During her marriage to Garnett, Barbara saw how difficult it was for a young surgeon to obtain specialist medical training in OHNS. After Garnett’s premature death, Barbara decided to address this inequality. Her ambition was to leave a large part of her estate to supporting medical research and specialist training in OHNS and despite criticism that the scope of use of the funding was too narrow, Barbara was unwavering in her vision.
After her marriage to Rodney Williams in 1968, Barbara continued with negotiations on her estate and following Rodney’s death in 1984, when he left a substantial bequest to Barbara, she determined to establish a single Trust to support OHNS in Australia, which would be dedicated to the memory of her two husbands. The Trust Deed was signed in 1986 to establish the Garnett Passe and Rodney Williams Memorial Foundation.
Barbara considered the establishment of the Foundation, which became operational after her death in 1991, as one of her most significant achievements. Barbara was clear that her bequest must only be used in the pursuit of excellence. The Trustees have remained faithful to her wishes and have encapsulated this principle in the motto that forms part of the crest of the Foundation, namely “Semper ad Excellentiam Persequendam” – Always in Pursuit of Excellence.
Download an extended history of the Passe & Williams Foundation, as written by the first Trustees, by clicking the link below.
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