Herstory
"Mentors That Change Our Lives"

My interest in medicine began when I was around six years old. My mother took me to have a blood test and a female pathologist took my blood after which I turned to mum and said, ‘you never told me there were lady doctors!’ – Dr Sue Packer AO. Read Herstory.

I had the privilege of interviewing Dr Anne Myers aged 97, recently for Herstory. A sexual & reproductive health advocate and family planning physician when women still died of septic abortions. Mother of 4. We stand on the shoulders of such women. Read Herstory.

Dr Kate Wylie, Chair of Doctors for the Environment Australia (DEA) and Chair, RACGP Climate and Environmental Medicine Specific Interest Group shares her insights with AFMW Herstory. Kate describes who influenced her, what gets her up each day and how she manages to maintain the level of energy required to tackle the big issue of climate change.

Dr Kate Duncan AM features in our Herstory instalment. Kate is a mentor to many and recently tried to retire, but instead has filled her time relieving over burdened colleagues in Victoria, Canberra and NSW, whilst also agreeing to lead the governance overhaul of our nearly 100 year old organisation, AFMW. In 2022, Kate was appointed as a Member (AM) of the Order of Australia for services to the medical profession and women’s health.

[CORRECTION The introduction text in the last eBulletin was not Dr Murnane’s. Our apologies for this oversight. Following is the correct introduction for Dr Murnane’s Herstory]. In this issue of Herstory, we are privileged to have Dr Merrilyn Murnane AM, recipient of the 2022 AFMW President’s Honour past President of Victorian Medical Women’s Society (VMWS) and author of Honourable Healers impart her experience and wisdom with us. Aside from being a trailblazing medical woman who set up the state’s first child protection unit, Dr Murnane is also a humble philanthropist and established the Constance Stone Oration award for VMWS.

In this issue of Herstory, you all have the opportunity to meet Dr Sarah Coll – Vice President of AFMW, who is an orthopaedic surgeon practising in North Queensland and a mother of two children. Dr Coll has kindly shared her personal account of her journey with us.

Herstory this month features Dr Maria Boulton, General Practitioner business owner, QMWS / AFMW Committee. Many of us have seen Maria speak on behalf of GPs through her AMA role in QLD, making numerous media appearances throughout COVID-19 pandemic. Maria has contributed to Herstory in this week’s eBulletin and describes how and why she became GP in QLD, after having migrated to Australia from El Salvador in her teens. Maria talks about the role of clinical mentors and advocacy mentors in her life and how they have helped shape her career path.

Herstory this month features Dr Rosalind ‘Ros’ Terry, Surgeon, Victorian Medical Women’s Society Seniors Rep and Constance Stone Award recipient. Dr Ros Terry has been a valued member of the Victorian Medical Women’s Society (VMWS) since she graduated from medicine in 1973 and to this day remains the VMWS Senior Member’s Representative.

Herstory this month features our own Dr Sandra Hirowatari, our esteemed Rural and Remote AFMW Council member. Sandra’s challenge to herself has been, “I wanted to be a person I admire” and ‘face your fear’.
Upon reading Sandra’s story, my immediate response was ‘wow’, and after digesting it all, letting the emotional impact settle, and speaking from the perspective of an urban doctor who experiences rural and remote only as a transient observer on holidays, I am filled with a sense of awe and gratitude that doctors like Sandra exist.