8 March 2012:

Melbourne GP and menopause pioneer, Jean Hailes, has been recognised by the Victorian Government for her role in improving women's health in Australia.

Dr Hailes is a recipient of the 2012 Victorian Honour Roll of Women, an award that recognises and celebrates the great achievements of inspirational women in the community.

Dr Hailes began the first clinic in Australia dedicated to the management of women's health midlife and beyond in 1970. The clinic was also one of the first in the world to help women manage menopause.

After her death in 1988, Dr Hailes' colleagues and friends created the Jean Hailes for Women's Health foundation that continues to help women from all walks of life to improve and manage their health.

"This award honours someone who was a real trailblazer in what was an unfashionable area of women's health," says Janet Michelmore, Dr Hailes' daughter and Director of Jean Hailes for Women's Health.

"My mother was passionate about everything she did in her life – she never did things by half. She was committed to, and passionate about, women's health and her energy and drive to make a difference in that space was unrelenting, even up until a month before she died."

Mary Wooldridge, Minister for Mental Health, Women's Affairs and Community Services, who presented the award, has also praised the recognition of Dr Hailes.

"Dr Jean Hailes was a visionary GP who understood that you need both physical and emotional health in order to stay well and to prevent ill health. Her legacy lives on in the clinical care, innovative research and practical education programs undertaken by Jean Hailes for Women's Health today," says Ms Wooldridge.

Dr Hailes began her medical career in 1950 as a Resident Medical Officer at the Royal Melbourne Hospital. In 1970 she established the first menopause clinic at Prince Henry's Hospital in Melbourne.

She also held various positions as a Student Health Medical Officer at Monash University and the University of Melbourne, as a Medical Officer of the Family Planning Clinic at the Royal Women's Hospital, and she was Medical Officer in charge of the Menopause Clinic at the Royal Women's Hospital for 10 years.

In June 1986 she was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia in recognition for her work in women's health.

"My mother recognised the benefits of good diet and regular exercise and she absolutely lived by that. She was on the floor every morning doing her exercises religiously," says Ms Michelmore. "She believed in a holistic approach at a time when holistic was not fashionable."

"Mum had a very strong commitment to women and families and recognised the benefits of keeping women well. She saw a real opportunity at midlife for women to make their health and life better and she saw the enormous positive spin-offs of that approach for the whole family."

Professor Henry Burger, a consultant endocrinologist and a founder of Jean Hailes for Women's Health, worked with Dr Hailes for many years.

"Jean totally changed the paternalistic views of older male practitioners towards women going through menopause," says Professor Burger.

"Her biggest contribution to the health of women in Victoria and Australia was to make menopause management with hormone therapy for symptom relief widely known and accepted. I'm truly delighted to see Jean receive this honour."

Dr Elizabeth Farrell, a gynaecologist, international expert in menopause and founding member for Jean Hailes for Women's Health, took over the management of the menopause clinic in 1988 when Dr Hailes was forced to retire because of ill health.

"Jean was the pioneer of menopausal medicine in Australia. She was forthright, she cared about women and their menopausal experience and she felt there was a duty of care to look after these women as best one can. Her pioneering spirit was something people respected and felt should be honoured by setting up the Foundation.

"Jean knew when she set up the clinic that some women really struggle going through the menopause transition. But the medical profession at that time was telling women to get on with their lives and that if you're a woman this is what happens and get over it. Jean wasn't prepared to accept that point of view.

"I think this honour is extremely well deserved."

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For media

To interview Janet Michelmore, Professor Burger or Dr Farrell please contact Jean Hailes Communications Manager Aleeza Zohar on (03) 9562 6771 or 0425 758 729 or email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it