Historical information

Dr Elizabeth “Betty” Nankivell (1907-2003), later Mrs Forward, graduated in 1937 from Melbourne University with a degree in medicine. She worked at Queen Victoria and Royal Adelaide Hospitals. During WWII, she practised medicine in Morwell, and in 1945 joined the Royal Australian Army Medical Corp (R.A.A.M.C.). Betty lived and worked in many South East Asian countries, including 10 years of private practise in Kuala Lumpur, before retiring in 1970 to live in Melbourne.

Photographer notations on slide: "Vic Women's Golf Ch'ship B98"
Published: The Age 3 September 1935 p. 7
Published title: "EXCITING GOLF DUEL."
Published caption: MISS B. NANKIVELL, whose victory over Miss Pam Barton was the outstanding feature of the play in the Australian Championship yesterday.
Trove article identifier: http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article203852987

Description: Action shot of golfer Betty Nankivell putting on golf course. She wears a checked cardigan, straight skirt, stockings, heeled shoes and a tie, no hat. The clubhouse structure is blurred in the background.

Research by project volunteer, Fiona Collyer:
Dr Elizabeth “Betty” Nankivell, Mrs Forward
Betty Nankivell (1907 – 2003) was a champion Victorian golfer and medical doctor. She competed in the Australian Women’s Golf Championship at Royal Melbourne in 1935 against the visiting British Team. She eliminated 18 year old British champion Pam Barton, but was defeated by the eventual winner of the tournament, Mrs J B Walker in the semi finals.

In 1938, Betty won the SA Golf Championships at Kooyonga SA. Betty graduated from Melbourne University with a degree in medicine in 1937 and worked at Queen Victoria Hospital and at Royal Adelaide Hospital as R.M.O. (Resident Medical Officer).
During the war years, Betty practised medicine in Morwell, Victoria, and in 1945 joined the R.A.A.M.C. (Royal Australian Army Medical Corp) for the Malaya Medical Service.

In 1946, she married Alan Forward OBE, a Colonel in the British Army and later the Commissioner of Road Transport in Malaya, and lived and worked in many S E Asian countries including 10 years in private practice in Kuala Lumpur.

Betty continued to play golf throughout her life, retiring in 1970, and died in Melbourne in 2003.

Sources:
Melbourne University: Journal of the University of Melbourne Medical Society: vol. 2, no. 1

Physical description

Glass slide