Boelke, Grace Fairley

Paul Boelke and Grace Robinson passed the matriculation examination for entrance to the University of Sydney in March 1888 in English, Latin and Mathematics as well as German and Chemistry in the case of Paul and French and Physics in the case of Grace. The register in the University Archives (ref no G3/135/3 page 96) recording Grace and Paul's matriculation examination results gives as the place of education for Grace "Mrs J G Legge" and "private study" for Paul. Previously Grace had studied at St Vincent's College, a School run by the Sisters of Charity as witnessed by the Register of Junior Examinations in the Archives which records that Grace took these examinations in English History, Geography, English, French, Arithmetic and Geology in 1885.

Registers of Sydney University examination results show that in 1889, both Paul and Grace passed examinations in the Faculty of Medicine in the subjects of Chemistry, Botany and Zoology, Paul being awarded second class honours; in the following year, Grace received the Dr MacCormick Prize for proficiency in Surgery and in 1891, both passed the "second professional examination" which comprised the subjects anatomy, physiology, materia medica and pathology; they passed the 5th year examination in medicine with credit. In 1893, they graduated with the degrees of Bachelor of Medicine (MB) and Master of Surgery (ChM which stands for the Latin words Chirurgia Magister).

Grace Robinson was born in 1870 in NSW in Cavendish St in South Kingston and now in the Sydney Suburb of Stanmore. This year of birth shown on the copy of her birth certificate in the collection conflicts with the years 1876 given in the passport and 1867 on the copy of biographical notes in the collection. It is presumed that the copy of the birth certificate is incorrect in the spelling Grace's second name as "Farley" rather than "Fairley" which appears on later certificates. Paul, born in Prussia in Berlin, arrived in NSW in 1887; he was naturalised in 1895. They married in May 1894 in the Sydney suburb of Double Bay.

Grace was employed as resident medical officer in the Maternity Hospital of the Sydney Benevolent Society and later by the NSW Government Department of Public Instruction in the medical branch, and Berlei Limited as Medical Director of the company. She formed the Professional Women's Association in 1912, was one-time vice-president of the Town Planning Organisation of NSW, convenor of the Standing Committee on Health for the National Council of Women of NSW, vice-president of the NSW branch of the Australian League of Nations and travelled in Britain and USA in 1924 with the "purpose of investigating hygienic research work", especially in relation to women and children.

Paul became a medical practitioner and later consulting physician in an Anti-tuberculosis Dispensary in Sydney. He was admitted to the Degree of Installed Master of the United Grand Lodge of NSW and Master of Hastings Lodge in Port Macquarie in 1900.

These biographical notes were compiled from examination registers in the University of Sydney Archives and documents in this collection.