Annual Report 2009

Save Sight InstituteA Foundation of Sydney University

Foresight AustraliaLions NSW Eye Bank

Sight for Life

SAVE SIGHTI N S T I T U T ET H E U N I V E R S I T Y O F S Y D N E Y

2

The Save Sight InstituteVision and Mission

S a v e S i g h t I n s t i t u t e ~ 2 0 0 9 A n n u a l R e p o r t

Sightfor Living,Sight for Life!

Our Vision:Sight for Lifefor the whole community.

The Mission:New Knowledge Creationto save sight.

Research Focus:Eye Disease & Vision Scienceensuring that the unsolved blindness of today becomes curable and preventable tomorrow.

Communication Technologiesexploiting digital media to train the next generation of eye doctors, increasing community awareness and extending eye health services to remote and rural communities.

Community Service & Eye Caredeveloping eye health services, diagnostic tools and screening programs for the prevention of eye disease.

Established as a Foundation of the University of Sydney on 6 May 1985, The Save Sight Institute is a not-for-profit organisation working with government and community to save sight.

The Save Sight Institute is located on the historic site of Sydney’s first hospital and shares

its home with the Sydney Eye Hospital

Her Excellency Professor Marie Bashir AC CVO, Governor of NSW,Patron, The Save Sight Institute, & Chancellor, The University of Sydney

President’s Report

S a v e S i g h t I n s t i t u t e ~ 2 0 0 9 A n n u a l R e p o r t

By January 2009 the Global Financial Crisis was well under way. It has been an eventful roller coaster ride with the Australian stock market bottoming out in March of that year. It was also in March that Professor Peter McCluskey took up his position as the Professor of Ophthalmology and Eye Health in the Sydney Medical School of the University of Sydney and as Director of the Save Sight Institute, not a particularly auspicious time to commence with a good deal of doom and gloom about. Professor McCluskey set about his new mission with vigour and much success as you will see from his and other reports.

This year’s report, my tenth since becoming President, is structured differently from those of the past. From 1985 to 2010 the Save Sight Institute has functioned as a Foundation of the University, however under a set of reforms initiated by the Vice-Chancellor and adopted by the Senate the Save Sight Institute as a Foundation will cease to exist at the Annual General Meeting to be held on 25th August. In its place there is the Save Sight Institute as a Centre that has been established this year. There will also be a new fund raising Foundation called the Save Sight Institute Foundation. The reports of the terminating body and of the new body have been combined in the one document as you will see by turning to the reverse cover of the document.

The past ten years have been years of continuous growth. This is a summary of how the financial strength of the Institute has improved over that time.

While the University has suffered some investment losses, our funds were at all times retained in the cash pool funds rather than the growth funds and they remain intact. I hope that when the Save Sight Institute becomes a Centre that its financial reports will show the full financial activities of the Centre which they have not for the Foundation. For example, page 13 of the Report for the Centre shows that we bought equipment costing $1.8m, none of which is shown as an asset in the balance sheet.

In September 2009 Senate approved the appointment of three new directors: Dr Justin Playfair, Ophthalmologist and Head of the Joint Eye Departments of Sydney Eye Hospital and Prince of Wales Hospital and Dr John Grigg, Ophthalmologist, Head of the Discipline of Ophthalmology in the Sydney Medical School and both a clinician and a research scientist. In this role he assists Professor McCluskey in respect to all aspects of the teaching of Ophthalmology to both undergraduate and post graduate students including assisting in the organization of the annual Registrars Conference held at Sydney Hospital in January each year. The third appointment was Dr Christopher Peterson, previously Associate Professor in Computer Systems Engineering at University of Technology, Sydney. He is working with the Council to become familiar with Associate Professor Klistorner’s research with the Accumap and particularly with its software and to provide liaison with Sydnovate in managing the relationship with Mr Arthur Chang and Objectivision Pty Ltd. The Accumap patents are licensed by the University to Objectivision Pty Ltd to develop and commercialise the Accumap.

Mr Ken Coles AM

3

Total Income

Total Expenditure

Total Funds

2000

$918,335

$1,036,861

$190,553

2005

$2,595,163

$2,382,129

$1,300,030

2009

$4,184,668

$3,835,687

$4,283,315

4

President’s Report (continued)

S a v e S i g h t I n s t i t u t e ~ 2 0 0 9 A n n u a l R e p o r t

We were very pleased to welcome Professor Paul Martin and Associate Professor Ulrike Grünert to the Save Sight Institute early in 2010 together with their Postdoctoral Fellows Drs Sander Pieterson and Carla Abbott. Research Assistant Cindy Guy and PhD students, Kenny Cheong and Kumiko Percival.

