THEY are the women who no one wants to talk about, but they have an incredible guardian in Dr Mary Hepburn.

The medic, who has brought thousands of new lives into the world in the most challenging of circumstances, last night became our 49th Scotswoman of the Year.

The consultant obstetrician has spent more than 30 years helping mothers-to-be with drug and alcohol addictions, HIV, mental illness, or experience of homelessness, domestic abuse or rape.

In accepting the trophy, the 62-year-old modestly dedicated the accolade to her patients, saying: "I am totally gob-smacked.

"This is the most wonderful recognition for all the women who come to our service and come under our care.

"These are women who are so used to being marginalised, and so used to being discarded by society, that they're their own most severe critics and they feel that they really don't merit the things that so many of us take for granted.

"They will see this as an enormous vote for them."

The glittering awards dinner, held in the magnificent Banqueting Hall of the City Chambers, was supported by St Enoch Centre for the fifth consecutive year.

Susan Nicol, general manager of the city-centre shopping mall, said: "We're very proud to be part of this and it's a very humbling experience.

"Next year is the 50th awards and we have to recognise what the Evening Times has done over those years."

The awards have celebrated the accomplishments, compassion and dedication of Scottish women since they were founded in 1963.

Last night's guestlist of more than 250 women included actress Libby McArthur, singer Michelle McManus, Lady Provost Sheena Duncan-Winter, broadcaster Janice Forsyth, and Linda Nutini, mum of Paisley singer-songwriter Paolo.

TV presenter Cathy MacDonald, who compered the night for the third consecutive year, paid tribute to the winner, saying: "I'm really pleased for Mary – what she does is incredible.

"She really cares about the people with whom she works."

Dr Hepburn established the Glasgow Women's Reproductive Health Service, a dedicated ward which was opened by Princess Diana at Rottenrow maternity hospital. She remains in charge of the unit, now known as the Glasgow Special Needs in Pregnancy Service.

Since she was last a finalist for the Scotswoman of the Year title in 2003, Dr Hepburn has expanded her work to help women in Eastern Europe.

She has worked in Kosovo, Moldova and Ukraine with the World Health Organisation and Unicef to provide maternity services and to prevent mother-to-child transmission of HIV.

She took over the Swoty title from veteran actress and River City star Eileen McCallum, who has waged a high-profile campaign to improve the lives of families affected by muscle wasting diseases after her two grandsons, Milo and Daniel, were diagnosed with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD).

In addition to giving a moving keynote speech sharing her devotion to her grandsons, Eileen received a replica of the bronze trophy she has held for a year.

She said: "I really felt that it gave me encouragement and reassurance somehow that I was doing all I could for my family and, hopefully, for my professional life as well.

"I hadn't realised how much I needed that vote of confidence."

Evening Times Editor Tony Carlin acknowledged more than a dozen inspirational former 'Swotys' in attendance at last night's event, and the representatives of those previous winners who have passed away, including Garnethill's 'battling' Betty Brown, Dunblane teacher Gwen Mayor and Afghan aid worker Linda Norgrove.

He paid tribute to the latest woman to join that illustrious hall of fame, saying: "Dr Hepburn has taken her skills and talents to some of the most victimised, damaged and vulnerable people in society.

"Despite what must often seem like insurmountable challenges, she has not only brought her skills and expertise to their aid, she has also added her compassion and dogged determination to care for women who are very often at their lowest ebb and at the mercy of society."

Mr Carlin presented his third annual Editor's Award to Scotland's former Lord Advocate, Dame Elish Angiolini, the first female to become the country's top law officer in 500 years.

The event was an electrifying and emotional evening that brought together women from all walks of life: television personalities, politicians, businesswomen, charity fundraisers, volunteers, and, of course the remarkable finalists, whose accomplishments made the final selection a particularly difficult decision for the judging panel.

The shortlisted finalists were Karyn McCluskey, co-director of the Scottish Violence Reduction Unit, who has driven down gang violence in Glasgow; Christine Emmett, a P3-4 teacher at St Elizabeth's Primary in Hamilton, named the UK's best teacher; and disability awareness campaigner Julie McElroy, who suffers from cerebral palsy and is profoundly deaf.

The evening was brought to a close with a moving musical performance from TV presenter and Pop Idol winner Michelle McManus.

A prize raffle, that included flights to Barcelona with Jet2, a VIP spending spree at Rox the jewellers, and an overnight stay at the Grand Central Hotel, raised £2000 for The Eileen McCallum Trust, established last year to give grants to Scottish families affected by DMD.

Glasgow's Lady Provost, Sheena Duncan-Winter, said: "It's a wonderful event; a wonderful occasion for the women of Scotland to be seen in all their glory for what they do.

"The finalists are just remarkable women. They all deserve a medal. It's a positive, caring, exciting night."

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