Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

TASMANIAN A.I.F. NURSE
PROMOTED

"MATRON SUSAN HAINES, who will leave Hobart on Friday to take up a new appointment on the Mainland, ls the first of the Tasmanian A.I.F. nurses of the present war who has been promoted to the status of matron. Matron Haines recently returned to Australia after varied hospital  experience with thc A.I.F. in the Middle East. Matron Haines left Tasmania in April, 1940, with the first contingent of Tasmanian nurses for the  Middle East. "We've had a wonderful time." she said in an Interview at Hobart yesterday. Matron Haines was attached for some time to a British  hospital at Haifa, Palestine, and there had her first experience of hospital evacuation. The hospital was situated near oil refineries and the airport,  and when Italy entered the war, patients and staff were evacuated lo Nazareth. Matron Haines then spent some months In various camp hospitals, and in December, 1940, went to the Australian hospital at Kantara, where she remained for 13 months. "We opened up in January for Bardia, and  worked in trying conditions, because of excessive heat and humidity," she said, "and we dealt with practically all casualties from Libya, Greece, and Crete." Matron Haines was in charge of the theatre block. "The staff in a military hospital is much smaller than in a civilian one," said Matron  Haines, "and sometimes wc had only one sister and orderly for 48 to 60 patients. The men patients helped us a great deal, and we found that the  ordinary Australian soldier is a very fine man."

Matron Haines was warm in her praise of the work of thc Australian Red Cross Society and the Comforts Fund. "The Red Cross do a terrific job,  and deserve every support," she said, "and from the nursing standpoint we could not have managed without them." The Comforts Fund had established hostels for the troops in every big city, and the men were catered for thoroughly. The Red Cross had provided additional hospital  equipment, and hostels whtte nurses could stay free of charge. Australian nurses were able to stay at the British Red Cross hostel at the Heliopolis House Hotel, and British nurses were welcomed at the Australian hostel in Jerusalem. Quarters at the hostels were comfortable and meals good.
The Convalescent Home in Cairo for Australian nurses, in the charge of Sister Millicent Stephens, of Hobart, was a delightful place. The Young Women's Christian Association also provided hostels in Port Said. Ismailia, Jerusalem, Cairo, where nurses could make their home during leave, and pay 5/ for bod and breakfast. Nurses were permitted to take friends there for meals, either of non-commissioned rank or commissioned rank.
Matron Haines spoke enthusiastically of the work being done by Voluntary Aids overseas. "This is everybody's war,"' she said, "and a fine organisation such as the V.A.D. movement is doing good work in releasing men for more important jobs." The greatest desire of most of the troops was to shop for presents to send home. Matron Haines said. Hospital patients had to be accompanied by a sister, who would take four or five soldiers together. "We thoroughly enjoyed shopping with them, and helping them to choose the presents," she added, "after which they insisted on
giving us colossal meals, and presenting us with bunches of roses."

Matron Haines was billeted in Adelaide when she arrived in Australia, and has been spending holiday leave with, her parents. Mr. and Mrs. H. E. 
Haines, De Witt St., Hobart. Several welcome-home parties have been held in honour of Matron Haines. Among them was an informal gathering at the home of Mr. and Mrs. B. J. Thompson. Sandy Bay, last night. Cards and music were enjoyed. Among those present were Mr. and Mrs. Roy Cripps. Mr. and Mrs. J. M. Parker, Mr. and Mrs. F. S. Shaw, Sgt. and Mrs. Carden, Mesdames M. Bryant. J. Geapen, Misses M. L. Cook. P. Thompson
isler N. Lutwyche, Lieut.-Col. T. W. Bartley, Messrs. Harold Turner and R McKeag.  http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article25917998 (nla.gov.au)