Cahn, Audrey

Also known as
Cahn, Audrey Josephine (1905-2008)
Field of activity
Microbiologist, Dietician, Servicewoman and Lecturer; Dietician and Nutritionist
Libraries Australia
http://nla.gov.au/anbd.aut-an35865219
NLA Persistent Identifier
http://nla.gov.au/nla.party-576883

Biographies

Audrey Cahn was the first woman to complete the newly established agriculture degree at the Universty of Melbourne in 1928. Born to parents who were influential scientists themselves, she developed a life long interest in the field of nutritional science and went on to pioneer the academic field of dietetics. Regarded in the 1950s and 60s as a 'soft science' by the then university's head of biochemistry, Victor Trikojus, Cahn fought a long battle for respect, one in which she was eventually supported by major funding bodies such as Nicholas Pty Ltd (Aspro). Her research output in the field of nutritional biochemistry is well respected. Some of her studies undertaken during her time at the University of Melbourne (1947-68) included examining the physical properties and energy value of common dietary foods, so that she could compile calorie tables. She was an early proponent of the need to reduce fat intake and to substitute polyunsaturated fatty acids for saturated fats. With colleagues in the anatomy department, she participated in a 17-year longitudinal study of "Child Growth in Melbourne (1954-71)". The study was compared with similar studies in the United States and Britain and found that Australian children were overweight and inactive compared with their peers elsewhere. Cahn enjoyed a very long life, thanks, she said, to a combination of good luck and good genes.

The daughter of Professor W A and Ethel Osborne (nee Goodson) Audrey Cahn was born in 1905. Her father came to to Melbourne University in 1903 to take up the Chair of Physiology, Biochemistry and Histology. Her mother, who received a BSc and MSc from Leeds University, worked for the Victorian State Government examining the conditions of women in various trades. Her work led her to develop an interest in the sociological aspects of medicine and she undertook further study towards a medical degree at the University of Melbourne. She was instrumental in setting up the first Dietetics School in Victoria, at St Vincent's Hospital.

Audrey completed her secondary education at Merton Hall Grammar School for Girls (now know as the Church of England Girls' Grammar School) and matriculated in 1922. She then enrolled in an Agriculture Degree at Melbourne University from which she graduated in 1928. The next year she took a position as a Microbiologist and Food Analyst with Kraft. In 1930 Audrey married Leslie Cahn, an architect, and they bore twin daughters. The marriage did not survive.

Audrey completed a Hospital Certificate of Dietetics at the newly opened Dietetics Unit at St. Vincent's Hospital. Before leaving she rose to the post of Chief Dietician at the hospital. She then took a position at Kraft/Walker and Cheese Factory in Drouin as a microbiologist. Employment as the first Chief Dietician for the Victorian Mental Hygiene Department followed, before spending a year at the Royal Perth Hospital.

During World War II, Audrey Cahn enlisted in the Australian Army Medical Women's Service on 11 February 1943. As part of the Australian Army Medical Corps she became Chief Dietician at the Heidelberg Military Hospital. Before her discharge on 13 September 1946 Audrey had obtained the rank of Major.

After the war, Audrey obtained a position as Lecturer (1947) and then Senior Lecturer (1959) in Nutrition and Applied Dietetics. Audrey Cahn retired in 1968 after spending 21 years at the university.

View the full record at Australian Women's Register

Audrey Cahn was born in the "Cloisters", later known as the Law Quadrangle, at the University of Melbourne. Her father, William Osborne, was Chair of Physiology, Biochemistry and Histology at the university. In 1929 she completed a Bachelor of Agricultural Science (BAgSc) at the University of Melbourne, returning in 1937 to undertake a Diploma in Dietetics. Cahn returned to the university yet again, in 1947, when she commenced a 21 year career lecturing in dietetics.

  • 1929 Career position - Worked as a Microbiologist and food analyst with Kraft
  • 1929 Education - Bachelor of Agricultural Science (BAgSc) completed at the University of Melbourne
  • 1930s Education - Trained at St Vincent's Hospital in Melbourne and gained Hospital Certificate of Dietetics
  • c. 1935 - c. 1940 Various positions including Chief Dietician at St Vincent's Hospital in Melbourne, the Victorian Mental Hygiene Department and at the Royal Perth Hospital
  • 1937 Education - Diploma in Dietetics completed at the University of Melbourne
  • c. 1940 - c. 1945 Career position - Joined the Army and was Chief Dietician at the Heidelberg Military Hospital
  • 1947 - 1959 Career position - Lecturer in Dietetics at the University of Melbourne
  • 1959 - 1968 Career position - Senior Lecturer in Nutrition and Applied Dietetics at the University of Melbourne
  • 1968 Life event - Retired

View the full record at Encyclopedia of Australian Science

Related people and organisations

Australian Women's Register

Resources for Audrey Cahn

Selected resources (7)

