John and Evelyn Billings

John Billings AM, KC*SG (5 March 1918 – 1 April 2007) and his wife, Evelyn Livingston Billings AM, DCSG (née Thomas; 8 February 1918 – 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.

For the American surgeon and librarian and first director of the New York Public Library, see John Shaw Billings.

John Billings

AM, KC*SG
Born(1918-03-05)5 March 1918
Melbourne, Victoria
Died1 April 2007(2007-04-01) (aged 89)
Richmond, Victoria
NationalityAustralian
EducationXavier College
Alma materUniversity of Melbourne
OccupationPhysician
Notable workJointly pioneered the natural method of family planning known as the Billings Ovulation Method
Evelyn Livingston Billings

AM, DCSG
Born
Evelyn Livingston Thomas

(1918-02-08)8 February 1918
Died16 February 2013(2013-02-16) (aged 95)
Melbourne, Victoria
NationalityAustralian
OccupationPhysician
Notable workJointly pioneered the natural method of family planning known 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.[1]

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.[2]

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.[1] 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.[2]

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).[3] He was also made a Member of the Order of Australia in 1991.[2]

In 2003, Evelyn Billings was made a Dame Commander of the Order of St Gregory the Great.[4]

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.[5] Evelyn died on 16 February 2013, aged 95, following a brief illness.[6]

References
  1. "Dr John Billings, world-renowned pioneer of natural fertility regulation, died last night aged 89 after a short illness" (Press release). Ovulation Method Research and Reference Centre of Australia. 2 April 2007. Archived from the original on 18 May 2007.
  2. "Billings Method founder dies". Archived from the original on 5 May 2008. Retrieved 4 April 2007.
  3. "CatholicNews". Catholicnews.sg. 14 May 2015. Archived from the original on 3 December 2013. Retrieved 29 May 2015.
  4. "Billings, Evelyn Livingston - Biographical entry - Encyclopedia of Australian Science". Asap.unimelb.edu.au. Retrieved 29 May 2015.
  5. Archived 18 June 2008 at the Wayback Machine
  6. "CNS NEWS BRIEFS Feb-19-2013". Catholicnews.com. Archived from the original on 7 April 2013. Retrieved 29 May 2015.
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