VWDA Press Centre

May 2001
ADAVB Newsletter

Marian Lanyon

We remember Marian Lanyon, a Victorian dentist who graduated from the University of Melbourne in 1948. Dr Diana Evans had the pleasure to speak with her daughter Mrs Heather Churcher who supplied the following information that was published in the ADAVB Newsletter in March 2001. We reprint it here for all our members.

Marian (Merrin) Florence Lanyon (nee Breidahl) 22 October 1925 - 22 November 2000

Marian Lanyon grew up in Brighton where she attended Firbank Grammar, becoming a prefect in her final year. Her father, Frederick Axel Breidahl, was the first dentist in Brighton. From the time her father's practice moved to their house in Bay Street, dentistry became a part of her life. She nursed for her father as a holiday job and at nights and weekends from the age of 14. During the war, her father was one of three dentists who covered for eight, the fees taken being put away for the return of their colleagues. During this time her father extended his working hours to include four nights a week as well as Saturday.

Marian was a competent pianist, having played since the age of four, and planned to study music at the Melbourne Conservatorium. She decided to study dentistry on the advice of, and as a mark of respect for, her father. There were nine females out of a total of around 40 dental students in her graduation year of 1948.

In 1949 she married Lewis Harold Lanyon who was then studying final year Medicine. Marian worked with her father for this year. After graduating, Harold was appointed Medical Superintendent of the Mildura Base Hospital so they lived in Mildura for several years before travelling extensively in Europe for 18 months. They settled in Rosanna in 1955, where Harold took up practice as a General Practitioner.

After her children were established at school, Marian resumed working part time as a dentist, both in Rosanna for Leon Ffrost and in various other suburbs for John Matthews, Barry Woolacott and others. In 1977/78 she worked at the Dental Health Services as a clinical demonstrator training dental therapists, before finally purchasing her own practice in Rosanna, a long held dream, late in her career in 1980. She retired in 1990.

Throughout her career, Marian contributed to the dental profession. An early commitment in 1967, from which she derived much pleasure, was interviewing some of Australia's top artists for the commission of the portrait of Professor Sir Arthur Amies, on his retirement. In the mid-seventies she served on the Dental Alumni Committee, under the chairperson of Sir Kenneth Adamson, to raise money for the first animal house for the Dental Hospital. Marian had a keen interest in preventive dentistry and in the late seventies she served on the Victorian Branch of the Dental Health Education Committee, followed by several years at the federal level. During the nineties she kept in touch with her profession. She and Pamela Daniel represented their vintage at the Australian Congress for Dental Women. Marian represented women's dentistry as a long serving member of the Zonta Club of Melbourne.

Marian was a very respected practitioner who managed to combine her career with raising a family, supporting a professional husband and serving her profession voluntarily on many occasions.

Heather Churcher
(daughter)

September 2000
ADAVB Newsletter

The launch of the Victorian Women Dentists’ Association (VWDA) was held at the Hilton Hotel, Melbourne, on Tuesday 18^th July, 2000. The highlight of this exciting evening, attended by over 70 men and women, was an address by Ms. Rhonda Galbally, who spoke on the more recent historical changes in the status of women in our community. While celebrating women’s achievements, she also acknowledged the key role that women need to play in public and business life.

In 1996, Professor Louise Brearley Messer led the hugely successful International Women in Dentistry Symposium. This event identified the need, and provided the strong support, for the initiation of the VWDA.

With support from friends and colleagues, Dr Pamela Dalgliesh (VWDA President) organised a focus group of 50 women in October 1999, to identify the current needs and vision of women dentists. Ms. Felicity Hampel, QC, who played a key role in establishing the Victorian Women Barristers Network, addressed the group and shared her experiences of setting up the Network. The focus group then worked together to clearly identify the aims of the Association.

VWDA members believe that it is clear there is support for a network to empower women dentists, by providing leadership and mentoring, by gaining and exchanging knowledge, and by providing a voice for the growing number of women dentists in the profession.

As well as the members of the VWDA who attended the launch, it was also strongly supported by representatives from key sectors of the dental profession. They included, Dr Martin Dooland from Dental Health Services Victoria, Dr Helen Marchant from the Department of Human Services, Dr Anthony Dickinson - President of the Dental Practice Board, and Mr Garry Pearson - CEO of the Australian Dental Association Victorian Branch. The undergraduate students were represented by Ms Shubhra Prakash - President of the Dental Students’ Association, and Ms Rebecca Oliver.

The Association has adopted the International Women in Dentistry Symposium logo, which features the fluid curves of Yin and Yang (giving it a sense of balance), and the colours green, white and violet.

Ms Felicity Hampel and Dame Margaret Seward, former President of the (British) General Dental Council, who was a keynote speaker at the Symposium in 1996, passed on their best wishes for the VWDA.

Mr Ian Ferrier and the team from 3M Dental have been particularly supportive of the VWDA. Their sponsorship provided the vital resources to support the initial leap of the VWDA from an idea to a reality. VWDA members also believe it is great to have a distinguished multi-national corporation support an Association with aims that are beyond a direct clinical nature. Future collaborations are awaited with anticipation.

The Organising Committee is to be congratulated for the outstanding preparation for the launch and for creating such a wonderful atmosphere on the 18th.

July 2000
Herald Sun

Group Has Bite

Women in dentistry is the focus of a new professional association established last week. The Victorian Women Dentists' Association has been formed to act on a need identified at the successful International Women in Dentistry Symposium held in Melbourne in 1996.

"Our association's primary aim is to support the goals of the growing number of women dentists in Victoria, now more than 600, through personal and professional development" VWDA president Dr. Pamela Dalgliesh says.

A stimulating series of lectures and workshops will be used to promote the advancement and exchange of knowledge.

Inquiries about the VWDA, which is open to men and women, can be made on 9592 5055.

February 2000
ADAVB Newsletter

Women’s Dentist Network

Formation of Women Dentists' Network of Victoria

A Women In Dentistry Conference was held in Melbourne in 1996. The conference was very well attended and a wonderful camaraderie developed between the participants over the few days of the programme.

As a result, in August 1999, a group of women met to discuss the possibility of establishing a network group to support women in dentistry and it was unanimously agreed to put the question to a wider group.

An initial forum was held at the Geoffrey Wylie Centre with Felicity Hampel QC as guest speaker. Felicity has been involved in setting up the Women’s Barristers Network Group of Victoria and she provided an excellent insight into her experiences in the establishment of such a group, for professional networking.

The meeting, with over 50 in attendance, produced much stimulating discussion and the view evolved that an association for women dentists in Victoria was clearly needed and wanted.

Following analysis of a written questionnaire and further discussion at a second meeting, a clear idea of the direction and goals of the network was obtained.

The aims of the group are as follows:

»	To provide a network to encourage, support and empower women dentists in the profession of dentistry
»	To promote the advancement and exchange of knowledge
»	To promote leadership and encourage mentoring within the profession
»	To provide a voice for the growing number of women dentists in the dental profession

Any person who can be registered as a dentist with the Dental Board of Victoria and who promotes the aims of the network may be a member of the group.

The Women’s Dentist Network will have three to four meetings per year. The programme for the year 2000 and membership forms will soon be available. Watch out for more details in the next Newsletter. If you are interested in becoming a member and want more information please contact Dr P Dalgliesh on 9341 0380 (BH) or 9597 0908 (AH).