By Sorrel Hoskin

Alison Gordon was only a young woman of 22 when her mother died but she still has lasting memories of a mother and woman ahead of her time.

"I am very sure Mother was way ahead of her colleagues in the field of treating her patients as a 'whole identity'... she realised that a person's state of mind, living conditions, relationships etc played a huge part in whatever was causing their 'physical malaise'. I know this is why the women of Taranaki and indeed further a field 'worshiped the ground she walked on" so to speak."

Doris was a very caring and yet firm mother, says Alison. The years of World War II, when Bill was sent overseas and the boys had gone to school and further study, brought the mother and daughter together.

"I recall she talked a lot with me about people's situations as she cared for them…she would bring a new mother and baby from her surgery (which was in our home) into our kitchen to show the mother how to prepare the milk mixture or some other basic job."

Alison too, remembers her mother's love of gardening and flowers. "She was responsible for establishing several of Stratford's parks including a 'primrose walk' in King Edward Park. When I was a boarder at Marsden School in Wellington and she was working for the Government she came up and planted a rose garden at the school and showed any of the girls who were interested how to plant roses and alter how to prune them!"

Doris Gordon was a busy lady and did not have time for many hobbies. For relaxation Alison recalls her darning Bill's socks and her lisle-stockings.

"Mother loved cooking and made excellent jelly sponges and omelettes ... she found it very relaxing to sit and finely cut grapefruit, lemons etc for homemade marmalade ... but her time in the kitchen was usually on a Saturday or a Sunday. As a young woman she had been very good at needlework and when our younger brother Graham decided to specialise in surgical operations ... she taught him how to embroider handkerchiefs so as to improve the dexterity of his fingers!"

Because she was often busy Doris encouraged Alison to learn handwork, dressmaking and cooking from her best friend's mother.

"I have always enjoyed cooking and baking... a love instilled in me by my mother."