Industry News
ODMA Board Honours Late Chair Richard Grills with Scholarships and Awards
The Optical Distributors and Manufacturers Association (ODMA) Board has announced the implementation of new initiatives to pay tribute to Richard Grills, former Board Chair and Director, who sadly passed away in 2022. Grills, who made significant contributions to the optical industry, is deeply missed by colleagues and peers.
In an effort to honor Grills' memory and continue his legacy, ODMA has established annual prizes in collaboration with two universities that had a close association with him. These prizes will recognize outstanding achievements by graduates in the fields of low vision and orthoptics, subjects that Grills was deeply passionate about.
The University of Technology Sydney (UTS) recently awarded its orthoptics scholarships and prizes, including the prestigious "ODMA Richard Grills Memorial Prize." The inaugural recipient of this prize is Melinda Mo, based in Queensland. UTS expressed pride in announcing this award to celebrate Richard Grills' significant contributions to the field of orthoptics and his dedication to educating UTS students.
Furthermore, ODMA has established a prize at the School of Optometry and Vision Science at the University of NSW (UNSW). Starting from 2024, this prize will be awarded annually to recognize exceptional achievements in the field of low vision during the previous academic year. The award will be named "The Richard Grills ODMA Prize in Low Vision."
In addition to these accolades, Richard Grills was recently recognized with the Member of the Order (AM) in the Kings Birthday Honour List. This prestigious honour acknowledges his substantial service to community eye health and the ophthalmic optics industry. While the news is bittersweet as Richard is no longer with us to receive this well-deserved recognition, ODMA CEO Amanda Trotman expressed the association's pride in his achievements. Trotman stated, "We all would have loved for Richard to witness this honor himself. ODMA is immensely proud of Richard, as he exemplified true honor and dedication."
Trotman also attended the Macular Disease Foundation Australia Research and Grants 2023 event, where Richard Grills (AM) was posthumously honoured. The event, held at Admiralty House with the presence of the Governor General, featured the dedication of an Excellence in Research Award in Richard's name. Colleagues, family, and industry peers gathered to celebrate Richard's wisdom, expertise, and passion. His profound impact on countless lives was acknowledged, and the industry's recognition of his contributions as both an expert and a compassionate individual was heartening. ODMA extends its gratitude for Richard Grills' invaluable contributions to the association and the wider optical industry.
