In Memoriam – Boyne Marie Russell AO
7/10/1931 – 12/2/2022
Boyne Russell was a pioneer of geriatric medicine in Victoria. She was a foundation member of the Australian Geriatrics Society (the forerunner of ANZSGM) and subsequently made a Life Member. She was made an Officer in the Order of Australia (AO) for her contributions to Geriatric Medicine.
Boyne grew up in the Melbourne suburb of Heidelberg, one of four children in a working-class family. Her father was a Gallipoli veteran who suffered from poor health, the consequences of severe mustard gas poisoning during the First World War. Her mother was ambitious for her children and was instrumental in Boyne studying medicine. Boyne graduated in 1955 with first class honours; third in her year. Following residency in Melbourne, Boyne headed off to the United Kingdom for specialist training, as was the norm at the time.
Boyne trained in London and then Cornwell obtaining MRCP in Edinburgh. In Cornwall she worked with Dr Tom Wilson, who was a protégé of Dr Marjorie Warren, considered the mother of geriatric medicine. Prior to the work of Marjory Warren, aged care was largely custodial care in large institutions.
Boyne intended to return to Australia as a ship’s doctor where she met Patrick, who was the first officer of the ship, whom she married. Her return to Australia was delayed by a change in Pat’s career. Boyne worked for three years in the jungles of Malaysia, and as a flying doctor in Sumatra.
On return to Australia, Boyne took up an appointment at Mount Royal Hospital in 1972, now known as the Royal Park campus of Royal Melbourne Hospital. At that time there were no geriatric community services or specialist hospital beds in Victoria. A rehabilitation unit had been established at Mount Royal Hospital, but the majority of beds were custodial. Elsewhere in Australia a hospital-based domestic care and rehabilitation unit had been established at the Royal Newcastle Hospital in New South Wales in the 1950’s, and Dr Peter Livingstone appointed to the Princess Alexandra Hospital in Brisbane as Australia’s first trained geriatrician in 1961, however there was no universal acceptance of this model.
Boyne was fundamental in establishing the Geriatric Community Care Service in Brunswick that was expanded to Coburg in 1976, and subsequently into Essendon, Melbourne and Kew. This pilot service was a forerunner of the Aged Care Assessment Services that were rolled out to cover the whole of Australia during the 1980’s and early 1990’s.
To support the Geriatric Community Care Service, six nursing home beds were converted for use as hospital beds, with the hospital agreeing to waive the nursing home fees for the first six weeks of admission. The majority of patients were able to return home. As demand for the service rose, more beds were allocated within the ward, and subsequently additional wards. This became the model for the establishment of geriatric services throughout Victoria.
In 1983, Boyne established the first Continence Clinic for the elderly based at Mount Royal Hospital. It was soon supported with dedicated inpatient beds. This lead to the establishment of metropolitan and regional continence services for older people throughout the state of Victoria.
Boyne served as the state president of the Australian Geriatrics Society, and was actively involved with the Continence Foundation of Australia, the Australian Association of Gerontology and ACOTA. She served on several government advisory committees.
Boyne was a great educator, training many of Victoria’s geriatricians from the 1970’s to early 1990’s. Many of Victoria’s current geriatricians and trainees are just four degrees of separation from Marjorie Warren, through Tom Wilson, Boyne Russell and the many geriatricians Boyne mentored.
Boyne was an astute, caring physician and a strong advocate for the rights of individual patients. She had an ongoing quest for knowledge. Her trainees became lifelong friends. She was a powerful role model and inspiration for women in a male dominated profession.
Boyne retired from Mount Royal in 1992, moving to Hobart where she was appointed to the Regional Continence Service at Repatriation Hospital 1993-1997.
Boyne was appointed as an Officer in the Order of Australia in 1994 for her services to medicine and the community health, particularly in relation to the care of aged people.
After retirement Boyne and Pat lead a comfortable life in Hobart, enjoying travel and entertaining. After Pat’s death in 2012, Boyne continued to live at home, supported by her loving and devoted friends Julian whom she met at Mount Royal Hospital, Fiona and Jonathan. Boyne died on 12th February 2022.
Boyne was a pioneer in geriatric medicine in Victoria, laying the foundations of our knowledge and craft. She has left a lasting impact on the practice of Geriatric Medicine.
