Obituary
Professor Averil Stewart [ 1943-2022 ]
P rofessor Averil Stewart was a highly respected occupational therapist with vision , integrity , phenomenal work ethic and an enduring belief in the contribution of occupation to human life . Four elements stand out as you review her professional life :
Her lifelong service to the profession and wide range of expertise From student days , Averil took part in committees and working groups ranging from Regional to National and International level always at the cusp of change . For example , the merging of the Scottish Association of Occupational Therapy with the British Association of Occupational Therapy and she was pivotal as the profession moved towards degree education .
She was Chairman of the Council for Professions Supplementary to Medicine for six years and the first Education Officer . From her first post within Liff Hospital , Dundee where she met her long-term friend and colleague , the late Ann Carnduff , former students comment on her energy , mentorship and early pioneering work with children who had autism .
Her practitioner experience ranged from mental health , work in the community and later her move to Sussex and a District Head post .
Averil contributed to key textbooks and with her colleague Dr Irene Paterson made the case for a third occupational therapy school in Scotland and this work became the basis for her Fellowship of the College of Occupational Therapy ( by examination ) in 1980 . This was also amongst the first contributions towards formal research in the profession .
Her commitment to education and vision for the future Averil completed her teaching diploma in 1972 and after teaching in both Glasgow and Edinburgh she became Head of Occupational Therapy at Queen Margaret College ( now University ) in the mid 1980s .
She knew that education is more than the accumulation of knowledge and skills and encouraged interprofessional education , ERASMUS initiatives involving learning and placements internationally and was a staunch supporter of the European Network of Occupational Therapy Education .
She actively supported staff to travel and network on a global stage . In 1997 , she was the driving force behind the celebration of the Diamond Jubilee of Occupational Therapy Education in Scotland attended by HRH the Princess Royal .
After retirement , she gave masterclasses on the occupations of retirement resulting in one student exclaiming ‘ when does she sleep ?’ Indeed , this was a question that colleagues often pondered !
Her commitment to colleagues and being collegiate Averil was a supportive leader who maintained a stable workforce . She was also a valued colleague by other professions within the university . She was a caring , loyal , an able advocate for QMU and was actively involved in the transition from the status of college towards university .
This commitment to others extended to her formation of the Retired Occupational Therapists group , affectionately known as the ‘ ROTS ’.
Formal recognition of her contribution and achievements Averil became the first Professor of Occupational Therapy in the UK in 1992 , and in the same year gave the prestigious Elizabeth Casson Memorial Lecture .
Notably in 2007 , she was awarded the honour of Professor Emeritus . Averil ‘ wore ’ those accolades lightly , preferring to facilitate the development of others and she remained a little bemused that she had been awarded those honours .
Averil leaves an enduring legacy both within the profession and within the university . However , she was always keen to ‘ pay forward ’ and initiated the Professor Averil Stewart International Award for any student , recent graduate or member of staff who contributed to internationalisation .
Occupational therapists will remember Averil for many years , marvel at her effervescence and be grateful for her generosity of spirit . She is woven into the narrative of both occupational therapy and Queen Margaret University and she will be minded kindly .
Words DR SHEENA EE BLAIR , DR LINDA RENTON , DR IRENE PATERSON and REVEREND CLEPHANE HUME
12 OTnews July 2022