Christine Rivett
Christine Rivett | |
|---|---|
 Rivett, c.1950 | |
| Born | Amy Christine Rivett 28 February 1891 Yarrawonga, Victoria, Australia |
| Died | 14 July 1962 (aged 71) Sydney, New South Wales, Australia |
| Education | Sydney Girls High School |
| Alma mater | University of Sydney |
| Father | Albert Rivett |
| Relatives | Albert Cherbury David Rivett (brother) |
Amy Christine Rivett (28 February 1891 – 14 July 1962) was an Australian medical practitioner. Known as Christine Rivett, she was a birth control advocate.
Early life and education
[edit | edit source]Amy Christine Rivett was born at Yarrawonga, Victoria on 28 February 1891.[1] She was the sixth child of Elizabeth Mary Ann (née Cherbury) and Reverend Albert Rivett, a Congregational pastor and pacifist. Her sisters were the children's library founders Elsie Rivett and Mary Matheson, and women's educator Eleanor Harriett (Nell) Rivett.[2]
She was educated at Sydney Girls High School and then studied medicine at the University of Sydney, graduating with a bachelor of medicine in 1915 and master of surgery in 1918.[3]
Career
[edit | edit source]Following her graduation in 1915, Rivett volunteered to serve in World War I but her offer was refused as women doctors were not accepted by the Australian government.[4] Instead she was appointed resident medical officer at the Hospital for Sick Children in Brisbane.[5] In 1917 she transferred to Brisbane General Hospital as resident medical officer and then to the Lady Bowen Hospital a year later in the same role.[6] Part of her job as municipal medical officer was to monitor the health of prostitutes and inspect brothels.[3]
In August 1918 Rivett opened a general practice in Wickham Terrace, Brisbane.[7] She gave a talk at the Brisbane Lyceum Club on "Sex Hygiene" in 1922,[8] while in the 1930s she advocated strongly for birth control,[9] saying that it should be part of the upper school curriculum.[10] She was, however, against abortion.[11] She was one of the founding members of the Queensland Medical Women's Society.[1]
She learnt to fly in 1929 and qualified in 1930[12] before being one of three women pilots who flew to Toowoomba to escort British aviator Amy Johnson to Brisbane following her London to Australia solo flight.[13] She was fined £100 for understating her income as £863 instead of £3,393 in her 1928–29 tax return.[14]
The Telegraph selected a quotation of Rivett's for its column, "Notable Sayings" in 1934:[15]
If we do nothing else than live in history as a generation of women who, having been denied preparatory education in sex, yet gave to the next generation opportunity for education in self-knowledge and sex hygiene, with full technique in contraception as her preparation for maternity, then I say we shall have reason for deep inner happiness.
— Christine Rivett
Rivett visited England, France and Germany in 1936 to develop her knowledge and skills in gynaecological surgery and study tropical medicine.[16] She was named as one of artist Vida Lahey's six outstanding women for her "for her brilliant gifts, courage and charm" in a quest to find Australia's most outstanding women held in 1936.[17] She moved to Sydney in 1947 and practised medicine with her brother, Edward Rivett.[18][19]
A bronze bust of Rivett by Daphne Mayo is held in the National Portrait Gallery.[20]
Rivett died in Sydney on 14 July 1962.[19]
References
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