'So you want to become a doctor?' The hurdles and triumphs of UNSW’s pioneering class of '61

Women in UNSW Medicine's inaugural class of 1961 received complaints for wearing pants on hospital wards and one was forced to enrol without her parents' knowledge, according to a book profiling the faculty's pioneering students launched today by UNSW Chancellor David Gonski.

And Now From The Beginning, the stories of the pioneer students of the UNSW School of Medicine profiles 47 students from the inaugural year who studied medicine at the height of the Cold War and in a period of great international instability.

The students were drawn to the challenge of training at Australia’s newest medical school, an idea declared at the time to be a ‘crack brained plan’ by the Sydney Morning Herald.

The profiles recall humorous and moving memories from each student’s university days, enduring friendships, impressive professional achievements and snippets from each student’s family life.

The Great Lloyd Harnett Prank - The late Professor Colin Wendell-Smith (wearing the white lab coat) being handed a ticket by parking inspector 'Ollie" after some of his students from UNSW Medicine's inaugural class of 1961 picked up and moved his Lloyd Harnett car to an unauthorised parking spot. (Photo: James Isbister).

The vibrant stories include anecdotes such as Ingrid Pacey recalling how nurses complained when she wore pants in the hospital wards instead of a skirt. Sue Whereat remembers bravely applying to enrol in the course without her parent’s knowledge, following her father’s advice that the profession was ‘too hard for a girl’. Whereat ended up working in a hospital in Zululand working 24 hour shifts on a dirt floor.

Today, women comprise around 52% of UNSW medical students, in stark contrast to the 1960s, when less than 15% of students from the inaugural graduating class were female.

The Afterword of the publication is written by retired Federal Court Magistrate Jillian Orchiston, who notes the legacy many of the pioneering students derived from their unique experiences.

James Isbister, Pat Mutton and Henry Mok graduating B.Sc (Med) Honours in April 1965, becoming the first 'pioneers' to obtain a degree in the new UNSW Medicine Faculty. All three graduated with MB BS (Honours) in February 1968.

“The innovative and experimental spirit that fashioned their pioneer student days is reflected in the depth of their individual contributions to medicine at regional, national and international levels – in the UK, the US and as far flung as Zululand, Nepal and Paua-New Guinea,” she writes.

The book’s production was led by Jim Pollitt, David De Carle and Sue Whereat, all graduates from the class of 1961. Their efforts were described by one student as the "custodians who cosseted our memories and kept alive our history".

The book was launched today by the Chancellor of UNSW, David Gonski.

Copies of the book can ordered by emailing: ddecarle@optusnet.com.au