Kathleen (Kit) Gray

Kathleen (Kitty) Mary Patricia Sawkins was born in Sydney. She graduated in Agricultural Science from Sydney University (1934). Awarded the Davis Gelatine Company’s Post-graduate Scholarship to study medical bacteriology, Gray worked as a bacteriologist for the company from 1935 to 1939. She was ‘manpowered’ as a Resident Microbiologist at Perth Hospital, ‘on call’ from 1939 to 1943. She reported: As the war proceeded, my staff diminished and I carried out the duties of haematologist, blood bank assistant, microbiologist, took pathological sections and conducted post mortems. My staff comprised a Graduate Assistant, a laboratory boy and a typist. There was occasional access to an Honorary Pathologist and collaboration with the Medical Superintendent, Dr Ray Meucke. I had an ‘austerity’ wedding on New Year’s Day, 1942, and was back to work the next day! The air raid on Broome looms large in my memory. The Dutch refugees who had survived were flown to Perth and admitted to Perth Hospital. Most of the patients had burns from swimming through burning fuel on the surface, and very few could speak English. The treatment was basic, with constant checks to control their body fluids. Patients were placed in the wards and verandas, with canvas blinds as the only protection from the weather. Kit Gray was an active member of Convocation committees. In 1976, Convocation elected her to the UWA Senate. She served until 1988.