Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

“I was born on 8th February, 1913 at Nurse Fraser’s home, near the water tower in Proserpine. When I was 18, I worked at the Mt Alma Private hospital, Charters Towers. This was run by my Aunt. In 1932, at the age of 19 I started training at the Charters Towers General Hospital & finished 3 years later. I went home & stayed to look after my father while my mother had an extended holiday in Brisbane. I then started nursing at the Proserpine Hospital in June. I stayed there until I went to Hobart to do my obstetrics training in July, 1936 at the Queen Alexandra Hospital. When I finished, I went up to Campbelltown & nursed some scarlet fever patients. I stayed at this hospital in charge of the maternity ward for 2 years. I was also on call for theatre & general ward work when needed. When war was declared in 1939, I decided to go home to Proserpine. I worked again at the Proserpine Hospital where Matron McGrath was in charge, Dr George was the hospital doctor & Dr Stevens was the private doctor. I was called up by the army & nursed the 1st Milne Bay casualties at the Greenslope Military Hospital. I worked several months there in different wards. I was then sent to Charters Towers to the 116 A.G.H. We used the Mt Carmel & All Souls schools as temporary hospitals. Patients were brought in on hospital trains. Here I did a lot of theatre work. From there I moved to Cairns for several months. I returned to Charters Towers to wait for a boat to transfer me to Bouganville. I was assigned to the 109 C.C.S. & was one of 6 sisters. 17 sisters were in the 2nd A.G.H. that also sailed on a U.S. ship that took us to Bougainville. We commenced nursing immediately while A.G.H. set up the hospital for 1,000 beds. As soon as it was functioning, the C.C.S closed down & moved 70 miles to the south of the island. For several weeks the C.C.S. sisters were held at A.G.H During that time I was working in the Blood Bank. We took blood & gave blood & made up penicillin as was ordered by the wards. When the war ended, the C.C.S. closed down & joined the A.G.H. Some nurses were sent home. I remained for nearly 13 months before coming back to Australia. We docked at Bowen & travelled to Brisbane by train. We were then sent home on leave. After I returned to 102 A.G.H. in Brisbane & was finally discharged. Early the next year I went to Sydney to Karitane to study for my child welfare course & stayed on the staff for some time. When I came back to Proserpine, I was asked by Dr Courtice to work as acting Matron as Matron McGrath was not well & was taking 6 months leave. After this I went to Bowen Hospital & relieved their while their Matron was on leave. There ended my nursing career.”