On Saturday, 25th January 2025, the QMWS100 Working Committee embarked on a significant milestone in preserving the rich history of the Queensland Medical Women’s Society.
The first “Working Bee” project commenced at Dr. Barbara Woodhouse’s clinic on Wickham Terrace, where members gathered to digitise the treasured contents of the QMWS suitcases. These suitcases have been carefully safeguarded over the years by past presidents and secretaries of QMWS, holding invaluable historical records and memorabilia.
This initiative is part of the preparations for the official recommencement of the monthly Tuesday QMWS meetings in 2025, aligning with the centenary celebrations of QMWS. The working bee brought together an exceptional team of dedicated members, including Dr. Catherine Yelland, Dr. Lydia Pitcher, Dr. Barbara Woodhouse, Dr. Kathryn Mainstone, Dr. Ira van der Steenstraten, Dr. Jen Schafer and Dr. Chloe Hang. The group also welcomed special guest Bernadette Condren.
We were deeply honoured to have Dr. Catherine Yelland, a geriatrician and past president of QMWS, join us for our first working bee. Dr. Yelland is also a past president of the Royal Australasian College of Physicians (RACP) and a former representative of the Australian Federation of Medical Women (AFMW). Awards recognising her exemplary contributions include the Queensland Public Service Medal for Services for Older Persons. Dr. Yelland provided invaluable insights and shared a wealth of oral history about the suitcase contents, enriching the digitisation process with her expertise and personal anecdotes.
We also welcomed Bernadette Condren, a highly-experienced journalist and writer with a career spanning the ABC, The Age, The Irish Independent, News Limited and Fairfax. Bernadette comes to us after almost seven years with the government as principal advisor, chief of staff and senior media advisor. A member of the Brisbane Scribes and former senior editor with The Courier Mail, Bernadette will play a pivotal role in crafting the QMWS Centennial book, alongside esteemed writers Jane Connolly and Dr. Johanna Skinner. Her work will draw upon the materials preserved in the QMWS archives, which will also contribute to her PhD project, ensuring the society’s extraordinary history is shared with future generations.
This collaboration marks the beginning of an inspiring journey to uncover, preserve, and share the stories that have shaped QMWS over the past century. The committee is excited about the progress made and looks forward to future working bees, with the ongoing support of our members, as we bring QMWS’s history to life.
Together, we celebrate the legacy of our past and the promise of our future.
Stay tuned for more updates as we continue preparing for QMWS’s centenary celebrations!
Next Meeting
Our first QMWS100 meeting of 2025 will recommence on Tuesday, 4 February, at 1:00 pm in the Emeritus Professor Mary Mahoney Boardroom, Herston Mayne Medical School.
For those interested in participating, please contact Dr. Lydia Pitcher, Sponsorship/Bursary Team Lead, at [email protected]. On-site parking is available with prior arrangement.
Submitted by
Dr Chloe Hang
QMWS Events (Shadow Lead)
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