125 stories for 125 years

The Women Pharmacists Associations

In 1905 the Women Pharmacists’ Association was formed. It disbanded in 1913 when its principal objective of promoting the interests of women pharmacists, in particular with regard to salaries, was deemed to have been achieved.

Jane Wollen was elected president and Margaret Bignell was on the executive. Jane was the first female student at the college and the first woman to be awarded the Gold Medal of the college in 1897. Margaret was registered by the Pharmacy Board of Victoria in 1897 after the death of her husband. She owned Bignell’s pharmacy in Carlton and was considered the first great battler for the recognition of women in pharmacy, as she employed only women.

By 1911, the ability of women pharmacists to practise equally with men had been recognised and their status and remuneration had improved. This resulted in a growing demand for women pharmacists in all areas of pharmaceutical practice.

In 1933, the Women’s Section of the Pharmaceutical Society of Victoria was founded, evolving into the Women Pharmaceutical Chemists’ Association of Victoria (WPCA) in 1949. The formation of the Women’s Section of the society had been fostered and supported by the council of the society and by its secretary at that time, C.L. Butchers. It was also strongly supported by the dean of the college, A.T.S. Sissons.

The first constitution of the WPCA was drafted in 1954 and aimed to ‘promote the recognition of the professional status of women pharmaceutical chemists; organise lectures, educational, cultural and social functions for members; and seek continued representation on the Council of the Pharmaceutical Society of Victoria’¹. The first female pharmacist to be elected to the council of the society was Pauline Bendall in 1940. She held this position until her resignation in 1968.

The WPCA also contributed to the Australasian Journal of Pharmacy, edited by F.C. Kent. Miriel Witt, Gold Medal winner and long time college staff member, was president of the WPCA from 1950 to 1952. It disbanded in 1979, having succeeded in reaching its goals. Its achievements included equal pay, establishment of the ‘continuing education’ lectures, representation on major industry bodies and formation of a national body.

A group of Victorian women pharmacists still meet to catch up and reminisce about their journey through life and pharmacy. Miriel Witt was a regular attendee at these gatherings. Others in the group include Margaret Barker, Beverley Frame, Beverley Gorr, Dawn Sayers, Dot Pettit, Marion Dickinson, Nola Cuthbertson, Ruth Mercer, Margaret Timbury, Norma Long, Kath Johnson, Margaret Lancaster, Vivien Wills and Clare Hicks.

Source: Bomford, J, Victorian College of Pharmacy: 125 years of history, 1881–2006, 2006.

Reference: ¹ Witt, EM, The Genesis and Achievements of Two Victorian Women Pharmacists’ Associations, 1986.