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Vale Emaye Dr Catherine Hamlin 24 January 1924 – 18 March 2020

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Vale Emaye Dr Catherine Hamlin 24 January 1924 – 18 March 2020 Treatment, prevention and raising awareness of obstetric fistulas ISSUE AUTUMN 2020 Vale Emaye Dr Catherine Hamlin 24 January 1924 – 18 March 2020 Dr Catherine Hamlin and her beloved patients. In 2020 Dr Catherine Hamlin marked her 61st year in Ethiopia. She lived most of her life there, in her original house on the grounds of her Addis Ababa Fistula Hospital, adored by her patients, staff and the Ethiopian people. She was often referred to as “Emaye” meaning Mother. Catherine was not just committed to spending her life treating thousands of women, she spent her whole adult life changing lives. Hamlin Fistula Australia Limited Administering the Hamlin Fistula Relief and Aid Fund Postal Address PO Box 965 Wahroonga NSW 2076 Email [email protected] Website www.hamlinfistula.org.au Phone 02 8007 7435 Fax 02 8007 7470 ABN 58 076 840 250 | CFN 16100 | DGR 900 484 487 Special thanks to Bruce Perry, Nigel Brennan, Joni Kabana and Kate Gerahty for photographs used in this newsletter. Elinor Catherine Nicholson was born on January 24, 1924, one of six children to Elinor and Theodore Nicholson, who lived in the Sydney suburb of Ryde. She graduated from the University of Sydney’s Medical School in 1946, then accepted a residency in obstetrics at Sydney’s Crown Street Women’s Hospital where she met and fell in love with Dr Reginald (Reg) Hamlin. They married in 1950 and had a son, Richard, in 1953. The young Catherine Nicholson, age 7. n 1958, the Hamlins answered when the Hamlin College of Midwives In 2015, Catherine received the an advertisement in The Lancet opened. High school graduates are Australian Medical Association’s medical journal for gynaecologists trained in a four-year Bachelor of President’s Award. In 2017, a Sydney Ito set up a school of midwifery in Science degree, then deployed to rural Ferries Emerald-class ferry was named Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Together with midwifery clinics, where they are most the ‘Catherine Hamlin’ after thousands five-year-old Richard, they travelled to needed, breaking the cycle of unrelieved of Australian supporters voted for her. Ethiopia to take up the contract. Once obstructed labour and thereby In 2018 she was named New South Catherine and Reg started work at the preventing obstetric fistula from Wales Senior Australian of the Year. Princess Tsehai Memorial Hospital, occurring in the first place. they found themselves treating women In 1983, Catherine was suffering obstetric complications on appointed a Member of the a scale unimaginable in a western Order of Australia (AM) and hospital. What had been intended in 1995 appointed to the as a three-year stay in Addis Ababa higher rank in the Order, a turned into a lifetime of service to the Companion (AC) for ‘service Ethiopian people. to gynaecology in developing Before the Hamlins arrived in countries particularly in the Ethiopia, patients with obstetric fistulas field of fistula surgery and who sought medical help at the Princess for humanitarian service Tsehai Memorial Hospital were turned to improving the health away as there was no cure for their dignity and self-esteem of humiliating condition. It was during women in Ethiopia’. In 2001, these testing years that the Hamlins the Australian Government began to make plans to eradicate fistula recognised Catherine’s ‘long in their adopted country. and outstanding service to It took many years, but finally, the international development Reg and Catherine. Addis Ababa Fistula Hospital opened in Africa’ by awarding her on May 24, 1975. There are now six the Australian Centenary Hamlin Fistula Hospitals across Ethiopia. Medal. In recognition of her Over the past 61 years, more than humanitarian work in Ethiopia 60,000 Ethiopian women suffering she was included on the with an obstetric fistula have received Australian Living Legends life-changing reconstructive surgery list in 2004. In 2011 she and care, changing their lives and the was among 50 prominent lives of their families and communities Australians invited by Her forever. Excellency, the Governor- Catherine’s initial goal of training General, Quentin Bryce midwives became a reality in 2007 to lunch with the Queen. Reg and Catherine doing their daily rounds. Despite all these tributes, Catherine The Hospital by was always extremely humbled by all the the River: “I have media attention and awards. Drawing on sometimes been the courage of Ethiopian women is what asked if these inspired her to accept such accolades, tragic cases ever and awards were always an opportunity test my faith. I can to promote the heartbreaking plight of truly say that, if anything, the fistula patients and the needs of the my faith has been strengthened and hospitals treating them. my soul more firmly anchored to Jesus ‘…whatever you did for one of the least Today, Hamlin Fistula Ethiopia as the only one to whom we can turn. of these brothers of mine, you did for is a healthcare network of over 550 Jesus never promised us a smooth or me’. The verse is below Dr Reg Hamlin’s Ethiopian staff – many trained by trouble-free passage through life. He photo which hangs in the hospital. Catherine – servicing six hospitals, did promise to be with us to share the “Dr Catherine Hamlin’s dedication Desta Mender rehabilitation centre, the sorrow and the pain. The joy I receive of her medical skills to the relief of Hamlin College of Midwives and 80 from working for these patients is the suffering of those least able to Hamlin supported Midwifery Clinics. something for which I thank God every help themselves and her firm quiet Hamlin is the reference organisation day. This has been my experience and confidence in God’s overarching and leader in the fight to eradicate I know this is what Reg felt too. I am blessing and provision is seen in the obstetric fistula around the world, sure that Reg and I were led here. At establishment of the Addis Abba Fistula blazing a trail for holistic treatment and the time I did not know it, but in the Hospital. Truly an outstanding example care that empowers women to reassert end, this is the place where we were of Christian compassion in action.” said their humanity, secure their health and meant to be. It hasn’t really affected the Chair of Hamlin Fistula Australia, well-being, and regain their roles in my faith. In fact, if anything, it has Dr Robert Tong AM. their families and communities. strengthened my faith to know that we Catherine has now been buried At 60th anniversary celebrations in are doing something that is in His will alongside Reg in the British War Graves 2019, Catherine said “I love Ethiopia and the wonderful thing is that it is so Cemetery in Addis Ababa. and I have loved every day here. Ethiopia enjoyable.” As we mourn her passing, we give is my home.” Reg and Catherine took as their thanks for her life, and pray that her A woman of profound Christian inspiration a verse from the gospel work may continue to prosper. faith, Dr Hamlin said in her biography of Matthew; chapter 25 verse 40: “When I die, this place will go on for many, many years until we have eradicated fistula altogether – until every woman in Ethiopia is assured of a safe delivery and a live baby.” his famous quote from Dr Hamlin Ttakes on new significance now that she is no longer with us. Now is the time to come together to Please consider leaving a bequest in see Dr Hamlin’s greatest desire – the your will. The two new buildings at eradication of fistula in Ethiopia – to be the hospital are the result of one single realised. generous bequest. Dr Hamlin was able We are blessed with many, many to see those buildings completed before supporters whose generosity over her death. the years has seen the Hamlin Fistula Hospital, Desta Mender and the College For more information on leaving of Midwives come into being, and then a bequest please contact grow to become flagship entities not the office on (02) 8007 7435 or only in Ethiopia, but in all of Africa. [email protected]. Let us not stop now. You can also write to: Please donate whatever you can to keep Hamlin Fistula Australia Limited Dr Hamlin’s legacy alive. Po Box 965 Wahroonga NSW 2076 Drs Reg and Catherine look down on the new building work..
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