by admin | Jun 9, 2020 | Stories
Ipswich Hospital trained nurse, Edna “Gillie” Gilbert is recognised for her exceptional service at Mt Lamington, in the Oro Province of Papua New Guinea, after the eruption in 1951. She is remembered for her dedication and devotion to duty in improving Public Health in PNG. Gillie commenced her nursing career as a student at the Ipswich Hospital in 1925. From 1937 – 1941 she was on the staff of the Baby Clinics in Queensland. These baby health centres and mothercraft homes were introduced into Queensland in 1918 and dramatically decreased the mortality rate of mothers and babies. Sister Gilbert then took the position of Matron of the Thursday Island Hospital. When Japan entered the war, the Australian Army took over the hospital, she joined the Australian Army Nursing Service (AANS), an Australian Army Reserve unit, and remained on Thursday Island until 1944. She was then transferred to North Queensland where she was demobilised and returned to Thursday Island until 1946. Gillie joined the Department of Public Health in Papua New Guinea in 1948. She was solely responsible for all the infants under 5 years amongst the 4,000 displaced persons following the eruption of the Mt Lamington volcano in January 1951. Over 4,000 people died in the eruption. Sister Gilbert worked in the refugee camps under the most appalling conditions, having to shift camp several times due to torrential rain. In the hardships of massive evacuation, Sister Edna Gilbert turned chaos into order under army tents and rough buildings. She established the first infant welfare training centre in Saiho and assisted in establishing centres at Sohana (a small island of...
by admin | Jun 9, 2020 | Stories
A truly gallant World War I nurse who was recognised for her bravery and distinguished service during the Gallipoli Campaign. Rose Langford was born in Hull, England, and came to Australia with her parents at an early age. She received her training as a nurse at the Ipswich Hospital, after which she was matron at Mt Perry, Mt Morgan and Mackay hospitals, and head sister at the Bundaberg Hospital. When the World War 1 broke out, she immediately enlisted and was on the first ship bound to 1st Australian General Hospital in Egypt. The hospital received the wounded soldiers who fought in Gallipoli. She was then transferred to the Casualty Clearing Station in Flanders on the western front in France. She was struck down with Diphtheria in 1917 and admitted to hospital. She was discharged from her unit and returned to England. In 1917 she returned to Australia as matron of a hospital ship but owing to ill-health was unable to return to the front. Rose was made matron of a sanatorium at Stanthorpe in 1919 and in the following year sub-matron at Rosemount Hospital – at the time a Brisbane repatriation hospital. Three years later she was appointed matron of the hospital, but resigned that position in 1927, when she married Mr. R. J. Walker. She passed away in 19351. Nurse Rose Langford was “Mentioned in Despatches” (MiD), the oldest Imperial form of recognition for bravery or distinguished service, during the “August Offensive” at Gallipoli. The offensive included the Battle of Lone Pine. Rose Langford was mentioned in a despatch by Brigadier-General Frederick Hugh Gordon Cunliffe on March...
by admin | Nov 29, 2014 | General Collection, Paediatric
The decade from 1929-1939 was one of great hardship for many Australians. It was in this challenging environment in 1930 that the decision was made to raise funds for a much-needed new children’s ward at the Ipswich Hospital – by children. In the days before social media, Queensland Times journalist Fred Ware, known to his many young readers as Uncle William, played a pivotal role in unifying and motivating the community behind this cause. The fundraising achievements of the whole community, but especially the children, in these tough depression years, were nothing short of astonishing. As far back as 1919 Uncle William had extolled the virtues of hard work in his Children’s Corner column to approximately 100 “nieces and nephews”. His young readers became members of the Sunshine League which raised funds over the years for much needed items for the Ipswich Hospital. A decade later when the need arose for a new children’s ward, Uncle William encouraged League members to take on this herculean task: “… we have only to think of how it will help a sick child to get better in a fine new building erected by the loving labour of other children, his pals, to know something of the significance and influence that our new Sunshine Ward will shed on our little friends who go there to regain their health.” From the beginning, community support for the new children’s ward was very strong. Those unable to donate in cash did so in kind (for example “a quarter of a mile of eggs” was donated in 1933). In 1931 and 1932 the Sunshine League presented cheques...
by admin | Jul 14, 2013 | General Collection, Matron AE Wilcox, Staff - nursing
Cleaning and dusting were part of the nurses’ daily chores in her care of her young charges. All cots and 4 posters were to be in alignment in the ward. Nets folded neatly and uniformly. Lockers cleared of ‘kid’s stuff’ and remembering hospitalisation was lengthy and kids notoriously like collecting ‘junk’!!! Quilts and sheets were mitred and the children all quietly in bed. Matron Wilcox would be accompanied by the Charge Nurse and the student nurse rostered to Peters Ward or Babies Ward. The Matron being of short stature would stand on a chair and run her fingers along the privacy screen track in search of dust particles!!!! There was many a mischievous long term patient who would delight seeing ‘their nurse’ the target of the Matron’s wrath!!! – Steph Shannon recalling student nurse days 1950s Matron A E...
by admin | Jul 7, 2013 | Paediatric, Staff - nursing
Sister Edith Graham joined the staff of Ipswich Hospital in 1953. She moved to the Children’s Ward in 1955 and was appointed Sister-in-Charge, a position she held until her retirement in 1972. Sr Graham was fondly referred to as ‘Granny Graham’ by the student nurses, although it is understood that she did not approve of this nickname. Her colleague Sr Stephanie Shannon recalls “to student nurses and young interns Graham sailed a ‘tight ship’…under her long watch she steered all in her care safely and diligently. She set high standards of nursing care and demanded the same from those who worked with her…Her clinical observation skills were highly astute in an era prior to ‘the age of technology’ and this was never so evident as with the very sick child in the ward.” Margaret McFarlane (Director of Nursing) wrote on Sr Graham’s service card that she gave “20 years of enthusiastic service in the area of paediatrics…[she] displayed a deep understanding of sick children’s needs but was impatient with parents’...
