Blamed by religious fanatics for Cyclone Tracy , Dr Dorothy “Dot” Cole , 81 , has died in Townsville after a series of strokes . Fiercely committed to social justice and equity, she was a pioneer in the field of women’s health in North Queensland. In her time she was instrumental in bringing a fertility control practitioner to Townsville,lobbied for and assisted in running the city’s first women’s shelter which opened in 1975, assisted in the opening of the rape crisis centre and in 1983 was involved with the first abortion clinic in Townsville. Dot also assisted in the creation of the Aboriginal and Islander Health Service in 1980.
Her tireless efforts, especially in fertility control, drew what has been described as flak,hate mail and vitriolic letters . This included the bizarre claim that Cyclone Tracy had been God’s punishment for Dot’s work in the area of women’s fertility.Dot was also involved in the campaign which secured the broadcasting licence for Townsville's community radio station,4TTT-FM. A sample programme submitted to the Australian Broadcasting Authority , a copy of which is in the Little Darwin filing cabinets, included a women's health session conducted by Dr Cole with appropriate music. Another who supported the campaign was Chips Mackinolty,now a well known Darwin resident.
She and her husband , Alastair, who had been the superintendent at Townsville Hospital ,contributed to many worthy causes , including the arts , and lived on Magnetic Island where they actively campaigned to prevent despoilation of the island by those eager to turn it into the “new Noosa”.
In recent years Dot was in a group of placard waving protesters at the island ferry terminal informing guests at a development party that they and the project were not welcome on the island.
In 2005, James Cook University awarded Dot an Honorary Doctorate of Letters for her mighty efforts .Both she and her husband were avid yachties and sailed far and wide along the Queensland coast. Dot also helped a daughter run the Mary Who bookshop in Townsville . A large wake will be held on the island on Sunday
