Melbourne District Nursing Society (MDNS) moved into 452 St. Kilda Road, in 1953. Seven Ford Prefect cars were purchased by the Society in the early 1950s which became the beginning of a full MDNS, later called Royal District Nursing Service, fleet of cars which would be used by their District nurses to visit patients in the community over the next years.In 1875 J.B.Scott purchased Crown Land on the corner of St Kilda Road and Arthur Street. During the 1890’s an “unpretentious grey building” was built on the site. Known as ‘Airlie’, major additions were carried out during the 1920s and 30s to this historic mansion. From its founding in 1885 until 1891 the Trained nurse (Nurses) of the Melbourne District Nursing Society (MDNS) worked from their own homes which were located in the vicinity of their areas (districts). In November 1891 MDNS was able to rent a two story terraced house at 66 Cardigan Street, Carlton, at £65 a year, which contained accommodation for three Trained nurses (Nurses) and one pupil nurse as well as being used as their Headquarters. The Nurses left from there each morning and returned at the end of their shift to write up their book work before retiring for the day. Three years later they moved into a larger terraced house at 49 Drummond Street Carlton which was rented at ‘a very moderate rental’. There was a Board room, apartments for the Nurses and pupil nurses, a large dispensary which patients could attend each evening to have prescriptions signed and bottles refilled with ‘homely remedies’ and elixirs, which were administered for e.g. Consumptive cases. Doctor’s prescriptions were filled at the Pharmacy. Cupboards containing donated blankets and bedclothes for needy patients were kept in this room, and it was here where the Nurses kept their nursing bags which were refilled at the end of each shift ready for any emergency and for the next day. A list of Doctors the Nurses could call was kept by the telephone. The home also had a kitchen where nourishing soup was made and distributed twice a week to the needy. Milk was also distributed when needed. In 1902 they moved into rented premises at 188 Leicester Street, Carlton and two years later, in 1904, to premises at 5 Royal Terrace, Nicholson Street, Fitzroy. They remained there for ten years. In June 1914 at last the Society had sufficient funding to purchase their own terraced premises, ‘Floraston’ 39 Victoria Parade, Collingwood which was their Headquarters and Nurses Home. In 1926 the After-Care Home for recovering patients, (later called After-Care Hospital) was built by the Society next door to No. 39, running from 41-47 Victoria Parade (became No. 45); the District Trained nurses (Sisters) continued to live at No. 39. In 1953 ‘Airlie’ at 452 St Kilda Road was offered by the Government as part of an agreement to split the management of the Society and the After Care Hospital. On 26th November 1953 the MDNS moved its Headquarters to 452 St Kilda Road. Renovations and alterations were however restricted by limited funds so it was not until 1/12/1954 that the Hon. W. P. Barry, Minister of Health, officially opened the building. MDNS was given Royal patronage in 1966 and became Royal District Nursing Service (RDNS). In January 1983, Headquarters of the Royal District Nursing Service at 452 St Kilda Road was classified by the National Trust. The citation in support of the classification said “The house is of historical interest as the boyhood home of Stanley Melbourne Bruce, later Lord Bruce, Prime Minister of Australia from 1923-1929.” Black and white photograph of Melbourne District Nursing Society Headquarters, 452 St Kilda Road, Melbourne. The photo, taken on the corner of Arthur street, is of a two storey building and several cars and gives a unique view of St Kilda Road in the 1950s (pre high rise buildings) This large grey two storey Italian style building, has four roman column, arched Arcadia to the right of a polygon shaped bay window on the ground floor; an arched Arcade on the second floor, and three long windows above the bay window on Arthur Street. Turning the corner onto St. Kilda Road is a three arched Arcadia running towards the one window seen on the polygon shaped bay window. Arcadia is repeated on the upper storey. A balustrade is in front of the Arcadia on the upper storey and again around the flat roof. Two chimneys can be seen. A spiked metal fence runs in front of the building. To the left of this building are two white double storey buildings and some medium sized trees. On Arthur Street, two Ford Prefect cars, one with the passenger side door partly open, a Vanguard car and another make of car can be seen.royal district nursing service, headquarters, 452 st kilda road melbourne, melbourne district nursing society, mdns, mdns transport, rdns

This photograph is taken in the home of the Mother and babe and shows a RDNS Sister who is visiting to give the mother and babe Post-natal care. Royal District Nursing Service (RDNS) had a Domiciliary Infant and Maternal Care (DIMC) service which gave Post-natal care to new born mothers and babes in their homes following their early discharge from hospital, or if required for other reasons. In August 1893 Melbourne District Nursing Society (MDNS), commenced a Midwifery Service with Nurse Fowler, who was trained in General nursing and Midwifery nursing, being the first Midwife employed. Mothers were assessed for suitability of a home birth or if they required delivery at the Women’s Hospital. The Midwife worked in conjunction with the Doctors at the Women’s Hospital and if a complication arose before or after birth the patient was transferred to their care. Following birth, the Midwife gave Post-Natal care to both the mother and babe commencing with visits twice a day. In 1898 the service ceased due to lack of funds but recommenced in 1906, and in the August 1925 Annual Report the number of MDNS home births was recorded at 478. MDNS built the After-Care Home and a pioneering Anti-Natal Clinic was opened in 1930. The last Ante-Natal clinic was held there in December 1951 and the MDNS Midwifery service ceased in February 1952. In 1964 MDNS commenced a Post-Natal service with General and Midwifery trained MDNS Sisters working from a room on the ground floor at the Footscray Hospital Nurses quarters, and visiting early discharged Footscray Hospital maternity cases at home. Later, as Royal District Nursing Service (RDNS), this service was extended and renamed as Domiciliary Infant and Maternal Care, (DIMC) service operating from most Centres and visiting early discharged, often 24 hours after birth, maternity cases from hospitals to give Post-natal care to the mother and babe. Many of the RDNS Sisters who worked in DIMC also had their Infant Welfare Certificate, though Midwifery trained nurses also visited. Black and white photograph showing, to the left, a Royal District Nursing (RDNS) Domiciliary Postnatal Sister, with long hair drawn up, and wearing a white gown. She is attending to a new born baby in her wicker bassinet at the baby's home. The Sister is smiling and has her left hand by the shoulder of the wrapped babe, and her right hand is resting lower on the baby. The baby's mother, who has curly short dark hair, is dressed in a floral blouse and dark cardigan. She is standing to the right of the Sister and behind the bassinet, and is looking down at her babe and smiling. Her left hand is resting on the bassinet. The baby has dark hair and has her hand partly covering her mouth. Part of a picture is seen on the wall behind the mother.rdns, royal district nursing service, rdns domiciliary post natal service, rdns domiciary infant and maternal care, rdns dimc

