Elizabeth Gunn (paediatrician)
Encyclopedia
Dr. Elizabeth Catherine Gunn (23 May 1879 – 26 October 1963) was a pioneer in the field of children's health in New Zealand
.
Gunn was born in Dunedin
, the daughter of an ironmonger whose interests in medicine led him to change career initially to pharmacy and then to dentistry. She attended Timaru
and Otago Girls' High School
s, and from there went to the University of Otago
. After a year at Otago she left for Scotland
, completing her medical qualifications at the prestigious Edinburgh Medical School in 1903, and then taking postgraduate studies in obstetrics at Dublin University.
After completing her studies, Gunn returned to New Zealand, working as a general practitioner in Wellington
before joining the school medical service in 1912. From 1915 to 1917 she worked in the New Zealand Medical Corps, having succeeded in gaining admission to a predominantly-male preserve by her formidable force of character: upon initially failing to gain admittance to the NZRC she took her case directly to Prime Minister
William Massey
, claiming that this snubbing was injurious to her reputation in medical circles. She served during World War I with the NZMC at Trentham
and then on the troop ship Tahiti. On her return to new Zealand she continued to work at trentham, but her own health suffered and she came down with a rheumatic condition.
During her convalescence she travelled, ending up in Britain in 1917. Here she visited child welfare institutions, and became acutely aware of the problems of child malnutrition. On returning to New Zealand she rejoined the school medical service, serving in the southwestern North Island. During her time in this service, based at Wanganui
, she became a much feared but much respected character. Her strength of character and certitude had become strengthened by her time in the military, yet her passion for children's health was equally marked. She was also an innovator, introducing regular "toothbrush drill" at schools and promoting the introduction of daily milk drinks for pupils.
Gunn's most notable contribution to children's health was the inauguration of the Children's Health Camp movement. Based on the system of open-air schools used in britain to aid tuberculosis sufferers, Gunn proposed to Wanganui Hospital Board member B.P. Lethbridge that a simplified system of camps for malnourished children would improve child health. She and Lethbridge had a wager as to the success of such a scheme, and Gunn set about using her persuasive powers in gaining the necessary equipment to open a camp. In November 1919 a group of 55 children arrived at Turakina
to spend three weeks under the supervision of Gunn a,d a small group of school nurses and teacher trainees. The camp was a remarkable siuccess. Gunn continued to personally organise and run camps throughout the 1920s, at Turakina and later at Awapuni
, Palmerston North
. Camps were organised on a military-like schedule, creating an atmosphere that was somewhere between an open-air hospital and a scout camp. Other voluntary health camps started up, and in 1936, a National Federation of Health Camps was imaugurated, with permanent, year-round facilities and substantial government subsidies, some of these coming through the sale of health stamp
s, postage stamps with a set charity premium which went towards the running of the camps.
Between 1937 and 1940, Gunn served as director of the Health Department's Division of School Hygiene. After retiring from the post she continued to be interested and to work in the fields of child health and paediatrics. Gunn was awarded an MBE
in 1951 for her work in child health. Elizabeth Gunn died at Ranui rest home in Wellington on 26 October, 1963.
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
.
Gunn was born in Dunedin
Dunedin
Dunedin is the second-largest city in the South Island of New Zealand, and the principal city of the Otago Region. It is considered to be one of the four main urban centres of New Zealand for historic, cultural, and geographic reasons. Dunedin was the largest city by territorial land area until...
, the daughter of an ironmonger whose interests in medicine led him to change career initially to pharmacy and then to dentistry. She attended Timaru
Timaru Girls' High School
Timaru Girls' High School is a secondary school in Timaru, New Zealand, founded in 1880. Timaru Girls' High provides education for girls aged between 13 – 18 years of age . It also has a boarding facility within the school grounds for pupils not living in Timaru itself and also caters for...
and Otago Girls' High School
Otago Girls' High School
Otago Girls' High School is a secondary school in Dunedin, Otago, New Zealand. It was opened 6 February 1871, after a long campaign by educationalist Learmonth Whyte Dalrymple...
s, and from there went to the University of Otago
University of Otago
The University of Otago in Dunedin is New Zealand's oldest university with over 22,000 students enrolled during 2010.The university has New Zealand's highest average research quality and in New Zealand is second only to the University of Auckland in the number of A rated academic researchers it...
. After a year at Otago she left for Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
, completing her medical qualifications at the prestigious Edinburgh Medical School in 1903, and then taking postgraduate studies in obstetrics at Dublin University.
