Page 21 - Luce 2016

Council News

Penny Lewisohn and Judith Whitworth

welcomed as College Fellows

Mrs Penny Lewisohn (Weatherly, 1964) and Professor Judith Whitworth AC (1962) have been elected
Fellows of the College, the highest honour the College can bestow.

Mrs Penny Lewisohn Professor Judith Whitworth
(Weatherly, 1964) AC (1962)
Much-loved alumna, Penny One of the College’s most
Lewisohn, has had many distinguished alumnae, Judith
connections with Janet Whitworth was inspired to
Clarke Hall over the years. a career in medicine while
There was one she kept watching medical staff during
quiet about as a resident a long hospital stay as a
student in the 1960s: her child. Her early research
great-grandfather, W.T. of factors influencing the
Manifold, a generous regulation of blood pressure
benefactor to the College, led to involvement in the
had initiated the cooking development of clinical
test which became increasingly unpopular as women’s guidelines for hypertension, of use not only in Australia, but
liberation became a reality – it was quietly shelved by Dr worldwide. From this evolved an interest in the research base
Eden. for better health policy, where the use of research generates
evidence-informed policy for decision makers.
Penny was a member of Council from 1996 to 2002 and
worked for the Friends of Janet Clarke Hall during the ten Judith’s research scholarship career, from an early fellowship
years of its existence, bringing speakers into the College for at the Howard Florey Institute to becoming Director of the
fund-raising functions. Her interest in the arts was obvious: John Curtin School of Medical Research at the Australian
she drafted the Council’s inaugural Arts policy; invited her National University in Canberra, has been one of supporting
brother, the artist Richard Weatherly, as a guest speaker; and science which could lead to changes in healthcare guidelines
later donated to the College several Weatherly prints, as well and policy.
as a Jessie Traill painting.
Judith has published extensively and has held over twenty
As inaugural Records Officer from 2005 to 2012, Penny visiting professorships and lectureships throughout the world.
worked tirelessly to improve the database and to ‘friend-raise’ She held the appointment of Australia’s Commonwealth
for the College. As the Principal remarked: ‘Anyone who has Chief Medical Officer and was made a Companion in the
ever corresponded with Penny will appreciate her incredible Order of Australia in 2001 for service to the advancement of
knowledge of the College, its people, and the many and academic medicine and as a major contributor to research
varied connections which flow from it...’ policy and medical research administration in Australia and
internationally. She was Chair of the WHO Global Advisory
Penny’s valuable contributions have not been limited to Janet Committee on Health Research from 2005-2011.
Clarke Hall. She has also had significant engagement with
various boards and organisations in the wider community, Judith has also had extensive involvement in roles of
including the Royal Children’s Hospital and those supporting governance, leadership and advice. Her long association with
the many issues around mental health. the National Health and Medical Research Council, of which
she chaired the Medical Research Committee from 1994–96,
shows the value placed on her expertise in medical and
public health research.

Known for her support of young women in science, Judith
has also been an Ambassador for Canberra, an Ambassador
for Women, Telstra ACT Business Woman of the Year in 2002
and 2004 ACT Australian of the Year.

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