ON INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY we pay homage to the women who inspire one another with tangible actions like mentorship, resource sharing, and addressing systemic barriers to foster an inclusive world where women thrive.
Dr Jane Melville, AM, began her career with Museums Victoria as curator of herpetology (amphibians) from 2002 to 2008, and promoted. She is now the senior curator of terrestrial vertebrates.
In 2002, she was appointed an honorary herpetologist at the University of Melbourne and also at Monash University. She supervises PhD, Masters and Honours students who are interested in museum-based biological research.
Dr Melville was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia in 2021 for contributions to the museums sector and also made the Queen’s Birthday Honours list for significant service to herpetological research.
Dr Melville has authored the only book on the amazing diversity of Australian dragon lizards: Dragon Lizards of Australia: Evolution, Ecologyand a comprehensive field guide, and has authored numerous popular science articles that have featured in Cosmos, Australasian Science, Science Victoria, and The Conversation.
SHARING: The Writers of Mitchell Shire Group invited Dr Jane Melville (front second from the right) to be its guest speaker at its meeting held at the Kilmore Gaol in October.
The writers of Mitchell Shire group is lucky to have Dr Melville in its fold, willingly mentoring people of all ages since October last year.
“I found out about it because my daughter said I should join the BookTok community on TikTok and I posted that I liked Sci-fi Dystopian. Caroline Angel contacted me and recommended her book on Audible … Origins of Evil … and I loved it … then I came and met her at a book fair and she invited me to the writers group as a guest and I have been to them all. I love meeting people and hearing their story,” Dr Melville said.
MYSTERY: “The worlds not going it end in my books, I enjoy writing a good, intelligent, suspenseful story!” The Dead Spot Author Caroline Angel said.
While not everyone in the group at 58 years of age has a PhD in zoology, or been to university, or won the Ralston Trust Prize for Best Honours, the group’s diversity is what keeps it moving forward. The writers meet monthly at various cafes for brunch and those who are willing too can share their ideas or their drafts. Most importantly, the encouraging members are inspired by each other’s achievements.
The novel, For Her Love of Birds, is a narrative nonfiction book that addresses the systemic barriers that prevent women from thriving, it’s the untold story of a women pioneer naturalist and taxidermist, Jane Ward Tost, 1816-1889.
Set in the 19th century, the story defies the times’ societal constraints. Its heroine becomes one of England’s and Australia’s first salaried female museum employee, leading naturalist and taxidermist.
Dr Melville co-authored Rare Reptiles are moving up mountains as the world warms. They can’t keep doing it forever with associate student Till Ramm on October 29, 2025.
Not one to sit idle, Dr Melville’s current projects include investigating the impacts of habitat disturbance, particularly around the recent Victorian bushfires.
For Her Love of Birds, by Jane Melville, is available for pre-release orders at major bookstores, and it will be officially launched on April 1.
http://For Her Love of Birds, Jane Melville (9781921833779) — Readings Books