Their collective expertise will add further dimensions to visual Neurosciences research at the Save Sight Institute. They are temporarily working in the offices in the space we have been provided by Sydney Hospital that will become the Billson Research Laboratories when the construction work necessary is carried out this year. It will be a splendid new facility that has been funded by grants from the Sydney University Medical Foundation and Sydney University Major Equipment Fund with additional funds donated by Marno Parsons and others.

I have some special feelings about completing almost ten years as President of the Save Sight Institute since following my predecessor, Peter Ketley on 1st January 2001. I thank Peter for his help in passing the baton to me and since. I am much indebted to all who have served on the board of the Institute during that time and thank them all sincerely for their support and wise counsel. I particularly want to acknowledge the great relationship that developed between Professor Billson and me. Frank was a great teacher and I learned a lot from him.

I have much appreciated the intellectual stimulation of the program of scientific lectures by the Save Sight Institute scientists and clinicians organised by Professor McCluskey. These gave a valuable insight into the wide range of specialisations being pursued here. We are very fortunate to have the scientists and clinicians that we have. The assistance they get from our fine technicians is invaluable and our administrative staff keep the whole operation going with real commitment.

The Save Sight Institute has an outstanding range of specialisations and has changed the lives of people with glaucoma, macular degeneration and other debilitating conditions. My turn came to experience the expertise offered when I had cataract operations. Foolish people say “Cataracts? Do not worry it is a cinch”. It is not. It is brilliant, high tech modern medicine. I am grateful for its wonders and for the improvement to my driving and my tennis.

Thank you, every one. I wish Professor McCluskey, Dr John Grigg, Professor John McAvoy and Professor Ramzi Fayed and all their team well for the future.

K.G.Coles,AM President.

5

4. Director’s Report

S a v e S i g h t I n s t i t u t e ~ 2 0 0 9 A n n u a l R e p o r t

1977 – Professor F.A.Billson AO appointed the Foundation Professor of Ophthalmology & Eye Health in the Faculty of Medicine of Sydney University.

1978 – Foresight Australia formed to prevent and cure blindness in Bangladesh, PNG, Cambodia.1980 – Professor Billson and Associate Professor Jan Provis receive the first grant to investigate the problem of blindness in premature

babies at King George V Hospital.1984 – Lions provide five years seed funding to establish the Save Sight Institute as a Foundation of Sydney University with Professor

Billson as its Director and its Constitution approved by Senate.1986 – The Save Sight Institute opened in Albion St, Sydney, by the Governor Sir James Rowland.1994 – Basic Science course for student ophthalmologists, and the Registrar’s annual training symposium established by the Save Sight Institute. 1995 – The Lion’s Eye Bank brought within the purview of Clinical Ophthalmology and the Save Sight Institute with Professor Billson

as its Director.1996 – The Save Sight Institute hosted the International Neuro-ophthalmology meeting in Sydney.1996 – Clinical trials start for macular degeneration therapy with triamcinolone.1997 – The Save Sight Institute moved to the Sydney Hospital-Sydney Eye Hospital campus.1997 – Four year graduate medical program commenced.1997 – Virtual computer based Clinical Ophthalmology course for student teaching.1997 – Lions Eye Bank received TGA accreditation and licence.1998 – Drs S Graham and A Kilstorner receive grant to develop the Accumap patented objective perimetry equipment to provide early

diagnosis of glaucoma.1999 – The Blue Mountains epidemiological study finds that smoking doubles the chance of cataract and quadruples the risk of age

related macular degeneration.2000 – KGV Hospital reported no cases of retinopathy of prematurity in babies for two years.2000 – Teleophthalmology internet services extended to the aboriginal community of the Northern Territory.2000 – Professor John McAvoy appointed Director of Laboratory Research.2002 – Objectivision Pty Ltd set up and licensed to commercially develop the Accumap. 2002 – Foresight reports over 100,000 pairs of recycled glasses sent to countries of SE Asia and the Pacific.2003 – Research grants exceed $1million for the first time.2003 – The University’s fibre optic Search network extended to the SSI Campus for video teaching in rural Australia and for scientific

collaboration worldwide.2003 – Professor Billson received the International Humanity Award for the Prevention of Blindness in the Asia-Pacific region from the

