John and Evelyn Billings
{{short description|Australian physicists}}
{{hatnote|For the American surgeon and librarian and first director of the New York Public Library, see John Shaw Billings.}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2019}}
{{Use Australian English|date=August 2019}}
{{Infobox person
| name = John Billings
| honorific-suffix = {{post-nominals|size=100%|country=AUS|AM}}, KC*SG
| image = John and Evelyn Billings.jpg
| image_size = 250px
| alt =
| caption =
| birth_name =
| birth_date = {{Birth date|1918|3|5|df=y}}
| birth_place = Melbourne, Victoria
| death_date = {{Death date and age|2007|4|1|1918|3|5|df=y}}
| death_place = Richmond, Victoria
| nationality = Australian
| education = Xavier College
| alma_mater = University of Melbourne
| occupation = Physician
| years_active =
| known_for =
| notable_works = Jointly pioneered the natural method of family planning known as the Billings Ovulation Method
}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Evelyn Livingston Billings
| honorific-suffix = {{post-nominals|size=100%|country=AUS|AM}}, DCSG
| image =
| alt =
| caption =
| birth_name = Evelyn Livingston Thomas
| birth_date = {{Birth date|1918|2|8|df=y}}
| birth_place =
| death_date = {{Death date and age|2013|2|16|1918|2|8|df=y}}
| death_place = Melbourne, Victoria
| nationality = Australian
| education =
| alma_mater =
| occupation = Physician
| years_active =
| known_for =
| notable_works = Jointly pioneered the natural method of family planning known as the Billings Ovulation Method
}}
John Billings {{post-nominals|size=100%|country=AUS|AM}}, KC*SG (5 March 1918 – 1 April 2007) and his wife, Evelyn Livingston Billings {{post-nominals|size=100%|country=AUS|AM}}, DCSG (née Thomas; 8 February 1918{{spaced ndash}}16 February 2013), were Australian physicians who pioneered the natural method of family planning known initially as the Ovulation Method, then the Ovulation Method Billings, specified by the WHO in 1978 and finally as the Billings Ovulation Method.
Biography
John Billings was born in Melbourne and was educated at Xavier College, and at the University of Melbourne where he received his Doctor of Medicine degree.{{cite press release |url=http://www.woomb.org/notice.html |title=Dr John Billings, world-renowned pioneer of natural fertility regulation, died last night aged 89 after a short illness |publisher=Ovulation Method Research and Reference Centre of Australia |date=2 April 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070518190825/http://www.woomb.org/notice.html |archive-date=18 May 2007 }}
In 1953, he began work on a method of natural family planning, involving observation of several indicators of fertility and infertility, gradually focusing on the changes to cervical mucus patterns of sensation. His wife, Evelyn, became involved from 1963. The couple founded the World Organisation of the Ovulation Method Billings (WOOMB) as the body responsible for teaching the method throughout the world.{{cite web |title=Billings Method founder dies |url=http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599,21492021-2,00.html |accessdate=4 April 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080505113115/http://www.news.com.au/story/0%2C23599%2C21492021-2%2C00.html |archive-date=5 May 2008 }}
Although Billings maintained his career as a consulting neurologist to St Vincent's Hospital, he and his wife spent a large part of each year traveling to other countries, and training teachers in the Billings Ovulation Method, lecturing to doctors and students, and establishing teaching centers. The Method pioneered by the Billings was approved by both the Catholic Church and used by the World Health Organization. It was the only natural method accepted by the Chinese Government.
=Honours=
In 1969, John Billings was appointed a Knight Commander of the Order of St Gregory the Great (KCSG) by Pope Paul VI. In 2003, Pope John Paul II added a star to this papal knighthood (KC*SG).{{cite web |url=http://www.catholicnews.sg/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=2062&Itemid=79 |title=CatholicNews |publisher=Catholicnews.sg |date=14 May 2015 |accessdate=29 May 2015 |archive-date=3 December 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131203002057/http://www.catholicnews.sg/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=2062&Itemid=79 |url-status=dead }} He was also made a Member of the Order of Australia in 1991.
In 2003, Evelyn Billings was made a Dame Commander of the Order of St Gregory the Great.{{cite web|url=http://www.asap.unimelb.edu.au/bsparcs/biogs/P004174b.htm |title=Billings, Evelyn Livingston - Biographical entry - Encyclopedia of Australian Science |publisher=Asap.unimelb.edu.au |accessdate=29 May 2015}}
=Death=
John Billings died, aged 89, on 1 April 2007, at a Richmond aged care centre, survived by his wife, children and large extended family.[http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,21493064-2862,00.html ] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080618092828/http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0%2C21985%2C21493064-2862%2C00.html |date=18 June 2008 }} Evelyn died on 16 February 2013, aged 95, following a brief illness.{{cite web |url=http://www.catholicnews.com/data/briefs/cns/20130219.htm#head10 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130407231136/http://www.catholicnews.com/data/briefs/cns/20130219.htm%23head10 |url-status=dead |archive-date=7 April 2013|title=CNS NEWS BRIEFS Feb-19-2013 |publisher=Catholicnews.com |accessdate=29 May 2015 }}
References
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Category:Australian Roman Catholics
Category:Medical doctors from Melbourne
Category:People educated at Xavier College
Category:Melbourne Medical School alumni
Category:Members of the Order of Australia
Category:Knights Commander with Star of the Order of St. Gregory the Great