Phyllis Cilento
Encyclopedia
Phyllis Cilento, Lady Cilento (13 March 189426 July 1987) was an Australian medical practitioner and journalist.
, Sydney
, New South Wales
, the daughter of Charles Thomas McGlew and Alice Lane (née Walker). She grew up in Adelaide
, South Australia
. She married Raphael Cilento
, also a doctor, in Adelaide in 1920. They worked in a number of countries before settling in Brisbane
, Queensland
, in 1928.
They had six children, including actress Diane Cilento
, and remained married until Raphael's death in 1985. She died on 26 July 1987 in Brisbane and was buried in Albany Creek Cemetery.
Following her marriage, the couple moved to the Malay States where she worked as a "lady medical officer" in the British colonial service and supervise a women's ward in a hospital.
In 1922 Dr Cilento studied a course in public health at the University of Sydney
.
From 1924 to 1927, she worked in private practice in New Guinea
.
Dr Cilento worked in the Hospital for Sick Children in Brisbane
from 1931–1938, after which she moved into general practice working from a surgery attached to her home in Annerley
with a special interest in the health of mothers and children, including obstetrics
. In 1967, she moved to Toowong
, where she continued her practice until the early 1980s.
She was also active in women's organisations, including the National Council of Women in Queensland, the Business and Professional Women's Association and the Lyceum Club.
In 1974 she was declared to be Queensland Mother of the Year.
In 1977 her name was used for an award bestowed by the Nutritional Foods Association of Australia. The Lady Cilento Parenting Centre in Brisbane was named after her (her husband having been knighted).
In 1979 she became a Fellow of the International Academy of Preventive Medicine.
In 1980 she was awarded life membership of the Australian Medical Association.
In 1981 she was named Queenslander of the Year.
In 1987 she was named Queensland Senior Citizen of the Year and was awarded a medal of merit by the Australian chapter of the Legion of Frontiersmen of the Commonwealth.
In 1982 she was named Loyal Australian of the Year by the Assembly of Captive European Nations.
She is the subject of a number of portraits, one by John Rigby
(1973) is held in the Queensland Art Gallery
.
Personal life
Phyllis Dorothy McGlew was born on 13 March 1894 at RockdaleRockdale, New South Wales
Rockdale is a suburb in southern Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Rockdale is located 13 kilometres south of the Sydney central business district and is part of the St George area...
, Sydney
Sydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
, New South Wales
New South Wales
New South Wales is a state of :Australia, located in the east of the country. It is bordered by Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to the north, south and west respectively. To the east, the state is bordered by the Tasman Sea, which forms part of the Pacific Ocean. New South Wales...
, the daughter of Charles Thomas McGlew and Alice Lane (née Walker). She grew up in Adelaide
Adelaide
Adelaide is the capital city of South Australia and the fifth-largest city in Australia. Adelaide has an estimated population of more than 1.2 million...
, South Australia
South Australia
South Australia is a state of Australia in the southern central part of the country. It covers some of the most arid parts of the continent; with a total land area of , it is the fourth largest of Australia's six states and two territories.South Australia shares borders with all of the mainland...
. She married Raphael Cilento
Raphael Cilento
Sir Raphael West Cilento , often known as "Ray", was a notable Australian medical practitioner and public health administrator.-Early life and education:...
, also a doctor, in Adelaide in 1920. They worked in a number of countries before settling in Brisbane
Brisbane
Brisbane is the capital and most populous city in the Australian state of Queensland and the third most populous city in Australia. Brisbane's metropolitan area has a population of over 2 million, and the South East Queensland urban conurbation, centred around Brisbane, encompasses a population of...
, Queensland
Queensland
Queensland is a state of Australia, occupying the north-eastern section of the mainland continent. It is bordered by the Northern Territory, South Australia and New South Wales to the west, south-west and south respectively. To the east, Queensland is bordered by the Coral Sea and Pacific Ocean...
, in 1928.
They had six children, including actress Diane Cilento
Diane Cilento
Diane Cilento was an Australian theatre and film actress and author.-Biography:Cilento's parents, Sir Raphael Cilento and Lady Phyllis Cilento, were both distinguished medical practitioners....
, and remained married until Raphael's death in 1985. She died on 26 July 1987 in Brisbane and was buried in Albany Creek Cemetery.
Medical practice
Phyllis Cilento studied medicine at the University of Adelaide, graduating in 1919. She worked for a short time at the Adelaide Hospital, the Hospital for Sick Children, Great Ormond Street, London and the Marylebone Medical Mission Dispensary, and a brief stint in general practice in Adelaide.Following her marriage, the couple moved to the Malay States where she worked as a "lady medical officer" in the British colonial service and supervise a women's ward in a hospital.
