Elizabeth Kathleen Turner

Elizabeth Kathleen Turner (19 August 1914 – 26 December 1999) was a physician from Australia, who was the first doctor in Australia to administer penicillin. She held the position of Medical Superintendent of the (Royal) Children's Hospital Melbourne from 1943 until 1946 Turner achieved a number of other Australian firsts, such as performing Australia's first exchange transfusion for severe Rh incompatibility, and identifying Australia's first official case of Turner Syndrome. After her death, the Royal Children's Hospital Melbourne named the Elizabeth Turner Medal in her honour.

Early life Turner was born in Victoria, Australia, to Irene Turner née Rickard (1887–1973), and Harry Turner (1884–1977). She had two younger sisters, Caroline Nancy Cats née Turner, and Dame Phyllis Frost née Turner and they grew up in Croydon.

Turner was a talented musician, playing piano, concertina, guitar and even a conch shell, and she was very interested in art and had lessons in painting She stated that the disease was associated with malnutrition, and poor living conditions such as over-crowded, damp housing. The children she was treating would go back to the same poor living conditions, only to return to the hospital later with heart conditions. in which she spoke about the importance of remembering the pioneers of women's medicine and the systemic challenges they faced due to their gender. She highlighted the importance of the Victorian Medical Women's Society for these doctors to support each other in facing those challenges.

Recognition The University of Melbourne awarded Turner a Doctor of Laws honoris causa in 1983.

In 1991, Turner was awarded a membership as an Officer of the Order of Australia for "service to paediatrics, particularly as a physician". and "Botany in the Service of Medicine"

She travelled extensively, pursuing her scientific interests in the natural world and documenting them in diaries and on film. After one trip to the Galapagos Islands, Turner gave small lectures to the Field Naturalists Club of Victoria, and was invited to repeat the talk at the LaTrobe Valley Field Naturalists Club.