In an era when women's foray into medicine was uncommon, Dr Rosalind (Ros) Terry emerged as an inspiration. Born in 1940, she was not only the first in her family to attend university but also a trailblazer for women in the medical field. Her journey, rich with challenges and triumphs, is a testament to her unwavering belief, determination, and the invaluable support of her advocates. It all started with a bold step by her mother, who secretly arranged for her to sit a scholarship exam for Methodist Ladies’ College (MLC) in Melbourne. This is her pioneering story, as told to Kay Dunkley.

The first girl in her family to go to university

Raised in Melbourne and Geelong, Ros enjoyed school, particularly math. Despite her father's scepticism about higher education for women, Ros’s mother arranged for Ros to sit a scholarship for MLC without his knowledge. Having left school at age 14 to become a dressmaker, despite being dux, her mother was determined to ensure Ros had the academic opportunities she had been denied. When Ros subsequently won the scholarship, her father capitulated only on the basis that, “This is worth a lot of money, so we had better not waste it.”

Ros subsequently won scholarships throughout her secondary schooling and successfully completed her matriculation at MLC. In her final year, however, her father remained stubbornly unsupportive of her university aspirations. “Nobody in the family has been to university and a girl is not going to be the first.” he stated.

Despite her father’s reluctance, he finally allowed her to undertake a three-year science degree in 1957, when Ros won a Commonwealth scholarship to attend the University of Melbourne. While studying, she won a fees scholarship, allowing her to live at the University’s Women's College. This period marked a significant shift in her life, eliminating the exhausting threehour commute from home; and allowing her to blend work and study seamlessly, working in the Microbiology Department at the University while also completing a Master of Science majoring in Microbiology.

Encouragement to attend medical school

Ros then moved to the United States for three years, accompanying her first husband while he studied a higher degree in theology. In Chicago Ros worked as a biochemist and in Madison Wisconsin in the veterinary laboratory headquarters. While in Chicago her supervisor noted Ros’s potential for a career in medicine. She encouraged Ros to pursue this in America; believing in Ros’ potential so strongly that she personally flew to Washington in the hope she might be able to organise a visa extension for Ros to study medicine in the United States, but without success.

Back in Australia, Ros received similar encouragement while working in the veterinary laboratories in Launceston Tasmania. Her new supervisors emboldened Ros to pursue medicine – but if Ros were going to become a doctor, there would be no straightforward way to do it. With no medical school in Tasmania, she returned to Melbourne. And with second Commonwealth scholarships disallowed and her marriage having ended; she had to do this on her own.

During her inaugural Division of Surgery meeting, when Dr Henry Windsor, a luminary known for Australia's first heart transplant, queried the room about her anticipated arrival by asking “Does anyone know if she’s coming?” Ros asserted her presence with a calm yet firm, “ Yes, I am here.” This simple declaration is symbolic of a profound moment for Ros, as well as for aspiring female surgeons.

Medical school

So, Ros did just that. In 1969, she commenced studying medicine at the University of Melbourne, attending classes during the day, and supporting herself working in the laboratories at the Royal Melbourne Hospital until midnight.

Ros triumphantly emerged from the halls of Medical School in 1973. Most memorably, she received a belated validation from her father. He marked the milestone with a family dinner at the prestigious Windsor Hotel, offering his long-awaited acknowledgment and pride. Ros worked her last night in the laboratory at Royal Melbourne finishing at midnight and returning at 8.00am to commence as a medical intern on the wards.

Sydney's first ever female surgical registrar

In a bold move after two years at the Royal Melbourne Hospital, Ros set her sights on a groundbreaking path in surgery. She confronted a stark reality though: Melbourne's hospitals did not allow women to enter surgical training. Undeterred, Ros charted a new course to St Vincent’s in Sydney, etching her name in history as Sydney's first female surgical registrar.

At St Vincent’s, although Ros was well supported by the Sisters of Charity and the nursing staff, she still encountered resistance. Her pioneering spirit was put to the test by sceptical patients who had never seen a female surgeon, and by peers unaccustomed to sharing the surgical stage with a female colleague. During her inaugural Division of Surgery meeting, when Dr Henry Windsor, a luminary known for Australia's first heart transplant, queried the room about her anticipated arrival by asking “Does anyone know if she’s coming?” Ros asserted her presence with a calm yet firm, “Yes, I am here.” This simple declaration is symbolic of a profound moment for Ros, as well as for aspiring female surgeons.

St Vincent’s second year of surgical training included a six-month placement in Papua New Guinea. Although it was controversial to send a woman, Ros was keen to gain this experience and be treated like all other surgical registrars. The move to Papua New Guinea proved to be lifechanging for Ros as she met her future husband and her 6 month stay extended to 10 years.