This photograph depicts a Royal District Nursing Service (RDNS) Sister (Sr.) visiting Mrs. Hodginson and babe in their home. Sr. Wan is weighing baby Tamara as part of the Post-Natal care she is giving. A nurse who is doing her Hospital training is visiting with the Sister and observing. RDNS had a Domiciliary Infant and Maternal Care, (DIMC) service operating from most Centres which visited early discharged, often 24 hours after birth, maternity cases from hospitals to give Post-natal care to the mother and babe. Sr. Wan is wearing her RDNS summer uniform of a short sleeve white blouse under a royal blue V neck tunic style frock and a dark blue cardigan. In August 1893 Melbourne District Nursing Society (MDNS), commenced a Midwifery Service with Nurse Fowler, who was trained in a hospital in General nursing and Midwifery nursing, being the first Midwife employed. Mothers were assessed for suitability of a home birth or if they required delivery at the Women’s Hospital. The Midwife worked in conjunction with the Doctors at the Women’s Hospital and if a complication arose before or after birth the patient was transferred to their care. Following birth, the Midwife gave Post-Natal care to both the mother and babe commencing with visits twice a day. In 1898 the service ceased due to lack of funds but recommenced in 1906, and in the August 1925 Annual Report the number of MDNS home births was recorded at 478. MDNS built the After-Care Home and a pioneering Anti-Natal Clinic was opened in 1930. The last Ante-Natal clinic was held there in December 1951 and the MDNS Midwifery service ceased in February 1952. In 1964 MDNS commenced a Post-Natal service with General and Midwifery trained MDNS Sisters working from a room on the ground floor at the Footscray Hospital Nurses quarters, and visiting early discharged Footscray Hospital maternity cases at home. Later, as Royal District Nursing Service (RDNS), this service was extended and renamed as Domiciliary Infant and Maternal Care, (DIMC) service operating from most Centres and visiting early discharged, often 24 hours after birth, maternity cases from hospitals to give Post-natal care to the mother and babe. Many of the RDNS Sisters who worked in DIMC also had their Infant Welfare Certificate, though Midwifery trained nurses also visited. On the right of the black and white photograph is Royal District Nursing Service (RDNS) DIMC Sister J. Wan, who has short dark curly hair and is wearing a white gown over her uniform, with the white collar and sleeves of her dark cardigan seen. She is laughing as she holds the top ring of hand held baby scales in her right hand; the bottom of the scale has a metal hook which has a sling attached to it with four cotton 'ropes'. Baby Tamara is supported in the sling which is just resting on a sheep skin and bunny rug covered metal framed change table. Sr. Wan has her left hand on the sling. To the left of the photograph is Tamara's smiling mother, Mrs. Lynda Hodginson, and in the centre of the photograph is observer Nurse Sheehan. Mrs. Hodginson is wearing a striped dress with a V neck, and has dark shoulder length hair. Nurse Sheehan has short dark hair and is wearing a white uniform and dark cardigan. A nursing watch is attached to the right hand side of her uniform. Part of a landscape picture can be seen on the wall behind her. A small white fluffy rabbit sits on the left hand side of the change table. Baby Tamara has sparse dark hair and is sucking on a dummy.Photographer's stampmdns, melbourne district nursing society, melbourne district nursing service, royal district nursing service, rdns, mdns midwifery, rdns domiciliary postnatal service, dimc, tamara hodginson, nurse sheehan, sister j. wan, mrs lynda hodginson

This photograph depicts Post-Natal care being given by a Royal District Nursing Service (RDNS), Sister who is working in the RDNS Domiciliary Infant and Maternal Care (DIMC) section of the Service. The photograph is taken in the home of the mother and baby and the Sister is in the process of putting the baby onto the Baby scales to ascertain the babe's weight. Sisters employed in the DIMC section of RDNS gave Post-natal care to both the mother and her newly born babe when they were discharged early from hospital. This photograph was taken in the year following Melbourne District Nursing Service (MDNS) being granted Royal patronage in 1966 and becoming Royal District Nursing Service. The Sister is wearing the the same grey uniform frock used by MDNS but the badge on her peaked cap has changed from a red Maltese cross to a metal round silver badge with a royal blue circle around the edge with the words 'Royal District Nursing Service' in white capital letters running inside the blue circle.The centre of the badge is divided into three sections; a silver rising sun top and bottom, and a thick royal blue horizontal central strip with 'RDNS' written in large white capital letters. This uniform continued to be worn until 1971 when it changed colour and style. In August 1893 Melbourne District Nursing Society (MDNS), commenced a Midwifery Service with Nurse Fowler, who trained in a Hospital and was qualified in General nursing and Midwifery nursing, being the first Midwife employed. Mothers were assessed for suitability of a home birth, or if they required delivery at the Women’s Hospital. The Midwife worked in conjunction with the Doctors at the Women’s Hospital and if a complication arose the patient was transferred to their care. Following birth they gave Post-Natal care to both the mother and babe. In 1898 the service ceased due to lack of funds but recommenced in 1906, and in the August 1925 Annual Report the number of MDNS home births was recorded at 478. MDNS built the After-Care Home and an Anti-Natal Clinic was opened in 1930. The last Ante-Natal clinic was held there in December 1951 and the MDNS Midwifery service ceased in February 1952. In 1964 MDNS commenced a Post-Natal service with General and Midwifery trained MDNS Sisters working from a room at Footscray Hospital, and visiting early discharged Footscray Hospital maternity cases at home. Now as Royal District Nursing Service (RDNS), this service was extended to a Domiciliary Infant and Maternal Care, (DIMC) service operating from most Centres and visiting early discharged, often 24 hours after birth, maternity cases from hospitals to give post-natal care to the mother and babe. Many Sisters working in this area had a Certificate in Infant Welfare as well as their General and Midwifery Certificates.In the right rear of this black and white photograph is a Royal District Nursing Service, (RDNS), Sister who is wearing a white gown over her uniform, and wearing her grey peaked hat with the RDNS badge visible, looking down at a baby she is about to weigh. The baby has sparse dark hair, is wearing a white singlet and is crying. The Baby scales, which are sitting on a table in front of the Sister, are white with a rectangular base and curved sided tray on the top. The Sister is standing behind the scales, and is supporting the babe's body with her right hand and holding baby's legs with her left hand as she lowers babe fully onto the scales. On the left of the photograph, the mother, who has long dark hair with a hair scarf holding it back, and is wearing a striped frock, is siting on a chair with her arms crossed at her waist, and is smiling at her babe as she observes proceedings.. Photographers Stampmdns, melbourne district nursing society, melbourne district nursing service, rdns, royal district nursing service, rdns domiciliary postnatal service, dimc

In 1964 Melbourne District Nursing Service (MDNS) commenced a Domiciliary Postnatal Service, later called Domiciliary Infant and Maternal.Care (DIMC), when Royal patronage was granted in 1966 (RDNS). The Sisters gave Post-natal care to the mother and babes and visited for support and advice as long as needed. The central RDNS badges on the Sisters hats is made of metal and has 'Royal District Nursing Service' written in the outside royal blue circle. The inner area is divided in three parts, the top and bottom sections are a silver rising sun and the central royal blue horizontal band has the letters 'RDNS' written white capital letters.In August 1893 Melbourne District Nursing Society (MDNS), commenced a Midwifery Service with Nurse Fowler, who was Hospital trained in General nursing and Midwifery nursing, being the first Midwife employed. Mothers were assessed for suitability of a home birth, or if they required delivery at the Women’s Hospital. The Midwife worked in conjunction with the Doctors at the Women’s Hospital and if a complication arose the patient was transferred to their care. Following birth they gave Post-Natal care to both the mother and babe. In 1898 the service ceased due to lack of funds but recommenced in 1906, and in the August 1925 Annual Report the number of MDNS home births was recorded at 478. MDNS built the After-Care Home and an Anti-Natal Clinic was opened in 1930. The last Ante-Natal clinic was held there in December 1951 and the MDNS Midwifery service ceased in February 1952. In 1964 MDNS commenced a Post-Natal service with General and Midwifery trained MDNS Sisters working from a room at Footscray Hospital, and visiting early discharged Footscray Hospital maternity cases at home. Later, as Royal District Nursing Service (RDNS), this service was extended to a Domiciliary Infant and Maternal Care (DIMC), service operating from most Centres and visiting early discharged, often 24 hours after birth, maternity cases from hospitals to give post-natal care to the mother and babe. Many of the RDNS Sisters who did DIMC had their Triple Certificate (Infant Welfare), though Midwifery trained nurses also visited. Black and white photograph showing two Royal District Nursing Service, (RDNS), Postnatal Service Sisters visiting a mother and her triplets in their home. Both Sisters and the mother are smiling and sitting on a dark coloured couch with each holding one of the babes who are wrapped in light coloured bunny rugs. The Sister on the left is wearing a white gown, with the grey peaks of her uniform showing; her nursing badge is attached to the right hand peak of her uniform. She is wearing her grey peaked hat, with central attached RDNS badge, over her short dark curled hair. To her right is the mother, who has short straight dark hair, and is wearing a white blouse and dark tartan skirt. On the far right is Sister Barbara Weisart, wearing a white gown; with the grey peaks of her uniform showing, and wearing her grey peaked hat with central RDNS badge over her short dark straight hair. A set of white baby scales are seen to her rightPhotographers Stamp. Quote No. GE 13mdns, melbourne district nursing society, melbourne district nursing service, royal district nursing service, rdns, rdns domiciliary postnatal service, dimc, sister barbara weisart

