoinette Winchester Wilmot, his secretary since 1941, in the registry office, Kensington, England.[2]

The young Roy Douglas Wright of the 1930s sported circular glasses frames,[3] while an older, more refined Wright turned his attention to a more edgy rectangular frame style by the early 1980s.[4]

He was a colourful supporter of causes, as his biography "Pansy Wright — A biography of Roy Douglas Wright" by Peter McPhee (1999) attests. He challenged students, colleagues and institutions, asserting at one time: "Whatever you do, whether you do it well or do it badly, do it brilliantly. Avoid mediocrity on all accounts".

In the Australia Day Honours of 1983, he was made a Knight (AK) of the Order of Australia.

He was the brother of Sir Reg Wright, a long-serving Liberal Senator from Tasmania, who was also knighted, and who died only ten days later, on 10 March 1990.

• Biographical article in the Encyclopedia of Australian Science.
• Biographical article by Peter McPhee in the Dictionary of Australian Biography.