Thank You Dr. Donna Purcell

Dr. Donna Purcell began her career in the pro-life movement in 1978 as a young fourth year medical student. She was elected president of the University of QLD Pro-Life Society. Donna graduated from medical school in 1980 two days after having married Geoffrey.

After marriage, Donna and Geoff moved to Toowoomba. It was during this time, that she and Geoff joined the Toowoomba branch of QLD Right To Life. In 1981, she became president of the branch, a position which she holds to this day. Donna became a member of the QRTL state council in 1989.

Being involved in pro-life work has come at a significant personal and professional cost to Donna and her family. It was during this time that a defamation case was brought against her by Dr Peter Bayliss, a prominent QLD abortionist and resulted in her standing down from QRTL for a time. Fortunately, the case was ruled in her favour.

This was also a victory for QRTL as it had defended her throughout the legal process which took four years.

In 1996, Donna was elected to the position of President of QRTL (now Cherish Life). Donna held the position of president until 2006 when Teresa Martin accepted the invitation to adopt the presidency and Donna stepped back into a VP role.

In July 2008, QRTL became incorporated and the name changed to Cherish Life QLD Inc. Donna took the role of President again in 2018 and has remained in this role until now. Over the years, Donna has generously given forty-six years to this QLD pro-life organisation and forty eight years to the pro-life movement in general.

So now, Donna it’s time for a break and one that you truly deserve. Words cannot faithfully express the gratitude from not only the Cherish Life family, from the Pro-Life movement generally but also from the unborn children that you have advocated for over so many years.Donna will continue in the Vice-President role and Dr. Ciara Ross will begin her role as President of the Committee.