Falkirk woman recognised as part of Soroptimist International's centenary

A Falkirk Soroptimist is one of more than 100 women to be chosen to be part of a campaign to mark the organisation’s centenary.
Dr Audrey Morrison, from Soroptimist International Falkirk, has been chosen to be one of the women featured in the#WhoIsShe? campaign for the organisation's centenary.  Picture: Michael Gillen.Dr Audrey Morrison, from Soroptimist International Falkirk, has been chosen to be one of the women featured in the#WhoIsShe? campaign for the organisation's centenary.  Picture: Michael Gillen.
Dr Audrey Morrison, from Soroptimist International Falkirk, has been chosen to be one of the women featured in the#WhoIsShe? campaign for the organisation's centenary. Picture: Michael Gillen.

Dr Audrey Morrison will feature in the #WhoIsShe? Campaign, being held to mark 100 years of Soroptimist International in 2021.

The anniversary is an opportunity to celebrate the professional and personal commitments made by outstanding members around the world.

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The Falkirk club is delighted to have one of its members selected for recognition.

And the news came as a pleasant surprise to Audrey, who is a research practitioner at the Beatson Cancer Centre in Glasgow, and an active member of Soroptimist International Falkirk (S.I Falkirk).

She said: “I was gobsmacked to be nominated, I had been asked to put together a profile by the club, which I did, and I didn’t have a clue what it was for.

“I’d then forgotten all about it to be honest until I found out about the nomination.

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“It’s nice to be recognised, but it’s not just for me, it’s for the Falkirk club.

“I have had the pleasure of working with many inspirational people in my professional and personal life.”

Audrey married Ian at the age of 19 and had two children by the time she was 26.

She is now the proud nana of three granddaughters, who she says “bring no end of joy, fun and laughter”.

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It wasn’t until her children were teenagers that Audrey began to focus on what she wanted from her career.

She embarked on a full time course in Japanese at university, while still working as a nurse on a part time basis.

The study bug kicked in and she gained a Masters degree in human resource development.

While working as a research assistant at the university, she obtained a PhD scholarship which she completed in 2006.

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Since then Audrey has worked at the Beatson Cancer Centre, the second largest clinical trials centre in the UK.

Audrey said: “I have been fortunate to obtain funding to carry out patient-focused research projects, exploring care and treatment approaches to support patients with cancer as they undergo their treatments and life beyond.

“I am also collaborating on two large EU projects, and currently, I lead on two local projects.

“The first explores patient, carer and family perceptions of care and treatment in the cancer centre using the medium of the creative arts.

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“As a result of the current pandemic the second research project concerns the perceived impact of Covid 19 on staff and patients within the cancer centre.”

Out with her work, Audrey has been an active member of SI Falkirk since 2008.

In the intervening years she has held the role of convener, web mistress, and Club President.

After meeting with members from Soroptimist International in New York during a business visit there, a friendship link was established between Falkirk and New York City Clubs.

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With a history as a competitive ballroom/Latin-American dancer and a love of dance, she came up with the idea of a ‘Strictly’ style fundraising event for SI Falkirk.

Audrey went on to organise another as a solo event, raising more than £10,000 for Strathcarron Hospice’s bereavement counselling service for children.

So what does a busy woman like Audrey do in her spare time?

She would say she doesn’t have much spare time but one thing is sure, whatever Audrey gets up to, it will involve people and include having fun.

Being creative balancing her ‘Work-Home-Soroptimist’ commitments can be challenging but, as Audrey says, ‘everyone has challenges’ and the support she gets from her fellow Soroptimists helps see her through them so that she can enjoy the many good times that her very full life provides.

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