The Royal District Nursing Service (RDNS), Sister has sterilized an autoclave pack for use by the RDNS Sisters when attending their patients in their homes who are requiring specific treatments for e.g. catheterization. This photograph is taken in the sterilizing room at a RDNS Centre. The Sister is wearing the RDNS Summer uniform of a short sleeve white blouse under a royal blue V neck tunic style frock with the RDNS logo on its upper left.Royal District Nursing Service (RDNS) supplied sterilized equipment, such as ready set up catheter trays and dressing trays, as well as dressing packs for their Sisters to take to the home when attending to specific patient care. Patients bought their own future dressings, if these had not been given to them when discharged from Hospital. Following their day in the community the Sisters returned to the RDNS Centre and washed and set up the trays again ready for re-sterilization. Black and white photograph showing a Royal District Nursing Service, (RDNS), Sister who has blonde short hair; is wearing a short sleeved white blouse and dark tunic style frock, standing in the Autoclave room in an RDNS centre. She is emptying the Autoclave chamber after sterilizing a wrapped, 'gown and towel', which is written on the wrapping. Her right arm is extended with her hand on the metal wire basket which has a protective floral cloth covering the edge of the basket. The photograph shows a tall vertical Autoclave, which is made of metal. To the left above the chamber is a dark rectangular section with several switches, and to right of it are three white faced dials. royal district nursing service, rdns, rdns equipment, sterilizing

This photograph is taken in the work room in a Royal District Nursing Service (RDNS) Centre. The Sisters are writing up patient histories after giving nursing care to them in their homes during the day.Royal District Nursing Service (RDNS), had Centres throughout the Melbourne Metropolitan area. Their staff arrived at the Centre each morning to collect their work load and any messages, and then drove to their particular area (district) to give care to their patients. At the completion of the day they returned to their Centre where they wrote up the care they had given to each patient in the appropriate history folder. They also filled out forms to be sent to the RDNS Liaison Sister at the appropriate hospital when a patient was going to outpatients so the doctor would have a progress report. The Sisters also contacted other Medical and Community personal as necessary from the Centre. The RDNS cars were also kept at each centre, where they were collected each morning and returned after the Sister's community visits. Coloured photograph of a group of eleven Royal District Nursing Service (RDNS), Sisters doing their book work in an RDNS Centre. Two of the Sisters are wearing the summer RDNS uniform of a royal blue V necked tunic style dress over a white blouse and a dark blue cardigan. The others are wearing the RDNS winter uniform of a blue/grey skivvie under a blue/grey herringbone winter material V necked tunic style frock. Some Sisters are partly hidden. They are sitting at tables which have open patient history books and papers on them.In the rear are papers attached to walls and on the left a Venetian blind is covering a window.royal district nursing service, rdns, rdns uniform, rdns centre

Sister McLean is attending a function in the RDNS Board room at 452 St. Kilda Road, Melbourne. She worked in RDNS Headquarters. The RDNS insignia on the upper left of her uniform tunic has the words "Royal District Nursing Service" written in white in the blue circle. Across the centre of the circle are two clasping hands depicted in yellow..From its founding in 1885 until 1891, the Trained nurses (Nurses) of the Melbourne District Nursing Society (MDNS) worked from their own homes which were located in the vicinity of their areas (districts). Their Committee meetings were held at the Religious Tract Society Rooms, No 3 Queen's walk, off Swanston Street and later at the Library Room in the Melbourne Town Hall. The Annual General Meetings were held in the Town Hall. In November 1891 MDNS was able to rent a two story terraced house at 66 Cardigan Street, Carlton, at £65 a year, which contained accommodation for three Trained nurses (Nurse) and one pupil nurse as well as being used as their Headquarters. They left from their Nurses Home each morning and returned at the end of their shift to write up their book work before retiring for the day. Three years later they moved into a larger terraced house at 49 Drummond Street Carlton which was rented at ‘a very moderate rental’. There was a Board room, apartments for the Nurses and pupil nurses, a large dispensary which patients could attend each evening to have prescriptions signed and bottles refilled with ‘homely remedies’ and elixirs, which were administered for e.g. to Consumptive cases. Doctor’s prescriptions were filled at the Pharmacy. Cupboards containing donated blankets and bedclothes for needy patients were kept in this room, and it was here where the Nurses kept their nursing bags which were refilled at the end of each shift ready for any emergency and for the next day. A list of Doctors the Nurses could call was kept by the telephone. The home also had a kitchen where nourishing soup was made and distributed twice a week to the needy. Milk was also distributed when needed. In 1902 they moved into rented premises at 188 Leicester Street, Carlton and two years later, in 1904, to premises at 5 Royal Terrace, Nicholson Street, Fitzroy where they remained for ten years. In June 1914 at last the Society had sufficient funding to purchase their own terraced premises, ‘Floraston’ 39 Victoria Parade, Collingwood which was their Headquarters and Nurses Home. In 1926 the After-Care Home for recovering patients, (later called After-Care Hospital) was built by the Society next door, running from 41-47 Victoria Parade (became No. 45); the District nurses continued to live at No. 39. In November 1953 the District Nursing Division moved into their new Headquarters and Nurses Home at 452 St. Kilda Road, Melbourne but as the Service expanded into the suburbs Centres were opened and their Trained nurses (Sisters) worked from home, so the Nurses Home section of 452 was closed and turned into more administrative areas. In 1996 Headquarters were relocated to 31 Alma Road, St. Kilda.Coloured photograph of the upper view of Sister Kath McLean of the Royal District Nursing Service (RDNS) who has short straight dark hair and is smiling as she sits holding a cake on a white plate. She is wearing her RDNS winter uniform; a grey skivvie under a blue/grey herringbone woolen V neck tunic style frock with a central zip. On its upper left It has the RDNS insignia of a round blue circle with writing on it, surrounded on either side by white swept up feathers towards the central crown above the circle. Under this is her name plate and a gold coloured medal. A pen is clipped into the left hand V neck section of the frock. rdns, royal district nursing service, rdns winter uniform, rdns board room, rdns headquarters, kath mclean

The RDNS Sisters are attending a functions being held in the Board Room at RDNS Headquarters, 452 St. Kilda Road in Melbourne.From its founding in 1885 until 1891 the trained nurses of the Melbourne District Nursing Society (MDNS) worked from their own homes which were located in the vicinity of their areas (districts). The Committee meetings were held at the Religious Tract Society rooms at Queen’s walk, off Swanston Street and then at the Library Room at the Melbourne Town Hall. The Annual General Meeting was held at the Town Hall. In November 1891 MDNS was able to rent a two story terraced house at 66 Cardigan Street, Carlton, at £65 a year, which contained accommodation for three Trained nurses (Nurses) and one pupil nurse as well as being used as their Headquarters. They left from their Nurses Home each morning and returned at the end of their shift to write up their book work before retiring for the day. Three years later they moved into a larger terraced house at 49 Drummond Street Carlton which was rented at ‘a very moderate rental’. There was a Board room, apartments for the Nurses and pupil nurse, a large dispensary which patients could attend each evening to have prescriptions signed and bottles refilled with ‘homely remedies’ and elixirs, which were administered for e.g. to Consumptive cases. Doctor’s prescriptions were filled at the Pharmacy. Cupboards containing donated blankets and bedclothes for needy patients were kept in this room, and it was here where the Nurses kept their nursing bags which were refilled at the end of each shift ready for any emergency and for the next day. A list of Doctors the Nurses could call was kept by the telephone. The home also had a kitchen where nourishing soup was made and distributed twice a week to the needy. Milk was also distributed when needed. In 1902 they moved into rented premises at 188 Leicester Street, Carlton and two years later, in 1904, to premises at 5 Royal Terrace, Nicholson Street, Fitzroy where they remained for ten years. In June 1914 at last the Society had sufficient funds to purchase their own terraced premises, ‘Floraston’ 39 Victoria Parade, Collingwood which was their Headquarters and Nurses Home. In 1926 the After-Care Home for recovering patients, (later called After-Care Hospital) was built by the Society next door, running from 41-47 Victoria Parade (became No. 45); the District nurses continued to live at No. 39. In November 1953 the District Nursing Division moved into their new Headquarters and Nurses Home at 452 St. Kilda Road, Melbourne. As RDNS expanded with Centres now opening throughout the suburbs, their Trained nurses (Sisters) lived in their own homes and the Nurses Home at 452 closed and the rooms used for administrative purposes. On April the 1st 1996 RDNS Head Office relocated to 31 Alma Road, St. Kilda.Colour photograph of Royal District Nursing Service (RDNS), Sisters who are standing in a room - left to right - .....Pat (Paddy) Rowley, with short brown hair and wearing glasses, Kath McLean, with short dark hair, Betty Harris, who is wearing glasses and with short brown curly hair and on the far right Ruth May, wearing glasses and with short dark hair, Sister May and the unknown Sister on the far left hand side, are wearing the RDNS summer uniform of a white blouse under a V neck royal blue tunic style frock. The three Sisters in the centre of the photograph are wearing the RDNS winter uniform of blue/grey skivvies under their blue/grey herringbone woollen V neck tunic style frocks. The RDNS insignia is on the upper left of the uniforms. Opened gold long curtains are in the background, along with three wooden chairs which have green backs and seats. The chairs are partly hidden by the standing Sisters. A vase of plumed feather flowers is behind Sr. Harris. Part of a white clothed table, with silver cutlery and white plates on it, is the the foreground.rdns, royal district nursing service, rdns uniform, rdns headquarters, sister ruth may, sister kath mclean, sister pat (paddy) rowley, sister betty harris

