Una Porter

Una Porter (17 October 1900 - 24 June 1996) was an Australian psychiatrist and philanthropist. As senior psychiatrist at Queen Victoria Hospital, she established their first clinic of psychiatry. She was active in the Australian Young Women's Christian Association (YWCA), and served as world president from 1963 to 1967. She was appointed an officer in the Order of the British Empire on 31 December 1960, and elevated to CBE on 1 January 1968.

Biography

Early life and education Porter was born Una Beatrice Cato on 17 October 1900, in Hawthorne, a suburb of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. Her parents were Frederick John Cato and Frances "Fanny" Gertrude Cato, née Bethune. Una was the youngest of eight children. Her father was a successful merchant who ran the successful grocery chain Moran & Cato with his cousin Thomas Moran. He was also a devoted Methodist, and a lay leader within the church. A generous philanthropist, he contributed to many Methodist charitable activities. She began her early schooling in New Zealand, and later she attended the Methodist Ladies' College in Hawthorne. In 1949, Porter began working at the Queen Victoria Hospital, where she was the senior psychiatrist. She held this position for eleven years, during which time she established the first psychiatric clinic at the hospital. She continued as a consultant after her retirement. Porter became a member of the Australian YWCA executive in 1925, and served as vice-president of the World YWCA from 1955 to 1959. In 1963, Porter became the first Australian woman to be president of the World YWCA. She served a four year term. She also served as the president of the Australian YWCA from 1971 to 1973.

She also succeeded her father as a member of the council for the Queen's College in Melbourne, becoming the first woman to sit on the council. She continued in this role until 1964. She also served on the council of St. Hilda's College in Melbourne, from 1961 to 1975. Honours

Porter was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire on 31 December 1960, as part of the New Year Honours. She was recognized for her work on "social welfare". Una Porter. Bless the Lord, O My Soul. (1975)