Shayne Brown AM (Rose Bay, 1964) recently wrote a book which emanated from her Masters thesis entitled Hindsight: the History of orthoptics in Australia, 1931-1960.

Hindsight explores the development of orthoptic education, orthoptic clinical practice and its professional association in the early period of the profession from 1931-1960. Hindsight is the first Australian orthoptic history detailing how and why changes and developments in orthoptic practice, orthoptic education and in the professional association eventuated and how the profession, being all-female, influenced these developments.

By 1960, orthoptists ran orthoptic education and the practice and science of orthoptics had advanced, largely due to the research conducted by orthoptists themselves.  Hindsight covers this history of orthoptics and within the book are the histories of a number of Alumnae who trained and worked as orthoptists during these years. They are as follows:

• Alison Herlihy (Kincoppal, 1943)
• Alison Lawson (Ward, Kincoppal, 1951)
• Jill Boorne (Maher, Rose Bay, 1953)
• Lady Janette Murray (Paris, Rose Bay, 1953)
• Margaret Feneley (Knight, Rose Bay, 1953)
• Caroline Levine (Butler, Rose Bay, 1955)

Additionally, there were two Alumna from our sister schools Stuartholme and Sacre Coeur. Graduating from Stuartholme, Morna Murphy (Shanahan, 1958) is Mary Shanahan’s RSCJ sister.

Shayne is now a retired orthoptist. During her career, Shayne worked in clinical practice, academia and administration Shayne has published over 40 papers and co-authored a book on orthoptic and related topics. Shayne was Australia’s representative on the International Orthoptic Association from 1975-1983 and the President from 1983-1987.  In 1979, Shayne was made a Fellow of the Orthoptic Association, followed in 2021 by her appointment as a Member (AM) of the Order of Australia (General Division) in recognition of her contribution to the orthoptic profession in Australia.