The photograph is taken at a function in the Board Room of RDNS Headquarters, 452 St. Kilda Road, Melbourne. Miss Mary Evans was the RDNS Director of Nursing from 1963-1978,From its founding in 1885 until 1891, the Trained nurses (Nurses) of the Melbourne District Nursing Society (MDNS) worked from their own homes which were located in the vicinity of their areas (districts). The Committee meetings were held at the Religious Tract Society rooms at Queen’s walk, off Swanston Street and then at the Library Room at the Melbourne Town Hall. The Annual General Meeting was held at the Town Hall. In November 1891 MDNS was able to rent a two story terraced house at 66 Cardigan Street, Carlton, at £65 a year, which contained accommodation for three Nurses and one pupil nurse as well as being used as their Headquarters. They left from their Nurses Home each morning and returned at the end of their shift to write up their book work before retiring for the day. Three years later they moved into a larger terraced house at 49 Drummond Street Carlton which was rented at ‘a very moderate rental’. There was a Board room, apartments for the Nurses and pupil nurse, a large dispensary which patients could attend each evening to have prescriptions signed and bottles refilled with ‘homely remedies’ and elixirs, which were administered for e.g. to Consumptive cases. Doctor’s prescriptions were filled at the Pharmacy. Cupboards containing donated blankets and bedclothes for needy patients were kept in this room, and it was here where the Nurses kept their nursing bags which were refilled at the end of each shift ready for any emergency and for the next day. A list of Doctors the Nurses could call was kept by the telephone. The home also had a kitchen where nourishing soup was made and distributed twice a week to the needy. Milk was also distributed when needed. In 1902 they moved into rented premises at 188 Leicester Street, Carlton and two years later, in 1904, to premises at 5 Royal Terrace, Nicholson Street, Fitzroy where they remained for ten years. In June 1914 at last the Society had sufficient funds to purchase their own terraced premises, ‘Floraston’ 39 Victoria Parade, Collingwood which was their Headquarters and Nurses Home. In 1926 the After-Care Home for recovering patients, (later called After-Care Hospital) was built by the Society next door, running from 41-47 Victoria Parade (became No. 45); the District nurses (Sisters) continued to live at No. 39. In November 1953 the District Nursing Division moved into their new Headquarters and Nurses Home at 452 St. Kilda Road, Melbourne. As RDNS expanded and now, with Centres opening throughout the suburbs, the Sisters lived in their own homes and the Nurses Home at 452 closed and those rooms used for administrative purposes. On April the 1st 1996 RDNS Head Office relocated to 31 Alma Road, St. Kilda. Coloured photograph taken at a function in a room at Royal District Nursing Service (RDNS). It shows, left to right, Sister Bev Armstrong, who has short blonde hair, Miss Mary Evans, who has short curled brown hair and another RDNS Sister who has short dark hair. The two RDNS Sisters are wearing the RDNS summer uniform of a white blouse under a royal blue V neck tunic style dress with the RDNS insignia on the left hand side. Miss Evans, is wearing a long dark coat. The three are smiling and the Sister on the right is looking at Miss Evans who is turned slightly and has part of her right arm resting over the top of the back of the chair. They are sitting in front of a window and opened gold long curtains. A tree is seen through the window. Both RDNS Sisters have cups in their hands.royal district nursing service, rdns, rdns headquarters, miss mary evans, sister bev armstrong

RDNS Sister Marilyn Harper is giving medication via a syringe and tube to a male client..Medications ordered by Doctors in Hospitals was given by Royal District Nursing Service (RDNS) Sisters to patients in their own homes. Specialized treatments were taught to RDNS Sisters by the RDNS Education Department. At times RDNS Sisters visited hospitals to learn special techniques which were to be used to care for the patient after their discharge. The RDNS Education department ran many programs for their staff including: a Post Basic Course, Cardiac Rehabilitation Nursing, Haematology/Oncology Nursing, Palliative Care program, Diabetic Stabilization Program, Leg Ulcer Management Program, HIV/AIDS Nursing Care, Cystic Fibrosis Home Support, Veterans Home Care Program, Breast Cancer Support Program, Continence Management Program, Stomal Therapy Program, In-Home Lactation Support Program and a Community Nursing Education Program extended to student nurses from hospitals and to other nursing organizations. RDNS staff attended several hospitals to observe and learn special care needed to some clients, e.g. to the Austin Hospital to learn the care required for paraplegic and quadriplegic clients at home and to Mount Royal Hospital to observe the care of clients in the rehabilitation ward.On the left of the black and white photograph is the side view of Royal District Nursing (RDNS) Sister Marilyn Harper, who is smiling. She has drawn back long curly hair and is wearing a white patterned short sleeve blouse under a dark V neck tunic style frock. Her right arm is extended onto a piece of equipment resting on top of the bedclothes of a male client who is lying in bed. Her left hand is holding a partly emptied syringe which is attached to a clear coloured tube attached to the man. The male client, whose head and shoulders are resting on a boomerang pillow on his bed, has short dark hair and is wearing a tartan shirt and cardigan over a white T-shirt. He is holding an upright filled syringe in his left hand. In the background you can see part of the wooden bedhead and part of a picture on the pale coloured wall behind it.Courtesy of the 'Western Independent'royal district nursing service, rdns, rdns care - medication, sister marilyn harper

These student nurses are doing their Nursing training at the Western General Hospital and are being given a lecture by RDNS Nurse Educator, Sister Hengstberger, during their Community Nursing Education Program with RDNS. The photograph is taken at the RDNS Education Department at 448 St. Kilda Road. Sister Hengstberger is wearing her RDNS winter uniform of a blue/grey skivvy worn under a blue/grey herringbone V necked winter weight tunic style dress. During their training, Student nurses from several hospitals either attended the Royal District Nursing Service (RDNS), Education Department, or, a RDNS Nurse Educator travelled to the appropriate hospital’s Education Department to educate the Trainees on District nursing through the RDNS Community Nursing Program. Following the lectures, Students went to a RDNS Centre and each student accompanied a Registered nurse (Sister) for a week observing and gaining knowledge of all facets of nursing care in the home. This gave them an insight into the home conditions and situations patients faced after discharge from hospital. During 1971 there were 584 student nurses who received field experience with RDNS.Black and white photograph showing Royal District Nursing Service (RDNS), Sister Cecily Hengstberger, who is wearing glasses and has short dark hair, instructing a group of student nurses. Sister Hengstberger is standing facing the group and is wearing her RDNS uniform of a dark V necked tunic style dress over a lighter colour skivvie. The RDNS logo is emblazoned on the upper left hand side of the tunic. She is standing in the centre rear of the photograph, facing the students, and is holding a piece of white paper in her hands. From the foreground of the photograph, the backs of several rows of nurses, wearing a variety of day wear, can be seen seated at small, metal framed, dark wooden top individual tables. The tables have sheets of paper and pens on them. In the left background of the photograph stands a small blackboard; above this is wall clock, and to its right a large blackboard is.attached to the wall.Photographer stamp. DR 17mdns, melbourne district nursing society, royal district nursing service, rdns, rdns education, sister cecily hengstberger

