OBITUARY.

Feilding Star, Volume XIV, Issue 3647, 2 December 1918, Page 3

OBITUARY.

DR. MARGARET CRUICKSHANK

In a notice of the passing of Dr. Margaret Cruickshank, sister of Mrs (Dr.) Phillips, of Feilding, the Christchurch Press says: Dr. Cruickshank was the first lady doctor to practise medicine in New Zealand and the first to take all her University degrees in the Dominion. Dr. Siedeberg, who started practice about the same time as she did, was an Edinburgh graduate. The late Dr Cruickshank was a daughter of a Palmerston South farmer, and in her youth she used to take turns with her twin sister —who is now principal of the Wanganui Collegiate School—to go to school. The two girls were left motherlesvs at 12 years of age, and all the housework of the homestead fell upon their shoulders. Dr. Cruickshank had a brilliant scholastic career, and went from the Palmerston District High School to the Otago Girls' High School, and from there to the University. She went Home in 1912-1913, and before her departure she was given a public presentation of a purse of 100 guineas and a gold watch and chain. Since the outbreak of war she has been intimately associated with Red Cross work, and was an enthusiastic supporter of tho St. John Ambulance Association, acting as examiner for many years. Dr. Cruickshank acted as superintendent of the Waimate Hospital at different periods. She was immensely popular in the Waimate district, her fine character and devoted work in her profession endearing her to a very wide circle of I friends.