Remote medicine in Lae, Papua New Guinea (PNG)

Remote medical and surgical practice in Lae was diverse. Although the nurses spoke English, Ros became proficient in the local version of Pidgin English and was thus able to talk more easily with patients. The setting required a wide breadth of medical practice, so Ros had to be prepared for all possibilities including life threatening emergencies with limited or no back-up. This was a place where surgeons juggled multiple roles, often topping up anaesthetic for their patients during long unpredictable trauma cases; and where nurses would manually ‘bag’ patients throughout procedures, when there was no power.

There were weekly plane trips to remote clinics in mountainous locations. Unpredictable sudden weather changes sometimes prevented a return flight, so Ros always needed to be prepared for an overnight stay.

Ros recalls splinting and bandaging a baby with talipes in a mountain village and fondly remembers how the local children loved to watch her undertake the procedure every two to three weeks for many months. Their teacher knew better than to try to keep them in school when Ros visited. One day, she arrived to be welcomed by children running to greet her, as she disembarked form the plane, calling out “Our little boy is walking!”

Ros introduced the bikini line cut during caesareans. Pelvic disproportion was a significant issue in the local population due to the improving nutritional status of the mothers and subsequent larger babies. At that time, the male obstetricians and gynaecologists performed midline cuts but nurses working at the hospital saw the benefits of Ros’s approach and requested Ros when they needed caesareans.

Ros also treated widespread injuries from coconut tree accidents, trauma from road accidents on the narrow winding roads in the mountains around Lae, and farming and boating accidents.

Her role extended beyond human medicine. When an unknown disease impacted the local crocodile farm killing multiple crocodiles, Ros conducted an autopsy and took multiple specimens from a dead crocodile. These specimens were then sent to Australia for analysis so the disease could be diagnosed, and the remaining crocodiles treated.

Additionally, as there was only one veterinarian in Lae, sometimes people would bring their sick animals to Ros when the vet was away. Ros’ love of animals and broader experience in veterinary laboratories in the USA and Tasmania meant she was well equipped to treat the sick animals.

Chief Medical Officer on Norfolk Island

After a decade in Lae, Ros and her husband travelled the world for six months and then Ros took the post of Chief Medical Officer on Norfolk Island. The next two years marked a happy reintegration with a shift back into Western medical practice, speaking English and eating European food again.

Ros lived in the Government Medical Officer’s House in Quality Row, an old house with extra rooms for visitors who frequently came to stay. Ros loved the beautiful scenery and felt safe walking anywhere at any time.

Without mobile phones or pagers and sharing on-call duties with an assistant medical officer every second day, Ros had to stay close or keep the hospital informed of her whereabouts. She was responsible for all emergency surgery with the anaesthetic provided by the assistant medical officer, who also managed all straightforward vaginal births, with Ros performing all caesareans.

First female senior emergency physician at The Alfred

In 1990, after more travel in the UK and USA, Ros returned to Melbourne, after a time settling in South Yarra. She now embarked on the next chapter of her career. After initially undertaking surgical assisting Ros had a pivotal role in the establishment of the Emergency Department at Werribee Mercy Hospital, this time with the support of the Sisters of Mercy. Then after initially working as a locum she secured a permanent role at the Alfred Hospital, where she became the hospital's first female senior Emergency Department physician. When Ros turned 70 years of age, she asked her boss if there were any rules requiring her to retire and he replied, “I don’t know, and you are not going to retire yet”.

At The Alfred, Ros contributed not only through her skills in trauma management, general medicine, and surgery but also through the warmth of her camaraderie and her dedication to teaching. She became especially known for imparting practical skills to colleagues including the first nurse practitioners. Ros is still treasured by those who worked with her at The Alfred.

An active retirement

In her retirement, Ros’ influence in the medical community continued. She generously devoted time to volunteering with the AMA Victoria Peer Visitor Program visiting isolated elderly doctors. Ros had been a member of both the AMA Victoria Board and the Board of the Victorian Medical Benevolent Association. She had also had active involvement in groups such as the AMA Victoria Women in Medicine Committee and the Victorian Medical Women’s Society, which underscore her commitment to elevating and supporting women in the medical field. Ros however noted that women are still under-represented in leadership roles and certain specialties.

Ros continued to enjoy the company of her peers on outings and at dinners organised by the AMA Victoria Retired Doctors Group.

Thank you, Ros for your extraordinary achievements and your incredible contribution to healthcare and society. Your journey is not just a personal triumph but a legacy that has paved the way for other women to follow in the medical profession.

Written by Kay Dunkley. Edited by Taryn Sheehy and Vanessa Murray.

Rosalind's story was first published in the 2024 Autumn edition of VICDOC.