The RDNS Sister is giving Post Natal care to the Mother and babe. She is wearing her RDNS summer uniform which is a white short sleeve blouse under a royal blue V necked tunic dress with the RDNS insignia emblazoned on the upper left.In August 1893 Melbourne District Nursing Society (MDNS), commenced a Midwifery Service with Nurse Fowler, who was trained in General nursing and Midwifery nursing, being the first Midwife employed. Mothers were assessed for suitability of a home birth or if they required delivery at the Women’s Hospital. The Midwife worked in conjunction with the Doctors at the Women’s Hospital and if a complication arose the patient was transferred to their care. Following birth they gave Post-Natal care to both the mother and babe. In 1898 the service ceased due to lack of funds but recommenced in 1906, and in the August 1925 Annual Report the number of MDNS home births was recorded at 478. MDNS built the After-Care Home and an Anti-Natal Clinic was opened in 1930. The last Ante-Natal clinic was held there in December 1951 and the MDNS Midwifery service ceased in February 1952. In 1964 MDNS commenced a Post-Natal Service with general and midwifery trained MDNS nurses working from a room at Footscray Hospital, and visiting early discharged Footscray Hospital maternity cases at home. Now as Royal District Nursing Service (RDNS), this service was extended to a Domiciliary Infant and Maternal Care, (DIMC) service operating from most Centres and visiting early discharged, often 24 hours after birth, maternity cases from hospitals to give post-natal care to the mother and babe.Black and white photograph of a Royal District Nursing Service (RDNS), Sister visiting a family in their home. The family are sitting on a dark coloured couch. From left to right:- The father, who has short dark hair and is wearing a light coloured patterned shirt and dark pants, is looking at his young blond haired daughter who is sitting on his right knee. She is wearing a light coloured top and darker coloured bib and brace pants. The mother, who has long dark hair and wears glasses,.is next to him and is smiling and looking towards the RDNS Sister. She is wearing a long sleeve buttoned grey top and darker coloured slacks, and is holding her babe in her lap with both hands supporting the baby's head. The babe has sparse dark hair and is wrapped in a white bunny rug. Next is a young girl, who has short dark hair and is wearing a light coloured top, darker coloured slacks and has her hands on the top of her left striped sock. Seated on the far right is the RDNS Sister, who has short straight dark hair, and has her face turned towards the child and mother. She is wearing her RDNS uniform of a short sleeve white blouse under a dark V neck tunic style dress which has the RDNS insignia on its upper left. The Sister has a pen attached to the V neck of the tunic and is holding a note book in her hands. She has a watch with a dark band attached to her left wrist. In the background part of a wooden and glass door can be seen and a patterned wallpapered adorns the wall behind the couch.Photographer stamp. Quote No EA 28melbourne district nursing society, mdns, royal district nursing service, rdns, dimc, mdns midwifery, rdns domiciliary infant and maternal care

General and Midwifery trained RDNS Sister Kaye Pilmore is supervising a Mother feeding her new born infant in their home. Sister Pilmore is wearing her RDNS summer uniform, which was a royal blue V neck tunic style dress, with the RDNS badge emblazoned on the upper left, worn over a short sleeve white blouse. In August 1893 Melbourne District Nursing Society (MDNS), commenced a Midwifery Service with Nurse Fowler, who was trained in General nursing and Midwifery nursing, being the first Midwife employed. Mothers were assessed for suitability of a home birth or if they required delivery at the Women’s Hospital. The Midwife worked in conjunction with the Doctors at the Women’s Hospital and if a complication arose before or after birth the patient was transferred to their care. Following birth, the Midwife gave Post-Natal care to both the mother and babe commencing with visits twice a days. In 1898 the service ceased due to lack of funds but recommenced in 1906, and in the August 1925 Annual Report the number of MDNS home births was recorded at 478. MDNS built the After-Care Home and an Anti-Natal Clinic was opened in 1930. The last Ante-Natal clinic was held there in December 1951 and the MDNS Midwifery service ceased in February 1952. In 1964 MDNS commenced a Post-Natal service with general and midwifery trained MDNS Sisters working from a room on the ground floor in the Footscray Hospital Nurses quarters, and visiting early discharged Footscray Hospital maternity cases at home. Later, as Royal District Nursing Service (RDNS), this service was extended and renamed as the Domiciliary Infant and Maternal Care, (DIMC) service operating from most Centres and visiting early discharged, often 24 hours after birth, maternity cases from hospitals to give Post-natal care to the mother and babe. Many of the RDNS Sisters who worked in the DIMC section also had their Triple Certificate in Infant Welfare, though double certificate Midwifery trained nurses also made DIMC visits. Black and white photograph showing a Royal District Nursing Service (RDNS), Sister sitting to the left of a mother who is holding her babe whilst she feeds her with a bottle. The Sister has short straight dark hair and is wearing her RDNS uniform of a dark V neck tunic style dress, with the RDNS badge emblazoned on the upper left, over a short sleeve white blouse. She is turned towards the babe and mother and is holding a sheet of white paper in her right hand and her left hand is supporting the end of the glass feeding bottle. The mother, who has long dark hair and is wearing glasses, and a grey long sleeve top and darker coloured slacks, has her baby across her knees with her left arm bent at the elbow and her arm and hand supporting her baby's head and neck. She is holding the feeding bottle with her right hand and the teat of the bottle is in the baby's mouth. The babe has sparse dark hair and is wrapped in a white bunny rug. They are sitting on a dark coloured couch with check cushions on the seat. A small low table is to the right of the couch against the wall. Patterned wallpaper can be seen on the wall behind the couch and table.Photographer stamp.Quote No. EA 35melbourne district nursing society, mdns, royal district nursing service, rdns, mdns midwifery, dimc, mdns post-natal care, rdns dimc, sister kaye pilmore

RDNS Sister E. Anderson is Supervisor of Royal District Nursing Service (RDNS) Footscray Centre and Mrs. J. Simpson is the coordinator of RDNS Auxiliaries. They are admiring items from auxiliaries and other interested friends which will be distributed, as required, by RDNS Sisters to any poor families whom they visit to administer nursing care.From its inception in 1885 Melbourne District Nursing Society (MDNS), held functions to gain finances to run the Society. They also asked the public for donations, ranging from food items to linen for bandages, bed linen, blankets, clothes, including baby clothes, etc to assist in the care of their patients. The public generously responded. Each year the President made a special appeal for donations at Christmas time for food and gifts for the MDNS sick poor. Out of this evolved, in 1925, the first MDNS Auxiliary in the Eastern Suburbs. This extended to Auxiliaries throughout the suburbs who worked to donate money and ‘gifts in kind’ to assist MDNS to continue their work, and to furnish wards in the After-Care Home. Before the District Division of MDNS had its own fleet of vehicles, a Motor Auxiliary was formed in 1929 where the general public, when available, provided their car, and drove Sisters to visit patients who lived a distance away. This was disbanded in 1971 when the, now named Royal District Nursing Service (RDNS), had its own fleet of vehicles. The Jessie Henderson Auxiliary ran a Kiosk and Library with all profits to the Society for 20 years. By 1950 there were fourteen auxiliaries who continued to hold functions when the District division separated from the After-Care Hospital and became Melbourne District Nursing Service, which, with Royal patronage, became RDNS in 1966. A Council of Auxiliaries, with Mrs. J. Simpson at its head, and which comprised of two delegates from each auxiliary, was formed in February 1968 to work for District. There were nine auxiliaries in 1970. They continued to run into the 2000s, but the numbers of auxiliaries reduced over the years, as well as the number of members in each auxiliary as the members aged, so this form of support ceased.On the rear left of the black and white photograph is Royal District Nursing Service (RDNS), Sister E. Anderson, who has short dark curly hair and is wearing her RDNS uniform of a long sleeved grey frock, with a white name badge on the upper left; parts of RDNS insignia are seen on the top section of each sleeve. On the right rear is Mrs. J. Simpson, who has her long dark hair drawn up and is wearing a light grey coloured frock with white lapels, cuffs and a white pocket, all with dark piping. They are both holding baby items and looking at knitted and other donated items which are laying on tables in front of them.Photographers stamp. Quote No. KH 74melbourne district nursing society, melbourne district nursing service, mdns, royal district nursing service, rdns, mdns auxiliaries, rdns auxiliaries, ellen anderson,, j. simpson,

