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Victorian Women Doctors of World War OnePrint Page
The plaque commemorates the Victorian women doctors who served in World War One.
In 2015, the AFMW and the VMWS were successful in obtaining a grant to support the commemoration of the service of Australian women doctors in the First World War.
On Sunday, September 11 2016, the Memorial Plaque Unveiling for the Women Doctors from World War One was held in the beautiful Welsh Church on LaTrobe Street, Melbourne. This was the site of a clinic of Dr Constance Stone, the first medical practitioner registered in Australia, and the founder of the Queen Victoria Memorial Hospital.
The service was conducted by Reverend Sion Hughes. We heard a detailed account of the women doctors in World War One from Dr Heather Sheard. Dr Merrilyn Murnane highlighted Dr Constance Stone’s background, her struggle to become one of Australia’s first women medical doctors, and her pioneering efforts to have women accepted at the University of Melbourne.
The six Melbourne Medical Women who were honoured are: Rachel Champion, Hilda Bull, Mary de Garis, Helen Secton, Vera Scantlebury and Isabella Younger.
The memorial plaque was made possible by The ANZAC Centenary Local Grants Program, via Adam Bandt MP, the VMWS, the AFMW and generous community donations.
We continued to raise funds towards a sculpture to accompany the plaque.
Australian Federation of Medical Women
Location
Address: | 320 La Trobe Street, Welsh Church, Melbourne, 3000 |
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State: | VIC |
Area: | AUS |
GPS Coordinates: | Lat: -37.810514 Long: 144.959921 Note: GPS Coordinates are approximate. |
Details
Monument Type: | Plaque |
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Monument Theme: | Conflict |
Sub-Theme: | WW1 |
Actual Event Start Date: | 04-August-1914 |
Actual Event End Date: | 28-June-1919 |
Dedication
Actual Monument Dedication Date: | Sunday 11th September, 2016 |
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VMWS
Victorian Medical
Women`s Society
Inc
Victorian Women Doctors of World War One
1914 - 1918
Women doctors of the British Empire were denied the right to officially enlist but these six courageous Melbourne women doctors served as surgeons and medical officers during World War One with voluntary organisations.
Their individual determination to serve, their dedication and bravery saved the lives of hundreds of soldiers on the Western and Eastern Fronts.
We honour the contribution of :
Dr Hilda Bull (Esson, Dale) England
Dr Vera Scantlebury (Brown) England
Dr Rachel Champion (Shaw) England
Dr Helen Saxton France
Dr Mary De Garis Serbia
Dr Isabella Younger (Rose) England
An inspiration to all