March 8th 2023 is #InternationalWomensDay! A globally recognized day celebrating the social, economic, cultural & political achievements of women. The Australian Veterinary profession can certainly sing the praises of its pioneer-women Vets. The field has embraced gender equity in leaps & bounds this past century. Did you know Australia boasts the first female Veterinarian in the British Empire? Yep.

Belle Bruce Reid (1883-1945) was the first & only female to qualify as a Vet in 1906. One of only 5 students to graduate that year, Belle passed with 2nd Class Honours. She considered pursuing a career in singing, but decided on her other great love, animals. She did this when no one else had. Belle was an accomplished Vet & breeder in her lifetime (importing the first toy Pomeranians in 1904, a successful horse breeder, she also dedicated herself to helping Melbourne’s stray animals until retiring in 1923 through The Lost Dogs Home, Est 1906. She also established the Balwyn Veterinary Surgery in 1906 - Melbourne’s oldest, longest-running Vet facility. The University of Melbourne Faculty of Veterinary Science struck the Belle Bruce Reid Medal in 2006 to celebrate Bruce Reid’s career; at the time 100 prominent female Australian Vets of the past century were awarded the medal for their contributions to the profession. Today, all female Vet graduates of Melbourne University receive the Bruce Reid Medal. Belle was the first in a time when women were not regarded as unsuitable candidates for Veterinary work, but over a century later, there are as many, if not more, female Veterinarian graduates in Australia than their male colleagues. changing boundaries & paving a way, Thank you Belle! As another great singer (Arethah) sang... #respect!

#emrbaceequity #mittagongvet #mittagong #vet #southernhighlands #vethospital #veterinarian #bellebrucereid #IWD2023