The photograph of the RDNS Clerical staff is taken in the Finance Department at Royal District Nursing Service ( RDNS) Headquarters, 452 St. Kilda Road, MelbourneWhen the Melbourne District Nursing Society (MDNS) was founded in 1885, Mr. L.C. MacKinnon was elected the first Honorary Treasurer followed by Mr. Lush. In 1889, Mrs. Margaret Maine took over the role and held the position several times over the years along with various ladies elected each year from the Committee. Ladies continued to be elected as the Hon. Treasurer when MDNS built the After Care Home and it became the Melbourne District Nursing Society and After Care Home (later Hospital). This continued until the separation of the two Divisions in 1957 with Mrs. F.E. Shillabeer the last Hon. Treasurer. Now, with the District Division becoming Melbourne District Nursing Service, later Royal District Nursing Service (RDNS), A.F. Cameron Esq. J.P. became Hon. Treasurer and held this role until July 1968. As District expanded over the years so did the Finance Department with more Clerical staff employed as required.Black and white photograph showing Mrs Faye Marriett and seven lady Clerical staff who work at Royal District Nursing Service (RDNS). They are in a semi circle in a room. All are wearing their light coloured uniform dresses and dark cardigans.Two are standing to the left with the first, who has short curly dark hair, standing in front of a multi drawer filing cabinet. She is holding a sheet of white paper in her hands while the next lady, with short blonde hair and with her right arm on the cabinet, and with her left leg crossed over her right, is looking down at the piece of paper. To her right the staff member, who has long dark hair is sitting on a stool and has her ankles crossed. She is holding a grey coloured telephone hand piece to her left ear and has a pen in her right hand which is poised on a piece of paper on a table to her right on which stands the telephone, a vase of flowers and a wire "out basket". To the right of this another member, who has long dark hair, is standing behind a lady, with short dark hair, who is using a light coloured typewriter which is sitting on a dark table. The lady, who is standing, is looking down, and has her left hand on an oblong dark card which Mrs. Marriett, who is to her right, is holding in her right hand. Mrs. Marriett has short dark hair and is to the right rear in the photograph. In front of her another member, who has short dark hair, can partially be seen and is standing holding, and looking at, a folder she is showing to the lady in front of her, who has long dark hair, and is sitting on an office chair with her hands on the keys of a light coloured typewriter. The typewriter sits on a dark table top with light side panel table with square metal legs. A patterned carpet can be seen on the floor. Part of a wooden desk is in the front left of the photograph. Part of windows can be seen on either side of the room. Outside the left hand one, part of a fluted column on the building, and trees beyond it, can be seen. Bare trees can be seen outside the right hand window. Photographer stamp. Quote No. KJ 49royal district nursing service, rdns, rdns clerical staff, mrs faye marriett

The photograph was taken in the Board Room of Royal District Nursing Service (RDNS) 452 St. Kilda Road, Melbourne. It was taken after Sister Pat (Paddy) Rowley received her Fellowship of the Australian College of Nursing. The Australian College of Nursing describes the Fellowship as follows: "Fellowship of the Australian College of Nursing (ACN), is a prestigious member status awarded to nurses in recognition of significant professional achievement. Fellowship recognizes the experience and contribution of nurse leaders to ACN and the profession".The regalia worn by Sr. Rowley as a Fellow, is a black gown with the wide trim to the front edges of scarlet satin and the regalia hood of inner white and outer scarlet satin. Sr. Rowley is the Principal Nurse Educator at RDNS.Sister Rowley commenced at Melbourne District Nursing Society (MDNS) in 1956 working as a District Nurse in a large district covering South Melbourne, Albert Park, Middle Park, and suburbs bordering from St. Kilda to Port Melbourne. In 1961 she was asked to be a Control Sister answering the telephones in Headquarters. She left MDNS for a short period, and after being asked to return was accepted, in August 1962 to take the MDNS 2nd Post Basic Course written by Miss Mary Evans; during this time Sr. Rowley wrote a paper on Liaison which led to continuity of care of patients between hospitals and RDNS. Following the course she commenced in Education and rewrote the Post Basic Course. In 1964 Sr. Rowley commenced, on a part time basis, working as a Liaison Officer at the Alfred Hospital. She attended the Teachers College, doing the 12 month course in 6 months, but this course did not have a health component, so she applied, and received, a Florence Nightingale Scholarship to the College of Nursing, gaining her Diploma of Nursing Education in 1968. Following this she became the, now named, Royal District Nursing Service (RDNS), Education Officer. In 1969 Sr. Rowley, with Miss Mary Evans, DON, attended the quadrennial Congress of the International Council of Nurses in Montreal, Canada and then Sr. Rowley visited USA looking at Public Health Nursing Education programs. As well as her RDNS work, Sr. Rowley became Nursing Consultant to the St. John's Ambulance Association in 1970, assisting in planning their Home Nursing Course book. In July 1971 Sister Pat (Paddy) Rowley, was awarded Fellowship of the Australian College of Nursing (ACN). The Australian College of Nursing describes the Fellowship as follows: "Fellowship of the Australian College of Nursing (ACN), is a prestigious member status awarded to nurses in recognition of significant professional achievement. Fellowship recognizes the experience and contribution of nurse leaders to ACN and the profession”. Sr. Rowley was then appointed as Principal Nurse Educator and wrote many of the programs for the Education department. Working as an Educator she travelled to regional hospitals, e.g. in Geelong and Ballarat to give lectures on District Nursing. When the Education Department relocated to 488 St. Kilda Road, she arranged the floor plan of the rooms. Sister Rowley retired from RDNS in 1988 having worked for 26 years in Education and a total of 32 years with the Melbourne, later named Royal, District Nursing Service. . Black and white photograph of a three quarter length view of Royal District Nursing Service (RDNS), Sister Pat (Paddy) Rowley. Sister Rowley, who has her head turned slightly toward the left of the photograph, is wearing dark rimmed glasses and has short dark straight hair. Over her light coloured top, she is wearing a black long open gown with wide trim, and regalia hood of white inner and dark outer satin. Her hands are clasped to the front holding a rolled white certificate held closed with a ribbon and bow. In the background the left edge of a framed landscape painting is seen on the wall. Part of Photographer stamp. Quote No. KJ 57royal district nursing service, rdns, fellowship of the acn, melbourne district nursing service, sister pat (paddy) rowley

