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Gary Crerie - Stepped Down 2024 after 43 years on the OWA Board - Thank you Gary!
B Optom (Hons), GCBA, FACBO, FAICD
Life member OWA, Melville City FC (now MUMFC), DSF
Former professional and community involvement:
Graduated Optometry UNSW 1980 Hons
Opened “greenfields” practice 1981 in Bullcreek and subsequently also in South Lake
Inaugural Honorary consultant to Low Vision Centre, Association for Blind 1981-84
Post-Graduate Diagnostic Dugs Cert 1981
Post-Graduate Therapeutic Drugs Cert 1993
Inaugural State Chairman OEPA 1982
American Sports Vision member 1986
Inaugural Joint Theoretical Conference OEP Pacific Uni 1986
Begun History project OAA WA div.
Australian Optometry Association Sports Vision member 1991
Inaugural State Director ACBO 1987, Inaugural Fellow ACBO
Editorial panel of ACBO Journal for a short period
Fellow Australian Institute Company Directors
Pro Vision (AIO) member 1991 - board member 1998 -2013
Graduate Certificate in Business Administration La Trobe Uni
OWA Councillor / Board member 1981-1990 and 2001-current, (President 1987-89). Chair Rural and Remote and RAP Committees (until 2024)
Inaugural Chair of Optometry Australia Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Optometry advisory committee (2012?) until 2020.
In my time on the OWA board was treasurer, editor of monthly newsletter, President, National Director. Sometimes concurrently.
Most pleased about running the association for ourselves and using the money saved from not paying Chartered accountants to run the association- (and including building donors -myself, Peter Bell (PP), Paul Levi (PP), Stephen Bowes, Gavin Smyth, Julie Lourie, Don Ezekiel, Martin Curtis, Marilyn Stern, Grant Nicholas and John Hogan) to buy our own premises for monthly member meetings and office space. We had no paid staff and an all-volunteer board.
Pleased with OWA response to the early strategic and sovereign risk posed by corporatisation of the profession in the early 80’s that led to formation of AIO (ProVision).
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Also proud of OWA role in delivering optometric care to Rural and remote areas. In 2001 I started project to get Optometric care out to regions and indigenous areas in all parts of the state. Met with many Aboriginal people, committees and organisations to assess need and opportunities to assist. We identified areas of need as indicated by the indigenous and regional population and found the great work being done by Margie O’Neill Optometrist (with tremendous support from Helen Wright who still coordinates the programme which is no longer an OWA project but incorporated into Lions Outback Vision)- we tailored her programme to ensure long term viability of Margie’s area of cover (when she no longer could be involved) with a view to expanding as expertise grows. Initially we had 12 optometrists committed to providing the service in Kimberley and Pilbara plus isolated other areas. We organized for OWA to provide Cultural Training via Curtin Uni, first aid and 4 WD Training to participants.
I worked in ACCHO’s (AMS) in Kununurra, Halls Creek, Yilli, Warmen and Wyndham
Established the Reconciliation Action Committee for OWA
Mid 70’s and early 80’s Member YL’s and President Applecross branch
Mid 80’s President Willetton Branch LP
Vice President and chairman of finance and operations committee Dyslexia SPELD foundation. Previously on the board of SPELD (WA) and helped it with merge with Dyslexia Foundation and set up the constitution.
Assisted setting up LADs (Learning and Attentional Deficits Society) constitution
Fellow AICD 2002
Grad Cert Business Management La Trobe Uni 2003
President of the Rotary Club of Melville. District Chairman of Literacy
Helped with establishment of WA Bush Poets and Yarn Spinners association and head judge of the annual competition from inception until 2007.
Coached girls and women’s soccer at Melville City from 2001-2017 – now Life Member. Luckily in our last three years we won 3rd division -promoted to 2nd division lost on goal difference, promoted to 1st division and lost by a point
Member Health Advisory committee – Cwth Department of Health (Now WA Health Advisory Forum)
State Rural and Aboriginal eye health committee (Now WA Aboriginal Eye Health Advisory Forum)
NECEIP – camera and Slit Lamp programme (Since finalized)
Assisted in raising three wonderful daughters and now two grandsons and a granddaughter
Carer for my parents, tennis, golf and art fills my week
