Hannah Mary Helen Sexton (1862–1950)
from Age
The death has occurred in London of Dr. Helen Sexton, 89 years, a founder of the Queen Victoria Hospital, and an honorary surgeon both there and at the Women's Hospital for many years.
Dr. Sexton was one of several doctors who were instrumental in securing permission for women to have full educational rights with men— and later for the study of medicine.
In 1892 she graduated M.B., B.S., and in 1915 closed her practice in Melbourne and went to France, where she worked as honorary surgeon in a hospital for the duration of the war.
Original publication
Other Obituaries for Hannah Mary Helen Sexton
- Herald (Melbourne), 20 October 1950, p 10
Additional Resources and Scholarship
- is awarded a Bachelor of Surgery and a Bachelor of Medicine from the University of Melbourne, Argus (Melbourne), 15 November 1892, p 7
- attends a meeting to organise a Women's Social and Political Reform League, Argus (Melbourne) 24 January 1894, p 5
- is appointed a committee member of the Victorian Women's Franchise League, Argus (Melbourne), 22 March 1894, p 5
- is president of the Girls' Leisure Hour Club which was formed a few years ago by Uni of Melbourne women graduates for the benefit of working girls, Sydney Mail and New South Wales Advertiser, 8 September 1894, p 483
- two of the first group of women to study medicine at the University of Melbourne have died, three others are unwell; Sexton appears to be the only one still working as a doctor who is in good health, Table Talk (Melbourne), 2 December 1898, p 16
- photo, Weekly Times (Melbourne), 15 July 1899, p 11
- the election of honorary surgeons for the Women's Hospital is to take place today; Sexton is the first female doctor to stand for a position, Age (Melbourne), 8 September 1899, p 5
- letter to the editor supporting her candidacy, Age (Melbourne), 8 September 1899, p 5
- Sexton is elected an outdoor surgeon, rgus (Melbourne), 9 September 1899, p 13
- item congratulating Sexton, Sydney Mail, 16 September 1899, p 673
- nearly all women's organisations worked in a quiet, unobtrusive way to support her election, Tocsin (Melbourne), 21 September 1899, p 5, column 1
- a party is held to celebrate her appointment, Brisbane Courier, 9 October 1899, p 6
- joins the committee of the newly formed St Kilda branch of the Women's Progressive League, Prahran Chronicle (Melb), 21 October 1899, p 3
- resigns her position on the outpatient staff of the Queen Victoria Women's Hospital and is appointed hon surgeon to inpatients only, Argus (Melbourne), 30 July 1904, p 17
- is taking a holiday in Europe, Australian Town and Country Journal, 3 October 1906, p 40
- is treasurer of Lady Talbolt Milk Institute; its aim is to distribute milk to the homes of poor families with infant children, Telegraph (Brisbane), 12 December 1908, p 10
- is granted a year's leave of absence from the Women's Hospital; she will revisit Europe, Sydney Morning Herald, 24 February 1909, p 5
- profile, Punch (Melbourne), 18 March 1909, p 6
- resigns from the infirmary staff at the Women's Hospital, Age (Melbourne), 28 May 1910, p 11
- is appointed honorary consulting physician to the Women's Hospital, Herald (Melbourne), 5 August 1910, p 8
- is retiring from practice and will take a two-year tour of Europe, Sun (Sydney), 4 December 1911, p 6
- is elected a committee member of the Arts and Crafts Society, Argus (Melbourne), 2 June 1914, p 8
- is leaving for London to start a hospital for the wounded at her own expense, Observer (Adelaide), 15 May 1915, p 7
- an Australian hospital is to be opened at Auteuil in France, Sexton will be one of the doctors, Herald (Melbourne), 8 July 1915, p 12
- the hospital opens; it is the gift of five Australian women, including Sexton, Mercury (Hobart), 6 August 1915, p 5
- article about the hospital; Sexton is the surgeon in charge, Argus (Melbourne), 6 August 1915, p 8
- the hospital is granted military status and Sexton is appointed a major, Sun (Kalgoorlie, WA), 8 August 1915, p 1
- item about the Hospital Australien de Paris, Mercury (Hobart), 16 October 1915, p 10, column 2
- Sexton presents a French soldier patient with the Military Medal and Cross at the request of the French government, Daily Telegraph (Sydney), 17 December 1915, p 7
- Sexton is appointed to the medical staff of a French military hospital, Argus (Melbourne), 12 February 1916, p 16
- it was a unique distinction to be asked to pin the Military Cross on the soldier as only senior officers can perform that duty, Barrier Miner (Broken Hill, NSW), 26 February 1916, p 7
- Sexton is in charge of the Australian ward at the hospital, Herald (Melbourne), 21 March 1916, p 7
- takes three weeks leave in London, Table Talk (Melbourne), 11 May 1916, p 33
- a letter home from Sexton; is taking leave after injuring her leg, Herald (Melbourne), 16 May 1916, p 8
- is leaving for Melbourne next week, Australasian, 9 September 1916, p 38
- is returning to France with her friend Mrs Blackwood, Herald (Melbourne), 26 August 1919, p 4, column 3
- returns to Melbourne, Australasian, 17 December 1921, p 50, column 1
- leaves for England again with Mrs Blackwood, Table Talk (Melbourne), 2 March 1922, p 34
- is living in Florence, Australasian, 30 January 1926, p 56
- is living in Tuscany, Italy, Herald (Melbourne), 11 May 1934, p 19, column 2
Related Entries in NCB Sites
- Sexton, Hannah Mary Helen
- Stone, Emma Constance (colleague)
- Alexander, Lilian Helen (colleague)
- Castilla, Marie Elizabeth Amy (colleague)
Citation details
'Sexton, Hannah Mary Helen (1862–1950)', Obituaries Australia, National Centre of Biography, Australian National University, https://oa.anu.edu.au/obituary/sexton-hannah-mary-helen-8389/text35534, accessed 17 April 2025.
Life Summary [details]
Birth
21 June,
1862
Melbourne,
Victoria,
Australia
Death
12 October,
1950
(aged 88)
London,
Middlesex,
England
Cause of Death
Cultural Heritage
Includes subject's nationality; their parents' nationality; the countries in which they spent a significant part of their childhood, and their self-identity.
Education
Occupation or Descriptor
Military Service
Awards
Key Organisations
- Princess Ida Club (University of Melbourne)
- Victorian Women's Franchise League
- Women's Social and Political Reform League (Melbourne)