American Academy of Ophthalmology.2004 – Professor Billson was presented with the Claud Worth Lifetime Distinction Medal of the Institute of Child Health, London and

delivered the Claud Worth lecture at their meeting in Wales. 2004 – The International Congress of Eye Research World was hosted by the SSI in Sydney for the first time.2005 – Professor Billson awarded the Jose Rizal medal, the highest award of the Asia Pacific Academy of Ophthalmology, and delivered

an address to the Academy.2006 – Professor Billson was invited to deliver the 8th SAARC Oration at the Ophthalmology Congress of SAARC countries in Colombo,

speaking on The Challenge of Congenital Cataract.2006 – Research grants exceed $2million for the first time.2007 – Dr John Grigg appointed Head of the Discipline of Ophthalmology at SSI.2007 – The microsurgical training laboratory in the north wing of Sydney Hospital was completed, became operational and was first

used for the Registrars Conference in January 2007.2008 – Scientific conference held over three days at the SSI to honour Frank Billson’s retirement.2008 – Retirement dinner in the Great Hall with the Governor of NSW for Professor Frank Billson.2008 – Professor Billson Professor of Ophthalmology & Eye Health retired on 31st August.2008 – Professor Billson’s successor Professor Peter McCluskey was chosen in late July.2009 – In March Professor McCluskey began as Professor of Ophthalmology & Eye Health & Director of the SSI.2009 – Professor McCluskey started occasional lectures by SSI scientists and clinicians about their work in the SSI.

Milestones in the Progress of the SSI

6

Save Sight Institute Staff

S a v e S i g h t I n s t i t u t e ~ 2 0 0 9 A n n u a l R e p o r t

Patron

Her Excellency Professor Marie Bashir AC, CVO

Governor of New South Wales

Members of Council

Mr Ken Coles AM, BE, DUniv, FIEAustPresidentProfessor Peter McCluskey MD, FRANZCO, FRACS

DirectorDr John Grigg FRANZCO, FRACSHead of DisciplineProfessor Ramzi FayedMr George HarrisMr Max Holmes* Mr Peter KetleyMr Jean-Claude Legrand*Professor John McAvoyMr Ben MeekDr Chris PetersonDr Justin PlayfairMr Kerry Williams**Lions Members

Ex Officio Members

Her Excellency Professor Marie Bashir AC, CVO

ChancellorMr Alan Cameron AM, BA, LLM(Syd)Deputy ChancellorDr Michael Spence BA(Hons), LLB(Hons)Vice-ChancellorProfessor Bruce Robinson MD, MSc, FRACP

Dean, Sydney Medical School

Academic Staff

Professor Peter McCluskey MD, FRANZCO, FRACS

DirectorDr John Grigg FRANZCO, FRACSHead of DisciplineProfessor John McAvoy BSc, PhD, FARVODirector of Laboratory Research

Dr Max Conway PhD, FRANZCO, FRACS

Dr Samantha Fraser-Bell MBBS,

BSc(Med), MHA, MPH, FRANZCO

Professor Mark Gillies PhD, FRANZCO,

FRACS

Dr I-Van Ho PhD

Dr Robyn Jamieson PhD, MBBS, FRACP

Dr Yves Kerdraon MBBS, BSc(Med)(Hons),

MBiomedE, FRANZCO

Associate Professor Alexander Klistorner

BMed, PhD

Associate Professor Frank Lovicu BSc,

PhD

Dr Michele Madigan BOptom, PhD

Dr Con Petsoglou MMed(ClinEpid),

FRANZCO, FRACS

Professor Jonathan Stone DSc, FAA

Professor Roger Truscott BSc, PhD

Clinical Academic Staff

Dr Andrew Chang

Clinical Associate Professor Philip

Clifton-Bligh

Dr Iain Dunlop

Dr Raf Ghabrial

Dr Michael Giblin

Associate Professor Ivan Goldberg

Dr Stuart Graham

Dr Paul Healey

Dr Alex P Hunyor

Dr Gagan Khannah

Dr Gina Kourt

Dr Yong Li

Dr John Males

Dr Anthony Maloof

Associate Professor Kathy McClellan

Dr Weng Sehu

Professor Gerard Sutton

Dr Simon Taylor

Dr Sureka Thiagalingam

Dr Nitin Verma

Dr Richard Wingate

Dr James Wong

Clinical Staff

Ms Barbara MacDougall Cert III ITClinic ManagerMs Haipha Ali BAppVisSc(Orthoptics), MOAA, AOBCR