After completing her studies, Gunn returned to New Zealand, working as a general practitioner in Wellington
Wellington
Wellington is the capital city and third most populous urban area of New Zealand, although it is likely to have surpassed Christchurch due to the exodus following the Canterbury Earthquake. It is at the southwestern tip of the North Island, between Cook Strait and the Rimutaka Range...
before joining the school medical service in 1912. From 1915 to 1917 she worked in the New Zealand Medical Corps, having succeeded in gaining admission to a predominantly-male preserve by her formidable force of character: upon initially failing to gain admittance to the NZRC she took her case directly to Prime Minister
Prime Minister of New Zealand
The Prime Minister of New Zealand is New Zealand's head of government consequent on being the leader of the party or coalition with majority support in the Parliament of New Zealand...
William Massey
William Massey
William Ferguson Massey, often known as Bill Massey or "Farmer Bill" served as the 19th Prime Minister of New Zealand from 1912 to 1925, and was the founder of the Reform Party. He is widely considered to have been one of the more skilled politicians of his time, and was known for the particular...
, claiming that this snubbing was injurious to her reputation in medical circles. She served during World War I with the NZMC at Trentham
Trentham
Trentham is the most populous suburb of Upper Hutt, a city in the Wellington region of New Zealand. The suburb is located in a widening of the Hutt Valley, five kilometres to the southwest of the Upper Hutt city centre....
and then on the troop ship Tahiti. On her return to new Zealand she continued to work at trentham, but her own health suffered and she came down with a rheumatic condition.
During her convalescence she travelled, ending up in Britain in 1917. Here she visited child welfare institutions, and became acutely aware of the problems of child malnutrition. On returning to New Zealand she rejoined the school medical service, serving in the southwestern North Island. During her time in this service, based at Wanganui
Wanganui
Whanganui , also spelled Wanganui, is an urban area and district on the west coast of the North Island of New Zealand. It is part of the Manawatu-Wanganui region....
, she became a much feared but much respected character. Her strength of character and certitude had become strengthened by her time in the military, yet her passion for children's health was equally marked. She was also an innovator, introducing regular "toothbrush drill" at schools and promoting the introduction of daily milk drinks for pupils.
Gunn's most notable contribution to children's health was the inauguration of the Children's Health Camp movement. Based on the system of open-air schools used in britain to aid tuberculosis sufferers, Gunn proposed to Wanganui Hospital Board member B.P. Lethbridge that a simplified system of camps for malnourished children would improve child health. She and Lethbridge had a wager as to the success of such a scheme, and Gunn set about using her persuasive powers in gaining the necessary equipment to open a camp. In November 1919 a group of 55 children arrived at Turakina
Turakina, New Zealand
Turakina is an old Māori settlement situated south of Whanganui city on the North Island of New Zealand. Turakina village derives its name from the Turakina River, which cut its passage to the sea from a spring on Mount Ruapehu. The original inhabitants of the area were the descendants of the Kahui...
to spend three weeks under the supervision of Gunn a,d a small group of school nurses and teacher trainees. The camp was a remarkable siuccess. Gunn continued to personally organise and run camps throughout the 1920s, at Turakina and later at Awapuni
Awapuni
Awapuni is the name of three distinct places in New Zealand:*Awapuni, Gisborne is a suburb of Gisborne city*Awapuni, Manawatu-Wanganui is a suburb of Palmerston North city*Awapuni, Wellington is a suburb of Lower Hutt city...
, Palmerston North
Palmerston North
Palmerston North is the main city of the Manawatu-Wanganui region of the North Island of New Zealand. It is an inland city with a population of and is the country's seventh largest city and eighth largest urban area. Palmerston North is located in the eastern Manawatu Plains near the north bank...
. Camps were organised on a military-like schedule, creating an atmosphere that was somewhere between an open-air hospital and a scout camp. Other voluntary health camps started up, and in 1936, a National Federation of Health Camps was imaugurated, with permanent, year-round facilities and substantial government subsidies, some of these coming through the sale of health stamp
Health stamp
Health stamps are a long-running series of charity stamp issued by New Zealand which include a premium for charitable causes in addition to the charge for postal service.-History:...
s, postage stamps with a set charity premium which went towards the running of the camps.
Between 1937 and 1940, Gunn served as director of the Health Department's Division of School Hygiene. After retiring from the post she continued to be interested and to work in the fields of child health and paediatrics. Gunn was awarded an MBE
MBE
MBE can stand for:* Mail Boxes Etc.* Management by exception* Master of Bioethics* Master of Bioscience Enterprise* Master of Business Engineering* Master of Business Economics* Mean Biased Error...
in 1951 for her work in child health. Elizabeth Gunn died at Ranui rest home in Wellington on 26 October, 1963.