The Australian Women's Register

Mavis Jackson was educated at the Methodist Ladies College, Melbourne and the University of Melbourne (BSc 1931-35). She was one of only two women on the University of Melbourne SRC in her final year. During World War II she worked as a volunteer microbiologist with the Australian Army Medical Corps and as a Blood Transfusion Officer at Heidelberg Military Hospital.

In 1942 Mavis married Alan Vaughan Jackson and raised three children – Ian, Prue and Trevor. Though officially she left the workforce after marrying, she did return to establish the cytology unit at the Alfred Hospital in 1962, and ran it for the next fifteen years.

Jackson was a foundation member of the International House Council from 1955, and Chair 1973-79. She was a member of the board of management at Yooralla Children’s Hospital School 1957-60; of the National Council of Women 1957-60; and of the executive Anti-Cancer Council of Victoria 1967-84. She served as President of the Victorian Society of Cytology in 1966.

Jackson was awarded honorary life membership of the Lyceum Club (having joined in the early 1930s). She was President of the Club from 1973-75 and twice a member of the general committee. In 1999 she was honoured as a “living treasure”.

In 1967 Jackson was named a Member of the Order of the British Empire in recognition of her community service work. Ten years later, in 1977, she was awarded the Queen’s Jubilee Medal for community service.

Mavis Jackson she was grandmother many times over.