Mrs Esta Gorgees BAppVisSc(Orthoptics), AOBR

Mrs Aminah Hamdoun BAppVisSc(Orthoptics), AOBR

Ms Elizabeth Hawker RNMs Asya Klistorner BMedSciDr Maria Korsakova MBBSMrs Ann StuderousMrs Natalie Vrtkovski

Administrative Staff

Mr Giovanni Crasto Mr Alistair GilliesMs Gisela Payne Cert III MktingMs Eleanor Viney BAMr Gary Zebington BA, GradDip(Design Computing)

Lions NSW Eye Bank Staff

Dr Pauline RummaActing DirectorDr Con Petsoglou MMed(ClinEpid),FRANZCO, FRACS

Deputy Director & Production ManagerMs Jenny YehudaActing ManagerMichele Bentley*Dr Max Conway PhD, FRANZCO, FRACSBen Cooper BMedSc(Hons)Mr Raj Devasahayam BAppScJim Field*Mr Pierre Georges BSc(Hons)Jean-Claude Legrand*Associate Professor Kathy McClellan PhD, FRANZCO, FRACS

Professor Peter McCluskey MD, FRANZCO, FRACS

Mr Robert MacDonald BA(CogSci)Mrs Helen McKeon BSc(Hons)Owen Quinn*

7S a v e S i g h t I n s t i t u t e ~ 2 0 0 9 A n n u a l R e p o r t

8. Save Sight Institute Staff (continued)

Professor Gerard Sutton MBBS, MD, FRANZCO, FRACS

Janet Stretton RNMs Kellie-Anne Thomas MMedSciDr Meidong Zhu MMed, PhD*Lions Members

Foresight Australia

Foresight Board Members

Professor Frank Billson AO FRANZCO, FRACS

Chairman and Executive DirectorMr Kevin Gardner MComm, BBus, FCPA, FCIS, JP

Dr Maureen Gleeson BHA, MHA, PhDMr George Harris BA, LLMProfessor Ron McCallum AOAssociate Professor Kathy McClellan PhD, FRANZCO, FRACS

Dr Geoffrey Painter FRANZCO,FRACS

Dr Nitin Verma FRANZCO, MM(Ophth), MD(Ophth)

Foresight Medical Advisors

Professor Frank Billson AO, FRANZCO, FRACS

Dr Max Conway PhD, FRANZCO, FRACSDr Roger Dethlefs FRANZCOMs Jill Grasso RNDr John Kearney FRANZCO, FRACSMrs Kerry Legg RN, RMAssociate Professor Kathy McClellan PhD, FRANZCO, FRACS

Dr Neale Mulligan FRANZCODr Geoffrey Painter FRANZCO, FRACSProfessor Gerard Sutton MS(Oph), FRANZCO, FRACS

Dr Nitin Verma FRANZCO, MM(Ophth), MD(Ophth)

Foresight Volunteers

Mr Arthur DurhamMiss Doris FloodMrs Anne LeachMr Don McDonaldMrs Elisabeth ThiloMr John Wilmott

Registrars

Dr Greg Moloney (Senior)Dr Sophia DauberDr Shweta KaushikDr Chris QureshiBrighu Swamy

Visiting Fellows

Dr Martina Bösch (Switzerland)Dr Shiying Li (Republic of China)Dr Srikanth Narayana Dr Rajesh RajagopalanDr Yuki Sugiyama (Japan)Dr Nishantha Wijesinghe (Sri Lanka)

Research Staff

Dr Carla Abbott [12] BOptom, PhDMs Haipha Ali [10] BAppVisSc (Orthoptics), MOAA, AOBCR

Dr Daniel Barthelmes [10] MDProfessor Frank Billson [4,5] AO, MBBS, FRANZCO, FRACS, FAC, FRCOphth

Ms Jessica Boros [7] BScDr John Chang [6] MBBS PhDMs Sook Hyun Chung [10] BMedSc(Hons)

