Edith Helen Barrett (29 October 1872 – 1 February 1939) was an Australian medical doctor and a founder of the Bush Nursing Association of Victoria.

Early life and education

Barrett was born on 29 October 1872 in Emerald Hill, Victoria and was one of eight children of James and Catherine Barrett. She attended

South Melbourne College South Melbourne College was a co-education boarding school in South Melbourne, Victoria, South Melbourne, Victoria (Australia), Victoria, Australia. The school was founded by Thomas Palmer in 1883. John Bernard O'Hara became a partner in 1889 a ...

and in 1897 began to study medicine at the

University of Melbourne The University of Melbourne (colloquially known as Melbourne University) is a public university, public research university located in Melbourne, Australia. Founded in 1853, it is Australia's second oldest university and the oldest in the state ...

, graduating M.B. in 1901 and M.D. in 1907.

Career

Barrett worked at the Melbourne Hospital in 1901, and was a member of the honorary medical staff of the

Queen Victoria Hospital The Queen Victoria Hospital (QVH), located in East Grinstead, West Sussex, England is the specialist reconstructive surgery centre for the south east of England, and also provides services at clinics across the region. It has become world-famo ...

from 1904 until she retired in 1934. Barrett worked as a

general practitioner A general practitioner (GP) is a doctor who is a Consultant (medicine), consultant in general practice. GPs have distinct expertise and experience in providing whole person medical care, whilst managing the complexity, uncertainty and risk ass ...

in Melbourne, and was also much involved in voluntary work. She was among the founders of the Victorian section of the

National Council of Women of Australia The National Council of Women of Australia (NWA) is an Australian organisation founded in 1931. The council is an umbrella organization, umbrella organisation with which are affiliated seven State and Territory National Councils of Women. It is ...

in 1902, and served as its honorary secretary 1911-1915 and 1921–1926. She was involved in the founding of the Bush Nursing Association of Victoria, and sat on its council representing the Victorian Medical Women's Society. She took over the honorary secretaryships of the Bush Nursing Association of Victoria and the Australian branch of the British Red Cross Society from her brother James when he joined the First Australian Imperial Force in 1914 at the outbreak of

World War I World War I or the First World War (28 July 1914 – 11 November 1918), also known as the Great War, was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War I, Allies (or Entente) and the Central Powers. Fighting to ...

, and continued to serve both organisations until the late 1930s. She was appointed both OBE and

CBE The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is a British order of chivalry, rewarding valuable service in a wide range of useful activities. It comprises five classes of awards across both civil and military divisions, the most senior two o ...

in 1918 in recognition of her public service on many committees. Barrett was also one of the founders of the

in Victoria.

Death

She died on 1 February 1939, aged 66, in a nursing home in Malvern, Victoria. She died from a heart condition, but a "mental collapse" had "darkened the last years of her life". She is buried in Brighton General Cemetery, Melbourne, where her gravestone also commemorates Grace Mary Barrett (died 21 July 1916), Marian Barrett (died 31 May 1939) and Cara Barrett (died 4 December 1969). Her obituary in '' The Daily Advertiser'' described her as "one of the outstanding medical women of Victoria until illness compelled her to retire from active practice some years ago."

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Barrett, Edith Helen 1872 births 1939 deaths 20th-century Australian medical doctors 20th-century Australian women medical doctors Medical doctors from Melbourne University of Melbourne alumni Australian Commanders of the Order of the British Empire People from South Melbourne Australian women of World War I