A lifetime of medicine
The Southland woman farewelled quietly in Dunedin last Monday, Dr Heather Thomson, had welcomed some 4000 new little Southlanders into the world during her 50 years in general practice here.
Born in Invercargill in 1931, Heather Baillie went on the become dux of Southland Girls’ High School in 1950.
She graduated from the Otago Medical School in 1956 and, with her late husband Dr Forrester Thomson, set up medical practice in partnership in Mataura in 1957.
This extract is from The Lives of NZ Women Doctors in the 21st Century by Dr Rosemary Fenwicke of Wellington (Heather’s first born), which was published in 2004.
‘‘In 1967 mum had 4 daughters ranging in age from 9-4 years, a car, 24 pounds sterling and a job at Kew A&E.
‘‘She learned anaesthetics and bought a house to which she added a surgery and waiting room and started work in full time general practice and obstetrics.
‘‘The practice of medicine has kept my mother company her whole life.
‘‘Mum was always there for us when we got home from school, albeit separated by the door to the surgery and a full waiting room.
‘‘As a widow, she raised her four daughters, ran a full time busy practice in Invercargill, was an anaesthetist at Kew and Southern Cross hospitals and was medical adviser and later medical superintendent to Karitane Hospital.’’
In her many roles, she has helped, supported and encouraged three generations of Southlanders and was a fine role model for a generation of young women.
A well-known and respected Southlander, she topped the polls when she first stood for the Invercargill City Council, representing the council on the Southland Heritage and Rural Trusts, on the Historic Places Trust and the Southland Museum and Art Gallery boards.
She had special interest in environmental and planning committees, was the founding chair of the Southland Theatre Charitable Trust and was president of the Anderson Park Art Gallery.
In 2006, her 40-plus years with St John was recognised by the award of the office of Dame Commander of the order of St John, bestowed at a vice-regal ceremony in Wellington on May 20 that year.
She returned the following year when she was awarded the honour MNZM, Member New Zealand Order of Merit, recognition of half a century of service in medicine, culture, family life and the arts in Southland.
She worked quietly and contributed generously to many groups. First Church charity knitting circle organiser Jenny Grandiek said she did Peggy squares to support their warm beds project.
She won and kept friends in all walks of life, from retired high school principal Maureen Fox with whom she shared interests in art and heritage, to Southland singer Maureen Calvert - her righthand help in her Don St practice, with whom she retained friendship links throughout her later life.
Her intelligence, humour, energy and zest drew people, her qualities recognised and treasured.
We missed her when she left 10 years ago, retiring to be near her then undergraduate grandchildren in Dunedin.
Now those grandchildren are grown and gone.
Yet even those studying overseas were back with their mothers and their aunts, Heather’s daughters Rosemary, Jill, Prue and Janet, to say goodbye to a beloved gran.
For them all, it was the end of an era. For us, too.