Dr Max Conway [3] PhD, FRANZCO, FRACS

Mr Raj Devasahayam [1] BAppScDr Michael Friedrich [11] BSc, PhDDr Christine Gaston [10] MBBS(Hons)Professor Mark Gillies [10] PhD, FRANZCO, FRACS

Ms Briony Glastonbury [10] MHSMMs Ann Gould [10] BScDr Stuart Graham [5] PhD, MBBS, MS, FRANZCO, FRACS

Dr John Grigg [2,4,5] FRANZCO, FRACSDr Ulrike Grünert [12] DipBiol, PhDMs Cindy Guy [12]Mr Amparo Herrera-Bond [10] DipAppSc(Orthop), BBus

Dr Grace Hunt [10] MBBSDr Robyn Jamieson [4] PhD, MBBS, FRACP

Associate Professor Alexander Klistorner [5] BMed, PhD

Ms Asya Klistorner [5] BMedSciMs Liudmila Kolmogorova [10]BMedSci

Dr Anastasia Korlimbinis [11] PhDDr Maria Korsakova [5] MBBSDr Alice Len [10] PhDDr Belinda Leong [6] MBBSAssociate Professor Frank Lovicu [7] BSc, PhD

Dr Michele Madigan [3,9] BOptom, PhDDr John Males [1] MBBS, BSc, FRANZCODr Paul Martin [12] BSc, PhDProfessor John McAvoy [7] BSc, PhDAssociate Professor Kathy McClellan [1] PhD, FRANZCO, FRACS

Professor Peter McCluskey [6] MD, FRANZCO, FRACS

Mr An Nguyen [10] BSc(Hons)Ms Anke Nguyen [7] BScDr Con Petsoglou [1] MMed(ClinEpid), FRANZCO, FRACS

Dr Sander Pieterson [12]Dr Athena Roufas [1,6] MBBSDr Weiyong Shen [10] MD PhDProfessor Jonathan Stone [8] DSc, FAAMs Rebecca Storen [4] BScDr Richard Stump [7] BSc, PhDDr Yuki Sugiyama [7] BSc, PhDProfessor Gerard Sutton [1] MS(Oph), FRANZCO, FRACS

Professor Roger Truscott [11] BSc, PhDMrs Diana van Driel [8,9] BSc(Hons)Ms Li Wen [10] MMedMs Maria Williams [10] RN, BN, BA, GDip(AcuteCareNurs)

Mr Gary Zebbington [2] BA, DipDesComputing

Dr Ling Zhu [10] PhDDr Meidong Zhu [1,10] MMed, PhD

Key to Research Groups[1] Cornea[2] Digital Media[3] Eye Cancer[4] Eye Genetics[5] Electrophysiology &

Glaucoma[6] Inflammatory Eye Disease[7] Lens[8] Retinal Cell Death & Survival[9] Retinal Development &

Ageing[10] Retinal Therapeutics[11] Visual Ageing[12] Visual Neuroscience

Save Sight Institute Staff (continued)

Community Activities

8 S a v e S i g h t I n s t i t u t e ~ 2 0 0 9 A n n u a l R e p o r t

Lions NSW Eye Bank

December 2005 was the 100th anniversary of the first human organ transplant, which was a corneal transplant. The cornea is the clear tissue that covers the lens at the front of the eye. The cornea may become damaged when injury, disease, infection or scarring change its shape or clarity. Some of these conditions are hereditary. Corneal blindness is the third most common form of blindness. Blindness of the cornea can be repaired by removing the damaged cornea and transplanting a healthy cornea from a donor.

Since 1995, when Professor Billson was appointed Director, the Lions NSW Eye Bank has been closely integrated with and occupies space within the Save Sight Institute including the coordinators’ offices and the Eye Bank. A number of staff work for both bodies. Research is being conducted by staff of the Eye Bank along with staff and postgraduate students of the Save Sight Institute. This research, with contributions from stem cell research and keratonus, has been of great value with the contributions of Dr Gerard Sutton, who represents the transplant surgeons on the Eye Bank Programme Committee, and Professor John McAvoy, Director of Experimental Ophthalmology.

