Dunedin woman honoured by students in Ireland
A DUNEDIN woman will be honoured by her former students in an award ceremony on the other side of the world.
Former Southern District Health Board member and midwife Mary Gamble, who died last September, spent the three years from 2007 to 2010 working in her home country at the University of Limerick’s Graduate Entry Medical School.
Students graduating in the class of 2018 had the chance to vote and identify individuals who made a major impression on them during their time on the course.
The students chose Mrs Gamble for the ultimate award, for best student, which is to be presented at a special dinner next month.
During her time working for the medical school, Mrs Gamble performed many roles, including working as a research adviser, teaching anatomy and liaising between students and the university.
She made such an impact in her three years at the medical school, the institution produced a commemorative brochure in March containing personal tributes from both students and staff.
Many of the messages referred to a welcoming, positive, and ‘‘phenomenal’’ woman, whose door was always open.
In one account, Mrs Gamble drove a student, who was threatening to withdraw from the course on the eve of a series of exams, to the exams each day and policed the door to make sure they completed the tests.
That person is now a successful doctor.
Mrs Gamble’s husband Norman, of Picton, will travel to Adare, Ireland, for a special dinner recognising his late wife’s contribution, to be held on June 11.
‘‘I’m very, very proud of my wife. It’s a very nice tribute they have done for her,’’ he said.
Mr Gamble will attend the dinner with his son and his partner, and Mrs Gamble’s sister and her husband.