Gunn, Elizabeth Catherine (1879–1963)

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Gunn, Elizabeth Catherine (1879–1963)

New Zealand physician, health camp founder, and public health administrator. Born on May 23, 1879, in Dunedin, New Zealand; died Oct 26, 1963, in Wellington, New Zealand; dau. of William Gunn (dentist) and Elizabeth Jane (Melton) Gunn; University of Otago, 1903; University of Edinburgh, 1908.

Joined nascent school medical service (1912); served as captain in New Zealand Medical Corps (1915–17); traveled to Britain and visited schools and child-welfare institutions (1917); rejoined school medical service in Manawatu district (1918); introduced innovative health programs and founded children's health-camps movement (1919); became director of Health Department's Division of School Hygiene (1937–40). Member of British Empire (1951).

See also Dictionary of New Zealand Biography (Vol. 3).