Ella Macknight

Who was Ella Macknight?

Dame Ella Macknight, DBE, MRCOG, FRCOG, FAMA, FAGO was an obstetrician and gynaecologist who worked at the Queen Victoria Hospital, Melbourne. She was appointed as a Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire on 1 January 1969 for services to medicine.

She was educated privately and later attended Toorak College. She earned her MB/BS in 1928 from the University of Melbourne. After qualifying as an obstetrician and gynaecologist, she was associated with the Queen Victoria Hospital from 1935-1977. Her appointments included honorary obstetrician and gynaecologist from 1935-1964; vice-president of the Committee of Management for 1963-1971 and president from 1971-1977.

She was president of the Council of the Royal College of Gynaecologists from 1970-1972 and served as chairmen of the Blood Transfusion Committee, Victorian Division of the Red Cross Society from 1964-1970 and a member of the Executive of the Victorian Division during the same period.

Ella Macknight was appointed as a Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire for services to medicine on 1 January 1969.