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Margaret Bickle, AO

Published on: June 2023

Record: HANSARD-1323879322-132275

Margaret Bickle, AO

Ms FELICITY WILSON (North Shore)

—I would like to acknowledge Margaret Bickle AO who is considered by many to be a role model for women in pharmacy. Margaret first joined the Pharmaceutical Society of Australia more than seventy years ago and now in her early nineties remains a registered, non-practicing pharmacist because she believes women should have the opportunity to fulfil roles in whichever area of pharmacy they choose to pursue. In 1947 there were not a lot of opportunities for women and while Margaret was considering going to university to study teaching, was ultimately convinced by a friend to become a pharmacist. When Margaret graduated in 1950 there was an influx of men returning from the war, with more than three hundred men in the class and only thirty women. Margaret started her own pharmacy which she ran successfully for a number of years. Margaret has also be recognised with a number of awards from pharmaceutical organisations and societies, as well as being the first woman elected to the Pharmacy Guild Committee of New South Wales, and representing Australia at the Federation Internationale Pharmaceutique. Congratulations Margaret for your outstanding dedication to pharmacy, and for your strong advocacy for women.