In 1922 Dr Cilento studied a course in public health at the University of Sydney
University of Sydney
The University of Sydney is a public university located in Sydney, New South Wales. The main campus spreads across the suburbs of Camperdown and Darlington on the southwestern outskirts of the Sydney CBD. Founded in 1850, it is the oldest university in Australia and Oceania...
.
From 1924 to 1927, she worked in private practice in New Guinea
New Guinea
New Guinea is the world's second largest island, after Greenland, covering a land area of 786,000 km2. Located in the southwest Pacific Ocean, it lies geographically to the east of the Malay Archipelago, with which it is sometimes included as part of a greater Indo-Australian Archipelago...
.
Dr Cilento worked in the Hospital for Sick Children in Brisbane
Brisbane
Brisbane is the capital and most populous city in the Australian state of Queensland and the third most populous city in Australia. Brisbane's metropolitan area has a population of over 2 million, and the South East Queensland urban conurbation, centred around Brisbane, encompasses a population of...
from 1931–1938, after which she moved into general practice working from a surgery attached to her home in Annerley
Annerley, Queensland
Annerley is a suburb of Brisbane, Australia located 6 km south of the Brisbane CBD. It was named after a town in England.-Geography:Much of the suburb is elevated, lying on a ridge that gives views of the city...
with a special interest in the health of mothers and children, including obstetrics
Obstetrics
Obstetrics is the medical specialty dealing with the care of all women's reproductive tracts and their children during pregnancy , childbirth and the postnatal period...
. In 1967, she moved to Toowong
Toowong, Queensland
Toowong is an inner suburb of Brisbane, Australia which is located 5 km west of the Brisbane CBD. At the centre of Toowong is a commercial precinct including Toowong Village and several office buildings...
, where she continued her practice until the early 1980s.
Journalism
Dr Cilento became well-known through her active advocacy of health issues for women and children. From 1928 onwards she wrote both occasional articles and regular columns for magazines and newspapers under the nom de plume of "Mother M.D." and "Medical Mother". She was particularly interested in promoting good nutrition and raising children. She expanded her outreach through books and radio, and was widely respected by women for her practical advice. She was a strong advocate of the benefit of vitamins. However, some of her advice was disliked by other doctors as she was ahead of her time in advocating natural childbirth, family planning and that fathers be present at the birth of their children.Professional and community organisations
Dr Cilento was also active in medical organisations, including the inaugural president of the Queensland Medical Women's Society in 1929. She pursued her particular passion for mothers and children through the establishment in 1931 of the Mothercraft Association of Queensland in 1931, the Family Planning Association of Queensland, and her membership of Creche and Kindergarten Association of Queensland.She was also active in women's organisations, including the National Council of Women in Queensland, the Business and Professional Women's Association and the Lyceum Club.
Books
Some of her books include:- "Square Meals for the Family" (1933)
- "The Emergency Care of Children" (1940)
- "A Code for Teenagers and Their Parents" (1963)
- "Enjoy Your Family: a Guide to Parenthood" (1964)
- "Plan Your Family : Practical Birth Control" (1965)
- "Mothercraft in Queensland : A Story of Progress and Achievement" (1967)
- "Vitamins and You" (1971)
- "All About the Pill" (1971)
- "All About Drugs" (1972)
- "Care For Your Eyes" (1972)
- "You Don't Have to Live with Vitamin and Mineral Deficiencies" (1977)
- "We Are What We Eat" (1977)
- "You Don't Have to Live with Chronic Ill Health" (1977)
- "You Don't Have to Live with Ailing Heart and Blood Vessels" (1977)
- "You Can't Live without Vitamin C" (1979)
- "Medical Mother" (1982)
- "The Cilento Way" (1984)
- her autobiography, "Lady Cilento M.B. B.S.: My Life" (1987)
Public recognition
In 1971 the Brisbane City Mission presented her with a citation signed by the Queensland Premier and many church and community organisations.In 1974 she was declared to be Queensland Mother of the Year.
In 1977 her name was used for an award bestowed by the Nutritional Foods Association of Australia. The Lady Cilento Parenting Centre in Brisbane was named after her (her husband having been knighted).
In 1979 she became a Fellow of the International Academy of Preventive Medicine.
In 1980 she was awarded life membership of the Australian Medical Association.
In 1981 she was named Queenslander of the Year.
In 1987 she was named Queensland Senior Citizen of the Year and was awarded a medal of merit by the Australian chapter of the Legion of Frontiersmen of the Commonwealth.
In 1982 she was named Loyal Australian of the Year by the Assembly of Captive European Nations.
She is the subject of a number of portraits, one by John Rigby
John Rigby (artist)
John Rigby is an Australian artist born in Brisbane who is particularly known for his tropical and bush landscapes, genre and portraits....
(1973) is held in the Queensland Art Gallery
Queensland Art Gallery
The Queensland Art Gallery is part of the Queensland Cultural Centre, and is located nearest to Brisbane River at South Bank...
.