Continuing the significant progress over the past fifteen years, Dr Pauline Rumma became Acting Director following the retirement last year of Professor Billson from the Eye Bank. The Programme Committee and staff are listed on page 6 of this report. During the year the Eye Bank provided over 500 corneal grafts to the people of NSW. However demand is high and there is a constant need for more donors. As long as a cornea is healthy, it can be used to restore sight. Cataracts, poor eyesight or age do not prohibit people from becoming donors. Everyone should seriously consider registering to be an organ donor by filling in that page of the Medicare Claim form.

Finally, and most especially, we thank Lions for its partnership with the Department of Health and for its support of the NSW Eye Bank and the Save Sight Institute. This support has been important for the success of the NSW Eye Bank, now perhaps the leading Eye Bank in Australia.

9S a v e S i g h t I n s t i t u t e ~ 2 0 0 9 A n n u a l R e p o r t

9. Community Activities in AustraliaCommunity Activities (continued)

The Sight for Life Foundation

The Foundation was established on the 23rd August 2005 as an Australian Charity with gift recipient status. Its objects include providing support for the two University Institutions on Macquarie Street; the Sydney/Sydney Eye Hospital and the Save Sight Institute. The Foundation in selecting and including the Institute in its objects recognized the excellence of the Institute and its world class contribution to research and tertiary referral in the Internationally recognized major University teaching Eye Hospital in Australia, the Sydney Eye Hospital. The Foundation continues to have a warm and cooperative operational relationship with both the Hospital and the Institute.

The Foundation’s constitution includes the development of two potentially profit making activities, ‘the Sight Foundation Theatre’ and ‘the Sight Foundation Microsurgical Skills Centre’. Both are situated within the premises of the Hospital. The time spent in negotiations, raising funds, constructing the facilities and the appointment of managers meant that they did not become operational until 2008.

The Foundation Board members have a breadth of medical, legal, business and accounting skills, ensuring strength in governance which is important for future strategic planning.

The Institute provided limited administrative and accounting support to the Foundation until the last quarter of 2009.

Board of Directors Mr Peter Burrows AO, President and ChairmanProfessor Frank Billson AO, Director & Honorary SecretaryMr Peter Stening, Honorary TreasurerDr John Milverton Mr Mack Williams Dr Justin PlayfairDr Iain DunlopDr Gagan Khannah

Advisors:Mr Ken Coles AMMr George Harris

Auditor:Paul Pryce

The Sight Foundation Microsurgical Training Centre

One of the major objectives of The Skills Centre is to provide Ophthalmic registrars, students and nurses with a first class facility on their campus to develop and hone their microsurgical skills in as close to a real life situation as possible. The Skills Centre has been utilized since early 2008 and is situated on the 2nd Floor in the north block of the Hospital. There is no cost to the registrars, students or nurses to use the facility under the terms of the license agreement with the Area Health Service. Again, this is in accordance with the objects of the Foundation. In 2009 the Eye Registrars on the Sydney Eye Hospital program had very successful training sessions in the Skills Centre during their annual Registrars Conference.

10

6. Teaching Activities (continued)

S a v e S i g h t I n s t i t u t e ~ 2 0 0 9 A n n u a l R e p o r t

10. Teaching Activities Community Activities (continued)

Sight Foundation Theatre

The Theatre, located on the 3rd Floor of the Sydney Eye Hospital, provides ophthalmic day surgery services. In August 2008 the first case was undertaken in the Theatre and since then it has continued to build its caseload.

Under the terms of the lease with the South Eastern Sydney & Illawarra Health Service the nett surplus of the Theatre is to be distributed evenly between the Area Health Service and the Institute. In December 2009 the Foundation made its first modest distribution from the 2008/2009 surplus of the Theatre to the Institute. We have been informed by the Foundation directors that the Theatre has made another surplus for 2009/2010 and the Institute will again receive a distribution in December 2010.

Executive Manager: Jonathan Edelstein of Day Procedures Australia.Clinical Services Manager: Lynn Davis Administration Inquiries: Ashley Hansen

11S a v e S i g h t I n s t i t u t e ~ 2 0 0 9 A n n u a l R e p o r t

Community Activities (continued)

Foresight Australia

Foresight, established by Professor Frank Billson AO and Major-General Paul Cullen in 1978, was one of Australia’s first not-for-profit organizations founded to address the huge burden of preventable blindness in the developing world. While Foresight and the Save Sight Institute are separate institutions, many of the staff serve both institutions. The members of the board are listed on page seven. In 2009 Foresight moved into its own more spacious premises at 41 Riley Street Woolloomooloo where Professor Billson, Executive Director is assisted by Mr Remy Di Ponlo, International Project Manager.