The District nurses are leaving from their Melbourne District Nursing Society (MDNS) Nurses Home, which was situated at 39 Victoria Parade, Collingwood. Their MDNS uniform dresses and coats depicted are grey, and a red Maltese cross is attached to the centre of the headband on their grey brimmed hats. The Sisters will visit MDNS patients and provide nursing care to them in their homes.From its founding in 1885 until 1891 the Trained nurses (Nurses) of the Melbourne District Nursing Society (MDNS) worked from their own homes which were located in the vicinity of their areas (districts). In November 1891 MDNS was able to rent a two story terraced house at 66 Cardigan Street, Carlton, at £65 a year, which contained accommodation for three Nurses and one pupil nurse as well as being used as their Headquarters. They left from their Nurses Home each morning and returned at the end of their shift to write up their book work before retiring for the day. Three years later they moved into a larger terraced house at 49 Drummond Street Carlton which was rented at ‘a very moderate rental’. There was a Board room, apartments for the Nurses and pupil nurse, a large dispensary which patients could attend each evening to have prescriptions signed and bottles refilled with ‘homely remedies’ and elixirs, which were administered for e.g. to Consumptive cases. Doctor’s prescriptions were filled at the Pharmacy. Cupboards containing donated blankets and bedclothes for needy patients were kept in this room, and it was here where the Nurses kept their equipment and nursing bags which were refilled at the end of each shift ready for any emergency, and for the next day. A list of Doctors the Nurses could call was kept by the telephone. The home also had a kitchen where nourishing soup was made and distributed twice a week to the needy. Milk was also distributed when needed. In 1902 they moved into rented premises at 188 Leicester Street, Carlton and two years later, in 1904, to premises at 5 Royal Terrace, Nicholson Street, Fitzroy. They remained there for ten years and an Auction of furniture was held before their next move giving an idea of some of the contents: - Carpets, linoleum, walnut and oak sideboards, dining tables, walnut dining suite, Vienna chairs, walnut bedroom suite, cedar wardrobes, chests of drawers, duchess chests, bedsteads and bedding and general furnishings were for sale. In June 1914 at last the Society had sufficient funding to purchase their own terraced premises, ‘Floraston’ 39 Victoria Parade, Collingwood which was their Headquarters and Nurses Home. In 1926 the After-Care Home for recovering patients, (later called After-Care Hospital) was built by the Society next door, at 45 Victoria Parade; the District nurses continued to live at No. 39. In November 1953 the District Nursing Division moved into their new Headquarters and Nurses Home at 452 St. Kilda Road, Melbourne. In 1957 the two divisions legally separated and the District division became the Melbourne District Nursing Service. As District expanded, and now with outlying districts to service, and with a fleet of District cars, their trained nurses (Sisters) lived in their own homes and visited their closest District Centre each morning to collect their work for the day, and returned at the end of their shift to do their administrative work. A small black and white photograph showing a side on view of Matron Lydia Shaw who is smiling. She is standing outside the Nurses Home of the Melbourne District Nursing Society (MDNS), and is wearing a white long sleeved belted uniform dress, white stockings, shoes, and a veil over her short dark hair.. She is standing to the left, outside the front gate of the building watching a group of district nurses about to leave the Home. The group are on a path behind the four trained nurses (Sisters) most visible who are dressed in grey belted long sleeved coats which have lapels. They are wearing grey brimmed hats with a Maltese cross in the centre, flesh coloured stockings and black shoes. The first two Sisters are side by side and have just stepped onto the pavement; the one to the right is smiling and slightly turned toward Matron Shaw. Under their coats, both these Sisters are wearing grey scarves around their necks. There is a square concrete column behind Matron Shaw, and another to the right of the nurses. From the right column three metal vertical fence bars are seen with shrubs behind them. Part of a building and doorway can be seen behind the nurses. A brick wall and path is seen on the far left of the photograph.The date 1934 as well as the name of Matron Shaw, Sister Jones and Sister Tupper were hand written on the back of the photographnurses, matron, uniform, melbourne district nursing society, mdns, nurses home, rdns, royal district nursing service, matron lydia shaw, sister dorothy tupper, sister jones

This photograph shows an RDNS Sister doing Liaison work at a Hospital. She will pass the information given about the babe to the RDNS Domiciliary Infant and Maternal Care (DIMC) Sister who will be visiting the baby and her family in their home. Sr. Schofield is wearing the RDNS winter uniform of a blue/grey skivvie under a V neck tunic style frock made of herringbone winter material.Liaison had occurred between Doctors and the Trained nurses (Nurses) of the Melbourne District Nursing Society (MDNS), from its inception in 1885. This increased when Midwifery was introduced in August 1893 with close liaising with the Women’s Hospital. As District nursing grew it was recognized that closer liaising between many Public Hospitals would be beneficial, for not only the MDNS, later called Royal District Nursing Service (RDNS) Trained nurses (Sisters), but also for the patients and the hospitals. In August 1964 a Liaison Officer commenced at the Alfred Hospital. This soon increased to Liaison Officers working full time at several Public Hospitals. They facilitated the smooth transition from hospital to home for many patients who required ongoing nursing care. Liaison Sisters regularly attended discharge planning meetings, interviewed prospective patients, co-ordinated discharge, and booked the first visit by the visiting RDNS Sister. At the time of a patient’s discharge, the Liaison Sister forwarded information on their diagnosis and instructions regarding the care required at home to the appropriate RDNS Centre, and in turn the attending District Sister wrote a report of progress and any queries to the Hospital Doctor, via the Liaison Sister, at the time the patient was attending outpatients. Any new instructions were then sent back to the District Sister. Liaising also occurred between District Sisters and Doctors when patients were referred by General Practitioners and did not attend a hospital. In August 1893 Melbourne District Nursing Society (MDNS), commenced a Midwifery Service with Nurse Fowler, who was trained in General nursing and Midwifery nursing, being the first Midwife employed. Mothers were assessed for suitability of a home birth or if they required delivery at the Women’s Hospital. The Midwife worked in conjunction with the Doctors at the Women’s Hospital and if a complication arose before or after birth the patient was transferred to their care. Following birth, the Midwife gave Post-Natal care to both the mother and babe commencing with visits twice a day. In 1898 the service ceased due to lack of funds but recommenced in 1906, and in the August 1925 Annual Report the number of MDNS home births was recorded at 478. MDNS built the After-Care Home and a pioneering Anti-Natal Clinic was opened in 1930. The last Ante-Natal clinic was held there in December 1951 and the MDNS Midwifery service ceased in February 1952. In 1964 MDNS commenced a Post-Natal service with General and Midwifery trained MDNS Sisters working from a room on the ground floor in the Footscray Hospital Nurses quarters, and visiting early discharged Footscray Hospital maternity cases at home. Later, as Royal District Nursing Service (RDNS), this service was extended and renamed as Domiciliary Infant and Maternal Care, (DIMC) service operating from most Centres and visiting early discharged, often 24 hours after birth, maternity cases from hospitals to give Post-natal care to the mother and babe. Many of the RDNS Sisters who worked in DIMC also had their triple Infant Welfare Certificate, though double certificate Midwifery trained Sisters also visited. On the left of this black and white photograph is Royal District Nursing Service (RDNS) Sister Margaret Schofield, who has her long dark hair drawn back, and is smiling as she looks down at a baby being held in the arms of a Hospital Sister. Sr. Schofield is wearing a light grey skivvie under a V neck dark tunic style frock. She has a pen in the V of her tunic, and has a watch hanging under the RDNS logo on its left hand side. Her left hand is resting on a white table which has baby scales with a wicker basket on it. To the right, is the Hospital Sister, who is side-on and facing Sr. Schofield. She is wearing dark rimmed glasses; has her long dark hair drawn back and is wearing a dark cardigan over her white uniform. She has her right arm under the baby with her hand on babe's right leg; her left hand is holding the baby's feet. The baby has sparse dark hair and is wearing a white patterned jacket. Part of a dark filing cabinet is on the right of the photograph and behind the Sisters is a large window, then grass, small shrubs and part of a corrugated clad building can be seen beyond.Barry Sutton LP 43royal district nursing service, rdns, rdns dimc, rdns uniform, sister margaret schofield

