David Jeremiah McAuliffe was born in 1932 and after early education entered the University of Adelaide Medical School, qualifying in 1954. Having completed junior appointments in Australia he came to Britain and worked as lecturer in the department of ophthalmology at the Royal Infirmary, Edinburgh. He passed the Diploma in Ophthalmology in 1959 and in the following year acquired both the FRCS and the FRCS Edinburgh. Shortly afterwards he returned to Australia, initially as clinical assistant in the ophthalmology department of the Royal Perth Hospital and later as honorary assistant ophthalmic surgeon and clinical lecturer in ophthalmic surgery at the University of Western Australia. He became a member of the Royal Australian College of Ophthalmology in 1969, FRACS in 1974 and a Fellow of the Royal Australian College of Ophthalmology in 1979. His professional life included both hospital and private practice and he had a special interest in the treatment of severe ocular injuries sustained in motor accidents. He served as a member of the Court of Examiners of the Royal Australian College of Ophthalmologists and was appointed civilian consultant to the Royal Australian Air Force and the Royal Australian Navy. In addition to his professional commitment he served on many hospital committees as well as being President of the Western Australian Branch of the Australian Medical Association. He died on 2 May 1989, aged 57, and was survived by his wife Maureen, their daughter Clare, and sons William, John, James and David.