Since 2001 Foresight, under the leadership of Professor Frank Billson and Dr Nitin Verma, a member of the Foresight Board, has made a significant contribution to the prevention of blindness in East Timor.

In addition to programs it is already involved in, Foresight has been part of a consortium of seven international non-government development organisations (INGDO’s) recognised and funded by the Federal Government to implement programs in the prevention of blindness in the Asia-Pacific Region.

Dr Geoffrey Painter, a Foresight Board member, led the development of a proposal for enhancing eye health in the Solomon Islands. Geoffrey is a member of the International Ophthalmology Committee of the Royal Australian & New Zealand College of Ophthalmologists (RANZCO). The proposal includes collaboration with the College of Surgeons, RANZCO and the International Centre for Eye Care Education.

The Spectacles Program, carried out by a dedicated team of volunteers, continues to send glasses to Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, India, Timor-Leste, the Solomon Islands and Myanmar.

Foresight may be contacted at:PO Box: Suite 82, 78 William St, Sydney, NSW 2011Phone: 61 2 8021 3632Fax: 61 2 8065 6213

Mathew Lynn's Portrait of Professor Frank Billson generously donated to the

Save Sight Institute by Mrs Marno Parsons.

12 S a v e S i g h t I n s t i t u t e ~ 2 0 0 9 A n n u a l R e p o r t

7. Community Activities in Australia11. Publications (continued)Finance Report

Income Statement for the year ended 31 December 2009

31 December 31 December

2009 2008

$ $

Income

Grants 2,363,935 2,065,382

Scholarships, Donations and Bequests 387,123 414,101

Business and Investment Income 270,497 195,626

Internal and other Income (See note 2) 1,163,113 1,865,400

Total Income 4,184,668 4,540,509

Expenditure

Salaries 2,578,900 2,619,810

Consumables 339,220 279,275

Equipment and Repairs/Maintenance 231,879 147,415

Services and Utilities 71,452 71,116

Travel, Conferences and Entertainment 200,551 187,693

Other Expenses 413,685 220,550

Total Expenditure 3,835,687 3,525,859

Surplus 348,982 1,014,650

Accumulated Funds as at 1 January 3,934,333 2,919,684

Total Accumulated Funds 4,283,315 3,934,334

Notes to the Financial Statements for the year ended 31 December 2009

1. Statement of Significant Accounting Policies a) These accounts have been prepared on a cash basis and amounts are stated at historical cost. b) Income tax is not applicable to activities of the Foundation. c) All fixed assets are expensed in the year of purchase.

Equipment Grant 200,094 600,000

Clinical Services 375,760 334,577

Student Fees from Medical Degree 172,618 119,912

USyd Bridging Grant - 49,836

Consulting & Contract Income 138,292 524,426

Others 276,350 236,649

Total 1,163,113 1,865,400

2. Internal & Other Income

13S a v e S i g h t I n s t i t u t e ~ 2 0 0 9 A n n u a l R e p o r t

Finance Report (continued)

31 December 31 December

2009 2008

$ $

Assets

Current Assets

Petty Cash 1,000 1,000

Funds Participating in University Pool Interest 4,357,677 3,933,334

Total Current Assets 4,358,677 3,934,334

Total Assets 4,358,677 3,934,334

Equity

Accumulated Funds 4,283,315 3,934,334

Total Equity 4,283,315 3,934,334

I certify that the Income Statement and Balance Sheet of the Foundation have been prepared in accordance with the University’s accounting practices and procedures. These Foundation accounts form part of The University of Sydney’s financial reports which have been audited by the Auditor-General, New South Wales.

Dominic Curtin CAFinance DirectorFaculties of HealthJune 1, 2010

Balance Sheet as at 31 December 2009

Liabilities

Current Liabilities

Payables 75,362 -

Total Current Liabilities 75,362 -

Nett Assets 4,283,315 3,934,334

14

Donations

S a v e S i g h t I n s t i t u t e ~ 2 0 0 9 A n n u a l R e p o r t

The SSI would like to thank all of our supporters who have, over the last year, helped us to continue our research, teaching and community awareness programs. Listed below are the major contributors for 2009.

