Margaret Pratt Prize

Background: Margaret Pratt Scholarship

Loreto Toorak Alumna, Margaret Pratt (Whitty, 1977), was diagnosed with primary pulmonary hypertension in 1993. She was the first person in Australia to undergo three double-lung transplants. Sadly, Margaret died in 2009 as a result of organ rejection. Close friend, past Loreto Toorak staff member and current Board Member, Dr Lesley Gillespie OAM, and her husband Roger Gillespie OAM, wanted to honour Margaret’s memory by endowing a Science Scholarship in her name.

First awarded in 2008, the Scholarship recognises and rewards a student of Loreto Toorak with conscientious interest and ability in the area of Science. Awarded on their final year of study, the endowment supports a student’s plans to undertake a career or further study in a Scientific or Medical Research area, accompanied by the hope of raising awareness of the work of the Margaret Pratt Foundation Heart Lung Transplant Trust, now known as the Lungitude Foundation.

Year 12 2023

Inaugural Margaret Pratt Science Prize

In 2022, Margaret’s widower, Tony Pratt, conveyed his wish to add his financial support to that of the Gillespies’ by creating a Margaret Pratt Science Prize to be awarded to a high achieving VCE Science students. Both the Gillespies and Mr Pratt acknowledge the growing breadth of opportunities for women in Science-related careers and are proud to provide financial incentive to encourage Loreto Toorak students to take up these opportunities.

Hasanya

of