Almost Forgotten: The Life of Dr Lily Holt-MacCrimmon – Pauline Kuhner (2025)

Author: Pauline Kuhner
Publisher: Pauline Kuhner, Dubbo, NSW, 2025
Format: Softcover
Pages: 222 p. : illustrations, maps, portraits ; 23 cm
ISBN: 9780646715629
Condition: Fine – signed by author
Type of Book: Biography / Australian History / Women in Medicine

Summary:
Almost Forgotten traces the remarkable life of Dr Lily Holt-MacCrimmon (1882–1935), an Australian physician whose career spanned continents, cultures, and communities. Beginning her medical studies in Melbourne before completing her qualifications in Edinburgh, she went on to practice in London, Wentworth Falls, Tea Gardens, and later in the Solomon Islands, where she became highly respected for her work in tropical medicine and maternal care.

Returning to Australia after fourteen years in the tropics, Dr Holt-MacCrimmon became the sole doctor in the rural community of Mendooran, NSW, and the first visiting physician at the new CWA Hospital. Her sudden death in 1935 left a profound impact on her family and the community she served. Pauline Kuhner’s deeply researched biography brings to light the extraordinary contributions of a pioneering woman doctor whose story has long been overlooked.

Why you’ll love this book:
A compelling local biography with strong ties to regional NSW history—particularly Mendooran—this is an inspiring story of resilience, service, and dedication. A perfect addition for readers interested in women’s history, rural medicine, pioneering Australians, and local Dubbo/Mendooran heritage.