My Grandmother's Secret

Author, Kath McKay, writes about the legal case surrounding the rape of her grandmother, Ethel Wilkinson, as a nine year old child in 1895.  The accused rapist was Edwin Worrall, a family friend who looked after Ethel and her two brothers while Harry Wilkinson, their father, a sole parent, was at work.

When Harry learnt of the rape he took Ethel to be examined by Constance Stone, the first female doctor to be registered in Australia. The case was heard in the Supreme Court before a judge and jury.  Constance Stone gave evidence as an expert witness, the first time a female doctor had fulfilled this role.   However the jury found the accused not guilty and the case was dismissed.

The connection of East Melbourne to this story is Constance Stone who lived at 179 Gipps Street.  For more about her life see link below.