Celebrating pioneering women doctors in award-winning musical
'A Girl’s Guide to World War' celebrates pioneering Australian women doctors with a musical filled with character, humour and live music. The Events Centre, Caloundra, Friday 14 March and Saturday 15 March 2025.
Image: Bulimba Studios
The homegrown musical, 'A Girl’s Guide to World War', celebrates pioneering Australian women doctors, Lillian Cooper and Agnes Bennett.
Written by Sunshine Coast locals Katy Forde and Aleathea Monsour, the musical tells the true story of these history-making doctors.
Dr. Cooper became Queensland’s first female doctor and Australia’s first female surgeon in 1891. Despite facing societal prejudices, she was warmly embraced by Brisbane society.
Sydney's Dr. Bennett, however, had a very different experience and had to leave Australia to pursue her medical career.
With the world at war in 1916, both tried to sign up for the official war effort but had been rejected. Undaunted they made their way to the Serbian frontline, where together both women ran a suffragette-funded all-women hospital on the Serbian frontline, which then became the model for other Army hospitals.
The musical, produced by Musical Theatre Australia, is filled with character, humour, and live music from the award-winning band, Vix and the Slick Chix. It highlights the bravery of Dr. Cooper, Dr. Bennett, and Miss Josephine Bedford, who all returned as decorated war heroes.