Grammar Gazette_Issue1_2025

Grammar Women firsts The power of education to not only change lives but also change the world is writ large in the achievements of Girls Grammar graduates

Many have opened doors for others to follow into domains once considered off-limits to women. We celebrate the resilience, grit, determination and self-belief that are hallmarks of a Girls Grammar education by honouring some of our incredible alumnae.

1800s Ms Annie Mackay (1887) First alumna to become headmistress of Girls Grammar

1900-1910 Ms May Lahey (1904) First female Municipal Courts judge in Los Angeles

Emeritus Professor

Dorothy Hill AC CBE MBE (1924) First woman to be elected President of the Australian Academy of Science

Dr Ella Greenham (1894) First Queensland born woman to graduate in

Mrs Muriel Wakefield (Gregory, 1907) First woman draftsperson in Queensland

Ms Dorothy Brennan (1910) First female architect in Queensland

1931-1940 Beryl Hinckley (1931)

medicine and first woman to receive a residential position in a Queensland hospital

Foundation President of the Australian National Association for Mental Health

Mrs Lila Card (1910) First female graduate from The University of Queensland

Laurel Martyn (Gill, 1932) First Australian woman to win the Adelie Genee Medal, Royal Academy of Dance and first Australian to dance the title role in Giselle Ella Fry (Robinson, 1933) First woman to Chair an Art Gallery Board—AGWA Edna Mary Leven (Hopkins, 1936) First woman Canberran of the Year in 1980 Dr Joan Godfrey (1939) First nurse appointed to head of a tertiary department in Queensland Ms Maris King MBE (1939) One of the first female diplomats and first female High Commissioner to Nauru

Dr Eleanor Bourne (1896) First woman to study medicine in Queensland

Mrs Muriel Kavarack (Jones, 1901) Won the first Queen's Scholarship to Melbourne University, graduated with a medical degree in 1908 1911-1920 Ms Katharine McGregor (1920) First woman admitted to the Bar in Queensland Ms Rhoda Felgate (1918) First Brisbane resident to be made a Fellow of Trinity College, London 1921-1930 Mrs Mavis Miller (1921) First female radio broadcaster (4QG) in Queensland Ms Jessie Stephenson (1922) First woman to win the Byrnes Medal, presented to the top Queensland candidate at the Sydney University (Junior) examinations

Ms Eunice Paten (1898) One of the first four Queensland nurses to go on active service in WWI Ms Irene Paten (1899) First Queensland woman to graduate in Law

Matron Grace Campbell CBE (Wilson, 1899)

First woman to receive life membership of the Returned and Services League (RSL) after serving in WWI and WWII

12 | GAZETTE • ISSUE 1, 2025

Brisbane Girls Grammar School