Story: Contraception and sterilisation

Alice Bush and Margaret Sparrow

Alice Bush and Margaret Sparrow

Two of Family Planning's best-known doctors, Alice Bush (left) and Margaret Sparrow, pose for the camera in 1972. In the early 1970s Dr Sparrow worked at Victoria University's student health clinic. However, few students went there for contraception, as the clinic director believed this should be given only to married couples a common attitude among doctors at the time. After Sparrow attended a Family Planning Association conference, she put up a contraceptive display in the clinic. The director was not impressed, but Sparrow refused to back down. From then on the clinic provided contraceptives.

Using this item

Family Planning, Dame Margaret Sparrow Collection

This item has been provided for private study purposes (such as school projects, family and local history research) and any published reproduction (print or electronic) may infringe copyright law. It is the responsibility of the user of any material to obtain clearance from the copyright holder.

All images & media in this story

How to cite this page:

Jane Tolerton, 'Contraception and sterilisation - Information about contraceptives', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/photograph/26998/alice-bush-and-margaret-sparrow (accessed 29 March 2024)

Story by Jane Tolerton, published 5 May 2011, reviewed & revised 7 Dec 2018