Historical information

This pessary belonged to Dr Olga Bolitho who inherited it from Dame Ella MacKnight. Used by Olga Bolitho once or twice, according to correspondence dated 14/5/00 from Olga Bolitho [held with the donation form]

Dame Ella Macknight was an obstetrician and gynaecologist who worked at the Queen Victoria Hospital, Melbourne. She was appointed as a Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire on 1 January 1969 for services to medicine. She gained her MB BS in 1928 from the University of Melbourne. After qualifying as an obstetrician and gynaecologist, (MD, Melb.1931, DGO Melb 1936), she was associated with the Queen Victoria Hospital from 1935-1977. Her appointments included honorary obstetrician and gynaecologist from 1935-1964; vice-president of the Committee of Management for 1963-1971 and president from 1971-1977. She was president of the Council of the Royal College of Gynaecologists from 1970-1972.After her death in 1996, her family set up a post graduate scholarship in her honour with the Royal College of Gynaecologists & Obstetricians.

Physical description

Clear plastic pessary. Pessary is circular, with a wide flange and a short stem. The stem is attached to the flange, rather than the pessary being moulded as one piece. There are two small holes in the flange, either side of the stem.