Major Donors

Dr Alex B HunyorJohn and Laurine Proud

Family Estate TrustMr Graham H Matheson Miss Joy E Mawson The Lindsay and Heather

Payne Medical Foundation

Gold Members

Mr Robert O Albert, AO RFD RD CStJDr Ross BengerEmeritus Professor Francis A Billson, AODr Kenneth G Coles, AMMr John CulkinMr Anthony HickeyMr Lawrence MyersNorthbridge Cammeray Masonic Hall Dr T Justin PlayfairMiss Alison M StephenMr Steven StuxMrs Margaret ThornMs Caroline Wilkinson

Silver Members

Mr Charles WL BoydMs Jenny E ClarkeMr John D EganDr Adrian C Farinelli Mr Peter KetleyLions Club of WollongongAssociate Professor Frank J Martin

Mr Ian PopeMs Mariam A ScullyMr Giampaolo SessiniMr John D R StuttMr Nickleby Tait

Members

Mrs Judith M DavisMrs Roma L DoyleProfessor Ramzi Fayed Mrs May D GilmoreMr John P GriffinDr Stephen J HingGreg Horowitz Pty LtdMrs Marjorie JonesLions Club of WauchopeMr John LuckeyMrs Shelley Mak Mr John MarconDr Kathy A McClellan Dr Stephen A McClintockMrs Jill E McDonaldMrs Heather McKimmMs Janette M ParkinsonMrs Pamela J ReidDr Allan M RosenbergDr Diana B SemmondsMrs Marjorie TaylorMrs Mary T WalkerMr Keith J WebbMiss Esther WilliamsMrs Dorothy WoodThe Hon Justice James R T WoodMrs Keitha E Yates

We would like to acknowledge the ongoing generous support of The Claffy Foundation to the Discipline of Ophthalmology & Eye Health for the advancement and propagation of research into the problem of human eye health.

We sincerely thank Mrs Marno Parsons for her very generous earlier donations and this year for commissioning Matthew Lynn to paint a portrait of Professor Frank Billson and presenting it to the Save Sight Institute. Our Patron, Her Excellency Professor Marie Bashir AC CVO Governor of NSW and Chancellor of the University generously invited us to Government House for a reception on 16th October 2009 when she and Marno unveiled the portrait .

Professor Marie Bashir and Mrs Marno Parsons unveiling the portrait of Professor Billson

15S a v e S i g h t I n s t i t u t e ~ 2 0 0 A n n u a l R e p o r t

15. Share the Vision ... Invest in the Future

Bequests and Donations ensure the future ofthe Save Sight Institute.

Bequests & Donations

Donations over $2.00 are tax deductible.

A bequest could take one of the following forms in your Will.

Money

I GIVE to the Save Sight Institute, the University of Sydney, the sum of $…… which I direct to be paid to the Save Sight Institute to be applied for the purposes of the Save Sight Institute in such manner as the Council of Governors may determine.

Property

I GIVE to the Save Sight Institute, the University of Sydney, my property (insert address) or (my shares, debentures, etc. and describe them, e.g. BHP shares) to be applied for the purposes of the Save Sight Institute in such manner as the Council of Governors may determine.

General

If you wish to leave the whole or part of your estate:I GIVE to the Save Sight Institute, the University of Sydney, the whole (or specified percentage or the residue) of my estate or whatsoever nature or kind and wheresoever situated, to be applied for the purposes of the Save Sight Institute in such manner as the Council of Governors may determine.

For further information, please contact the Save Sight Institute:

Telephone: (02) 9382 7302Facsimile: (02) 9382 7372

Postal Address:The Save Sight InstituteGPO Box 4337Sydney NSW 2001

9382 7302

Share with us a vision of Sight for Life!

SIGHTFORLIFE

Share the Vision ... Invest in the Future

Save Sight InstituteA Foundation of Sydney University

Incorporating:Save Sight InstituteThe University of Sydney, Discipline of Clinical Ophthalmology & Eye HealthLions NSW Eye BankForesight Australia

Located atSydney Eye Hospital CampusMacquarie Street, Sydney NSW 2000

Postal AddressGPO Box 4337Sydney NSW Australia 2001

Ph 61 2 9382 7302Fax 61 2 9382 7372

Ken Coles Editor and Production by Diana van Driel. Printed by Summit Printing Australia Pty Ltd Silverwater NSW