Laura Margaret Hope facts for kids
Laura Margaret Hope (born Fowler) was an amazing Australian doctor. She was born on May 3, 1868, and passed away on September 14, 1952. Laura was the very first woman to finish her medical and surgical studies at the University of Adelaide. This also made her Australia's first woman surgeon! With her husband, Charles, she spent over 30 years helping people through medical and Baptist missionary work in Bengal, India, and Serbia.
Contents
Early Life and Family
Laura Margaret Fowler was born in Mitcham, South Australia, a suburb of Adelaide. Her parents, George Swan Fowler and Catherine Janet Lamb, were from Scotland. Her father was a successful businessman who sold groceries in large amounts. When Laura was a child, she even helped her dad breed leeches. These leeches were sold to pharmacies from their family home in Glen Osmond.
Becoming a Doctor
Laura received her early education at private schools. She attended Madame Marval's private school in Adelaide. She also went to schools in England for a time. In 1884, her family returned to Adelaide. Laura then officially enrolled in university in 1886.
In 1887, Laura made history. She became the first woman ever to enroll in medicine at the University of Adelaide. She worked very hard and was awarded the Elder Prize. In 1891, she proudly graduated with degrees in Medicine and Surgery.
A Career of Helping Others
After graduating, Laura Fowler became a House Surgeon. She worked at the Adelaide Children's Hospital. She stayed there until 1893 when she married another doctor, Charles Henry Standish Hope.
Medical Missions in India
After they married, Laura and Charles Hope dedicated many years to helping people. They worked on medical missions in India. They spent about 30 years in a region called Bengal. There, they provided important medical help to local communities. The Hopes often treated serious illnesses. These included typhoid, cholera, and malaria. Charles became especially known for his skill in performing eye surgery.
Helping During World War I
In 1915, the Hopes wanted to help during World War I. They joined the Scottish Women's Hospitals for Foreign Service as doctors. The Australian Army at that time only allowed female nurses, not female doctors. Laura and Charles treated wounded soldiers in Kragujevac, Serbia. During their service, they were captured. They became prisoners in Hungary for two months.
After their release, they rested in England. Then, in 1916, they returned to India. They continued their important mission work. For their brave service, both Laura and Charles were given the Serbian Samaritan Cross in 1918.
Later Missionary Work
Before retiring and moving back to Adelaide, Laura Hope received a special award. She was given the Kaisar-i-Hind Medal. This medal recognized her outstanding missionary work. The Hopes worked with several Baptist missions. These included the Australian Baptist Mission at Pubna, the New Zealand Baptist Mission Hospital in Chandpur, and the Bengal Baptist Mission at Kalimpong.
Later Years
Laura Margaret Hope passed away on September 14, 1952. She did not have any children. Her husband, Charles, had passed away earlier in 1942.
