P006193 revised AU-VU:EOAS Encyclopedia of Australian Science and Innovation

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 English AACR2 Anglo-American Cataloguing Rules Person created 2019-01-15 human Elizabeth Daniels updated 2019-01-15 human https://www.eoas.info/biogs/P006193b.htm person Etherington Reginald Robert AACR2 28 January 1905 3 September 2000 Place of Birth Faversham, Kent, United Kingdom Place of Death Mildura, Victoria, Australia Optometrist Reg Etherington was a Mildura based optometrist who made significant contributions to the Mildura community, especially in relation to the arts, and to Australian Defence Science.

Born in 1905 in England, Reg Etherington's family migrated to Australia in 1912. Reg Etherington completed his secondary school education in Melbourne and completed his degree in optometry by correspondence while undertaking an apprenticeship in watchmaking and jewellery in Mildura. In 1929 Reg Etherington established his own Jewellery business.

Etherington's focus shifted during world war two and the cold war to the development of lenses for military use. In 1949 Etherington was contracted to make optical lenses for military use by the Department of Supply, established Etherington Optical Co in the process. Etherington Optical co was located in a Nissan hut behind a local Chinese restaurant. From 1961 onwards Etherington focused on community work and served on numerous boards and was even Mayor of Mildura from 1954 to 1956. He played a key role in the establishment in several galleries and artistic spaces and programs in regional Victoria. He formed and chaired the Victorian Regional Art Galleries Association, was involved in the establishment of the Mildura Arts Centre, Geelong Performing Arts Centre and Mildura Sculpturescapes. He was also active on a number of educational boards such as the Mildura High School Advisory Council and the Mildura and District Education Committee (MADEC).

Reg Etherington received an OBE in 1972 in recognition of service to the community and arts, and his contribution to the Old Mildura Homestead project is commemorated by a rose garden.

1924 c. 1929 Career position - Apprentice, Mildura Watchmaker and Jeweller c. 1924 1931 Education - Part-time, Fellow of the Victorian Optical Association 1929 1932 Career position - Owner, Jewellery Business, Mildura 1939 1939 Career Position - Mildura Infectious Diseases Hospital c. 1942 c. 1945 Career position - Minor Industries War Agricultural Committee 1949 c. 1959 Career position - Contracted Optical Business, Etherington Optical co, Department of Supply, Commonwealth Government of Australia c. 1953 c. 1959 Career position - Owner, Etherington Optical co., Mildura 1954 1956 Career position - Mayor, Mildura Rural City Council, Victoria 1961 1967 Career Position - Mildura High School Advisory Council 1970s c. 2000 Career Position - Established and chaired, Victorian Regional Art Galleries Association (RGAV) became the Public Galleries Association of Victoria (PGAV) in 1995 1972 1972 Award - Officer, Order of the British Empire (OBE), Britain 1972 1974 Career Position - Mildura and District Education Committee 'Etherington, Reginald Robert (Reg)', in Encyclopedia of Australian Science and Innovation, Centre for Transformative Innovation, Swinburne University of Technology Etherington, Reginald Robert (Reg) Swinburne University of Technology, Centre for Transformative Innovation Encyclopedia of Australian Science and Innovation Newspaper Article: Mildura has new Mayor Mildura has new Mayor 1954 The Argus 7 Resource Section: Reg Etherington Reg Etherington Monument Australia Resource: Mr. Mildura: Reg Etherington Edgar, Patricia Mr. Mildura: Reg Etherington Mildura, Victoria 2011 Patricia Edgar and Don Edgar Journal Article: Obituary: Reginald Robert Etherington Edgar, Don Obituary: Reginald Robert Etherington 2000 Clinical and Experimental Optometry 83 4 234 - 235