Australian Women's Register

  1. Starched white dress and the hissing of gaslights: early cloisters life
    Tester, Julie
    [1998]
    Series: http://www.unimelb.edu.au/ExtRels/Media/UN/archive/1998/331/starchedwhitedress.html
  2. CAHN, AUDREY JOSEPHINEWorld War 2 Nominal Roll Department of Veterans' Affairs : CAHN, AUDREY JOSEPHINE
    Department of Veterans' Affairs
    [2002]
    Series: http://www.ww2roll.gov.au/script/veteran.asp?ServiceID=A&VeteranID=516023
  3. Where are the Women in Australian science?
    Australian Science and Technology Heritage Centre
    [2003]
    Published: Australian Science and Technology Heritage Centre
    Series: http://www.austehc.unimelb.edu.au/wisa/wisa.html
  4. The University of Melbourne Archives: Cahn, Audrey
    University Children, by Audrey Cahn. Privately printed, 1987?. 54 pp. Contains photographs. University Children is an account of the lives of the children of Professors and other officers of the University who lived in the University grounds, including Mrs Cahn's student days of the 1920s. The narrative covers the years 1899 - 1956.
    88/2

Encyclopedia of Australian Science

  1. A scientist ahead of her timesThe Age : A scientist ahead of her times
    Tilley, Leann and Stone, Bruce
    [2008]
  2. Audrey Cahn: a nonagenarian scientist remembers the early daysWISENET Journal 49 November : Audrey Cahn: a nonagenarian scientist remembers the early days
    Tilley, Leann
    [1998]
    Series: http://www.wisenet-australia.org/issue49/cahn.htm
  3. University Children
    Cahn, Audrey
    [1987]
    Published: privately published

Resources by Audrey Cahn (2)

  1. University children / by Audrey Cahn
    Cahn, Audrey
    [ Book : 1987-1988 ]
    Languages: Undetermined, English
    At 4 libraries
    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 10.765)

    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 10.765)

  2. A Manual of special diets / compiled by Audrey Cahn
    Cahn, Audrey
    [ Book : 1937-1943 ]
    At 3 libraries
    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 7.051)

    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 7.051)

Resources about Audrey Cahn (1)

  1. 28th National Dietitians Association of Australia: lecture in honour of Audrey Cahn
    Nowson, Caryl A
    Nutrition and Dietetics
    [ Article : 2010 ]
    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 5.871)

    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 5.871)

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  1. Website: Australian Women's Archives Project
    www.womenaustralia.info
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    View 35 matching archived pages
    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 1.367)

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  2. Website: Australian Women in War
    www.womenaustralia.info
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  3. Website: Putting skirts on the sacred benches : women candidates for the New South Wales Parliament
    www.womenaustralia.info
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  1. A pioneer dietitian: Audrey Cahn (a). (Retrospective)
    Laver, Merran
    Nutrition & Dietetics: The Journal of the Dietitians Association of Australia
    [ Article : 2002 ]
    View online (conditions apply)
    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 6.622)

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  2. Retrospective: a pioneer dietitian: Audrey Cahn
    Laver M
    Nutrition & Dietetics
    [ Article : 2002 ]
    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 2.899)

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  3. Lecture in honour : 28th National Dietitians Association of Australia : lecture in honour of Audrey Cahn
    Nowson, Caryl
    [ Article : 2010 ]
    Languages: eng
    View online
    At Deakin Uni Library
    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 1.316)

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  4. COMMERCIAL DRIED EGG ALBUMEN AS A PROTEIN SOURCE FOR THE GROWING RAT
    Audrey J Cahn
    [ Article ]
    Possibly online
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  1. Runaway daughters
    Dark Horse Entertainment
    [ Video : 2008 ]
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    Martin, Dean, 1917-1995
    [ Sound : 1958 ]
    At Leichhardt Library
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    Peake, Cathy
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  2. Moll, Allan
    Moll, Allan
    [ Unpublished : 1945 ]
    View online (access conditions)
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  1. The dietary department of the out-patient section of a public hospital / Audrey Cahn
    Cahn, Audrey (Audrey Josephine)
    [ Thesis : 1937 ]
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  2. Audrey
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  3. [Potters Cottage (Warrandyte, Vic.) : Australian Gallery File]
    Potters Cottage (Warrandyte, Vic.)
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  4. [Eltham (Vic.) : Australian Gallery File]
    Eltham (Vic.)
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  1. Family Notices
    The Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 - 1956) Monday 14 March 1938 p 6 Family Notices
    ... Osborne assisted their daughter, who also had the help of her eldest sister (Mrs. Audrey Cahn) and her ... - a beautiful "old brick" tint. Dr. Ethel Osborne chose a black gown, and Mrs. Cahn was in eb ... 120 words
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  2. ENTERTAINMENTS. Tropical Theatre.
    Cairns Post (Qld. : 1909 - 1954) Monday 24 June 1946 p 6 Article
    ... adventure mystery Wiui-James craig. Signe Uasso, Eumina uwenn. üeiix messsit, John Warourton and Audrey ... '.theatre, is directeo. by Edwaad Cahn for tfroducer Arthur iiela. In support is "Es- cape in the ... 122 words
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  3. ELECTION NOTICES
    The Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 - 1956) Thursday 5 October 1944 p 14 Article
    ... vaconcles on the board the following votes were cast: Lynley Sheila Aitken 51 Audrey Josephine Cahn ... 140 words
    This resource may have relevance to your query (score: 0.037)

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