Jean Calder

Jean Calder was born in Queensland. She was awarded her PhD from Penn State University, USA. In 1981 she became a volunteer with the Palestinian Red Crescent Society, the Palestinian equivalent to the Australian Red Cross. She went on to become the Director of the Children's Unit at Haifa Rehabilitian Centre in Lebanon, the Director of the Ain Shams Rehabilitian Centre in Cairo, and the Director of the Rehabilitian Department of Al-Amal City in the Gaza Strip. She is the 'adopted mother' of three and currently lives with her adult children in the Gaza Strip. In 2005 she was awarded Australia's greatest civilian honour, the Companion of the Order of Australia, for her inspirational work.