Dr. Marie Brown (1883 – 22 November 1949) was a woman activist in South Australia, a founder of the Mothers and Babies Health Association.
History
Dr. Gilbert Brown (14 August 1883 – 1960) was born in Wigan, Lancashire and qualified MB ChB in 1908 at Liverpool, where he served in the Women's hospital, then emigrated to South Australia. His medical qualifications were accepted in February 1912, in which year he began practising in Bute, then for around four years in Snowtown.
Dr. Marie Brown MB BS DPH was born Marie Simpson in Nottingham, England, qualified MB, BS at the University of London in 1907 and in 1913 was awarded a Diploma in Public Health at Sheffield University. She arrived in South Australia on the Mongolia on 13 November 1914; she and Gilbert married that same day, and for a time lived and worked at Snowtown. They had a son Ian on 29 May 1917 and lived for a while at Strangways Terrace, North Adelaide, then at 31 Watson Avenue, Rose Park for a few years. Gilbert served briefly with the 1st AIF Army Medical Corps with the nominal rank of captain, from July 1918, then opened a practice at 3 North Terrace, Adelaide, and settled at 36 Walkerville Terrace, Gilberton.
Marie had a strong empathy with public health and women's and children's welfare organizations. She became involved with the School for Mothers (later the Mothers and Babies Health Association) in 1920, and for many years served as their honorary medical officer, deputy Chief Medical Officer and director of their ante-natal clinic. She was particularly known for her lectures on children's health. She was also honorary medical officer of the Kindergarten Union and a member of the National Council of Women. In 1922 she stood unsuccessfully as a candidate for the City Council's MacDonnell Ward, under the auspices of the Women's Non-Party Association (later the League of Women Voters).