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The death of Mrs. J. O'Farrell (Sister Marianne Rawson, R.R.C), which occurred this month at her home, 12 Burrindi Road, Caulfield, recalls an early and heroic chapter In the annals of the Australian nursing service, for Sister Rawson was in charge of the splendid little band of 10 nursing sisters who left Melbourne In 1900 with the third Bushmen's Contingent for service ini South Africa under the Imperlal Government, under the terms of a special cable message from the High Commissioner of the Cape. For her devoted services Sister Rawson was subsequently awarded the Royal Red Cross, while one of her companions (Sister Isabel Ivy) was officially mentioned in despatches. Another nurse, Sister F. E. Hines, died while on active service, and the entire unit received the highest possible praise for their work.
Sister Marianne Rawson obtained her nursing training in England and at the Rotunda Hospital, Dublin. On her arrival In Australia she was matron for two years at the Women's Hospital, Carlton, Melbourne, and subsequently went to Western Australia, where she opened a private Hospital. This however, was burnt, and Sister Rawson was then asked to undertake the organisation and control of the Government Hospital, Kalgoorlie. On her return from the South African war she went back to Western Australia. Her marriage took place shortly after, and her home of recent years had been in Melbourne.

Marianne Rawson gained distinction as a Victorian nursing sister who served in the Boer War and was one of the three Australian nurses to be awarded the Royal Red Cross medal for service in that conflict. She was the lady superintendent of the ten Victorian nurses who sailed for South Africa with the Third (Bushmen's) Contingent on the Euryalus on 10 March 1900. They went to Rhodesia and served at Salisbury, Fort Charter, Bulawayo, Hillside, Mafeking, Springfontein and Tuli. She was awarded the Royal Red Cross medal on 26 June 1902 for her outstanding work and courage in the care of patients and was Mentioned in Dispatches on 29 July 1902. The Governor of Western Australia presented her with her RRC medal in Kalgoorlie in 1903.

http://www.womenaustralia.info/biogs/IMP0230b.htm

Marianne RAWSON was born in Avenel, Victoria on 6th May, 1855

Her parents were Solomon RAWSON & Honora RYAN (nee MESKILL)

She married John O'FERRALL in Kalgoorlie, Western Australia in 1903