Eleanor Elizabeth Bourne Papers

Eleanor Bourne (1878-1957) was the first Queensland woman to study medicine. Born in South Brisbane in 1878, Eleanor Bourne was later educated at the Brisbane Central School for Girls and the Brisbane Grammar School, where she was awarded a scholarship, passing with distinction and winning the Grahame and the John West gold medals. She went on to study at the University of Sydney and graduated as bachelor of medicine and master of surgery on 6 July 1903. From 1903-1907 Dr. Bourne was a resident at the Women's Hospital, Sydney and became the first woman resident medical officer at the Brisbane General Hospital, and was also resident at the Hospital for Sick Children. In 1907, Dr Bourne entered general practice and served as outpatient physician to the Children's Hospital and as an anesthetist. She was appointed the first medical officer in the Queensland Department of Public Instruction in 1911, establishing principles for the medical examination of children and travelled and worked in North Queensland, primarily in the Cairns and Mackay regions where she was dedicated to child health. In January 1916, Dr Bourne travelled to London where she served as a lieutenant of the Royal Army Medical Corps during the First World War in the Endell Street military hospital, staffed entirely by women. Promoted to major in 1917, she became medical officer to Queen Mary's Army Auxiliary Corps. .Awarded a Diploma of Public Health in 1920 by the Royal College of Physicians and of Surgeons, Dr Bourne was appointed assistant medical officer to the city of Carlisle, where she was responsible for organizing child welfare services and for the new maternity hospital and associated maternal welfare services. Ill health forced her to resign and she retired to Manly, Queensland in 1937. Dr Bourne was made an honorary life member of the Queensland branch of the British Medical Association in 1953, after 53 years of membership. She was also involved in the Queensland Medical Society and was the first honorary medical officer to the Crèche and Kindergarten Association. The University of Queensland named the Bourne wing in honour of her family and she was a life-vice president of the Women's College standing committee.