New South Wales Bush Nursing Association

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New South Wales Bush Nursing Association
Founded1911
FounderRachel Ward, the Countess of Dudley
HeadquartersSydney
Subsidiaries119 locations at its height

The New South Wales Bush Nursing Association was founded in 1911 by the wife of the Governor-General. It grew to over one hundred locations[1] It was discontinued in the 1970s as its organisation was taken over by the country's health department.

History[edit]

The Association was founded in 1911 by Rachel (born Gurney), the Countess of Dudley, who was the wife of William Ward, the Governor-General of Australia.[1] Its success was assured when the National Council of Women became involved and the state supplied funding in 1912.[2]

Rosa Angela Kirkcaldie became the secretary of the association in 1922 but she resigned in 1924.[3] Nellie Morrice who was an experienced matron, with a Royal Red Cross, was appointed as her replacement.[4] Under Morrice's management, the number of bush nursing centres grew from 26 to 62, but nursing award changes and World War II saw some closures when no nurse could be found to fill the role.[5][6] In 1934 Morris was awarded an MBE[4] and in 1947, when Morrice retired there were 31 centres open (in addition to those that had been transferred to the health department).[5]

In 1953 there were 31 different centres with headquarters in Sydney. Elsie Jane Whicker was based there as the new superintendent. Whicker travelled a lot to visit the diaspora of centres and she kept and enjoyed a detailed correspondence with each of the nurses. They enjoyed a good degree of self-management but their job could also be lonely. Whicker's contribution to the bush nursing was recognised with a MBE in 1969.[7]

By 1972, more people lived within travelling distances and there were just 19 centres still open.[1] In 1975 the last ones joined the Health department's management and they became community health centres.[2]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c Borsay, Anne; Dietz, Susanne Malchau; Lissauer Cromwell, Judith; Birn, Anne-Emanuell; Bates, Christina; D’Antonio, Patricia; Jones, Marion Moser; Russell, R. Lynette; Sorenson Marshall, Elaine Shaw; Fell, Alison S.; Foth, Thomas; Lineberry, Cate; Digby, Anne; Grypma, Sonya; Drees, Laurie Meijer; Duffy, Mignon; Hunter, Billie; Brown, Theodore M.; Fairman, Julie A.; Whelan, Jean C.; Cornell, Judith A.; Hallett, Christine E.; Phillips, Howard; Deacon, Harriet; Thomson, Kirsten (2015). "Book ReviewsNursing and Midwifery in Britain Since 1700Gender, Vocation and Professional Competencies: The Danish Deaconess Foundation's Educational Strategies and Contribution to the Nursing Curriculum 1863–1955Florence Nightingale, FeministComrades in Health: U.S. Health Internationalist, Abroad and at HomeA Cultural History of the Nurse's UniformRoutledge Handbook on the Global History of NursingThe American Red Cross: From Clara Barton to the New DealA Vision for the Bush: The NSW Bush Nursing Association 1911–1974Learning the Healer's Art: Nursing Education at Brigham Young UniversityFirst World War Nursing: New PerspectivesCaring and Killing: Nursing and Psychiatric Practice in Germany, 1931–1943The Secret Rescue: An Untold Story of American Nurses and Medics Behind Nazi LinesAt the Heart of Healing: Groote Schuur Hospital, 1938–2008China Interrupted: Japanese Internment and the Reshaping of a Canadian Missionary CommunityHealing Histories: Stories From Canada's Indian HospitalsMaking Care Count: A Century of Gender, Race, and Paid Care Work". Nursing History Review. 23 (1): 139–174. doi:10.1891/1062-8061.23.139.
  2. ^ a b "New South Wales Bush Nursing Association". AWR. Retrieved 2024-05-29.
  3. ^ Lincoln, Merrilyn, "Rosa Angela Kirkcaldie (1887–1972)", Australian Dictionary of Biography, Canberra: National Centre of Biography, Australian National University, retrieved 2024-05-29
  4. ^ a b "Morrice, Nellie Constance (Sister, b.1881 - d.1963)". www.awm.gov.au. Retrieved 2024-05-29.
  5. ^ a b "Bush nursing chief's love of the inland". The Sun. No. 2283. New South Wales, Australia. 12 January 1947. p. 12. Retrieved 25 April 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
  6. ^ "Award Blamed for Nursing Shortage". The Farmer and Settler. Vol. XXXVIII, no. 11. New South Wales, Australia. 14 April 1944. p. 9. Retrieved 25 April 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
  7. ^ Page, Vilma, "Elsie Jane Whicker (1899–1987)", Australian Dictionary of Biography, Canberra: National Centre of Biography, Australian National University, retrieved 2024-05-29
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