"Girls in Goulburn in 1975 weren't encouraged to go to university," says Isabella Hawke.
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"The only acceptable occupations were hairdressing, secretarial work or nursing."
Dr Hawke, the only Goulburn-born and -bred general practitioner in the area, has been practicing medicine in her home town for more than 20 years.
Dr Hawke forged her career at a time when the doctor's surgery door was firmly closed for women.
The respected practitioner has a passion for educating the next generation of doctors.
For the past 15 years she has been a senior lecturer at the ANU Rural Medical School.
She also runs the rural teaching unit in Goulburn.
As a young woman, she studied nursing at Goulburn Base Hospital before she realised she could pursue dreams of becoming a doctor.
"There was prejudice against women in medicine, which unfortunately still happens today," Dr Hawke said. But "women are capable of doing anything".
Dr Hawke emphasised that, as a single mother, juggling the demands of her vocation and her children was a struggle.
Despite the stress she always managed to put her family first.
"A medical career places a huge demand on your time, and your physical and mental resources," she said.
"One of the most important characteristics of a doctor is to be resilient.
"Being a doctor will become your life and you have to be dedicated."
She offered advice for young women who wanted to pursue a career.
"For rural women, greater difficulties are imposed on education and career choice," she said.
"You will need to think outside the square about how you can achieve your goals."
Dr Hawke urged all women in the Southern Tablelands to be proactive about their health.
She stressed that it was vital for women to regularly have pap smears, be screened for breast cancer, and have cholesterol checked.
"Women are often reluctant to look after their health," she said.
"Rural women need to look after not just their families, but themselves as well."