Sister Snyders is based at RDNS Essendon Centre. She is a trained midwife working in the RDNS Domiciliary Infant and Maternal Care (DIMC), section and is attending a recently born baby in her home to give Post-Natal care. Often mothers and babes came home early from hospital, many after 24 hours of birth, and RDNS Sisters attended for several days to check babies progress, including - colour, feeding regime, weight, take a PKU test and give any advise needed to the mother. They also gave Post-Natal care to the mother. In August 1893 Melbourne District Nursing Society (MDNS), commenced a Midwifery Service with Nurse Fowler, who was trained in General nursing and Midwifery nursing, being the first Midwife employed. Mothers were assessed for suitability of a home birth or if they required delivery at the Women’s Hospital. The Midwife worked in conjunction with the Doctors at the Women’s Hospital and if a complication arose before or after birth the patient was transferred to their care. Following birth, the Midwife gave Post-Natal care to both the mother and babe commencing with visits twice a day. In 1898 the service ceased due to lack of funds but recommenced in 1906, and in the August 1925 Annual Report the number of MDNS home births was recorded at 478. MDNS built the After-Care Home and a pioneering Anti-Natal Clinic was opened in 1930. The last Ante-Natal clinic was held there in December 1951 and the MDNS Midwifery service ceased in February 1952. MDNS established Melbourne's first Family Planning Clinic in 1934. In 1964 MDNS commenced a Post-Natal service with General and Midwifery trained MDNS Sisters working from a room on the ground floor at the Footscray Hospital Nurses quarters, and visiting early discharged Footscray Hospital maternity cases at home. Later, as Royal District Nursing Service (RDNS), this service was extended and renamed as Domiciliary Infant and Maternal Care, (DIMC) service operating from most Centres and visiting early discharged, often 24 hours after birth, maternity cases from hospitals to give Post-natal care to the mother and babe. Many of the RDNS Sisters who carried out DIMC visits also had their Triple i.e. Infant and Child Welfare Certificate, though Midwifery trained nurses also made visits. This black and white photograph shows a close up view of Sister (Sr.) Mary-Ann Snyders from Royal District Nursing Service (RDNS), who is standing and cradling a recently born baby in the crook of her left arm; her supporting arm extends along the babe and her right arm is under babe. Sr. Snyders has short dark hair and is wearing a white gown over her uniform. She is smiling down at the babe, who has dark hair and is wearing a check bib over a white nightdress. To the left, voile curtains are seen over a window and in the background, part of an open patterned curtain is seen.Barry Sutton LW 4royal district nursing service, rdns, rdns dimc, sister mary-ann snyders

'Miss Annie Miller, who had nursed Prince Alfred with Miss Turriff [Haldane, first matron of Alfred Hospital], also joined staff at the Alfred some time before 1876. During her time at the Sydney Infirmary, Annie Miller created something of a stir when, after her experience nursing Prince Alfred, she became selective about which areas of the hospital she would work, only willing to serve in Male Surgical and Accident. She also had been reported to Miss Nightingale by both Lucy Osburn and Haldane Turriff for openly flirting with the Resident Physician, receiving flowers, embroidering slippers, playing with his watch chain and generally becoming the subject of gossip ... Before his departure from the hospital the doctor in question diagnosed Annie Miller as having an [abdominal] aneurism and she went into decline, mainly from the deprivation of his company, it was felt. With the threat of her possibly being returned to England because of ill health, Miller went to Brisbane and Goodna (Queensland), subsequently to Melbourne, where she faded into obscurity. Her aneurism had apparently subsided.' From '5.30, nurse! : the story of the Alfred nurses' by Helen Paterson. History Books: Melbourne, 1996 p. 8 'Annie Miller was Scottish, single and claimed to be 34 years old (in Sydney, she was assumed to be ten years older); Wardroper [Sarah Elizabeth, first superintendent at the Nightingale School of Nursing at St Thomas's Hospital, London] had found her to be a good nurse, but 'proud and peculiarly sensitive'' (Burrows, 2018 p. 33). At the end of 1870 Annie resigned after the three-year term at Sydney Infirmary ended. She was appointed to the position of matron at Brisbane Hospital in February 1871. She resigned within a few months of her appointment after a dispute with the staff surgeon who refused to recognise her and her status. From 'Nurses of Australia : the illustrated history' by Deborah Burrows. NLA Publishing : Canberra, 2018 p. 41 'Annie Miller went from the [Sydney] Infirmary to Brisbane Hospital, she then joined Haldane Turriff at The Alfred Hospital, while Osburn thought that Miller had gone to nurse private patients. The two versions are not incompatible as hospitals hired out nurses to care for wealthier patients in their homes. Schultz records that Miller worked at the Hospital for the Insane at Goodna [Queensland] and died in the Melbourne Benevolent Asylum on 12 March 1907. The Victorian branch of the Australian Nursing Federation owns the book presented to Miller by Florence Nightingale in 1867.' From 'Lucy Osburn, a lady displaced : Florence Nightingale's envoy to Australia' by Judith Godden. Sydney University Press : Sydney, 2006 p. 315 'This betrayal of all that had been said to Tate [Henry, Alfred Hospital Secretary-Manager 1874-1876] was in keeping with Annie Miller's reputation (earned in Sydney) for being unreliable and a trouble-maker. Miss Miller was also an intimate of Miss Turriff's. Annie Miller is said to have had a brief term as matron in Brisbane after her resignation from the Sydney Infirmary in 1870 but the Brisbane Hospital authorities are unable to provide this one way of the other. Lucy Osburn thought that Miss Miller was in private nursing in Melbourne in 1873 and the Vagabond [alias of John Stanley James, Argus journalist] stated positively that she was working for Miss Turriff at the Alfred when he was there in 1876'. From 'The hospital south of the Yarra' by Ann Mitchell. Alfred Hospital : Melbourne, 1977 p. 242 'Annie Miller was appointed matron of the lunatic asylum at Woogaroo (Goodna) in Queensland in 1877, and remained there for ten years. When she left the medical superintendent, in his report for 1888, praised her for the work she had done in the female division of the asylum'. From 'A tapestry of service' by Bartz Schultz. Churchill Livingstone : South Melbourne, 1991 p.222Annie Miller was one of five Nightingale-trained nurses who come to Sydney in 1868 with Lucy Osburn, the newly appointed Superintendent and Chief Female Officer at the Sydney Infirmary. Florence Nightingale gave them all books before they sailed in December of that year. Annie worked in Sydney, Brisbane and Goodna, and in Melbourne. She died in 1907 and is buried at Boroondara cemetery. Annie was a member of the Royal Victorian Trained Nurses' Association. This note was written in Annie's book and this item is in the archive collection of the ANMF Vic Branch Library. The note was written on the front page of a book. We believe the item was donated to the Branch.Hand written note by Florence Nightingale to Annie Miller, upon her departure to Sydney with Lucy Osburn in 1868, written in ink on a blank page at the front of Walter Scott's 'Poetical works' (1866) [The poetical works of Sir Walter Scott]"For Mrs. Miller affectionately offered in remembrance of her own Scotch country by Florence Nightingale London 27 Nov. 1867"nursing history, nursing

An incomplete diary of an Australian nurse serving in France in 1916. The author is unidentified in the document but after extensive research it is concluded that is by Priscilla Wardle, who left Melbourne on 14 April 1915 on RMS Orontes and served with Queen Alexandra's Imperial Military Nursing Service (QAIMNS) in France. A larger portion of her diary is available from the Ballarat Base Hospital Trained Nurses League entries on Victorian Collections. The contents of the diary has been retyped and is in the Word document. The diary shows she was serving at a Casualty Clearing Station (CCS) in Bethune, France in March 1916. She goes on to serve at Wimereux, at the No 8 Stationary hospital. Also possibly at Boulogne. She had a period of rest at Hardelot, a convalescent home for nurses, and also a trip to England and Scotland. She tried to visit the graves of ancestors, such as relatives of 'Grandfather Allan', in the church yard at East Kilbride church. During her nursing experience she mentions being gassed by 'weeping' gas and hearing the sounds of shelling. Also the numbers of operations per month, such as 311 in March 1916. And another day when there were 29 operations in one day. She talks of POWs coming to the hospital. They are treated after the Allied soldiers are looked after. So operations often continued into the night to take care of the Germans. She also mentions removing a piece of shrapnel herself in one operation. She appears to be of a senior rank as she is asked to meet with senior hospital officials and high ranking officers that visit. In particular she mentions a staff surgeon from Admiral Jellicoe's ship the 'Iron Duke'. He visited just after the Battle of Jutland, which was a naval battle fought between Britain's Royal Navy Grand Fleet, under Admiral Sir John Jellicoe, and the Imperial German Navy's High Seas Fleet, under Vice-Admiral Reinhard Scheer, during the First World War (‎31 May – 1 June 1916). Also being visited by Stan Walker (also from Ballarat) and Lt Brough who was ADC to General Legge. It is possible Stan Walker is Lt (later Captain) Edward Stanley Walker. Lt Brough is believed to be Charles Anthony Brough. She also mentions meeting a Lady Gifford and Madam O'Gorman. She mentions travelling with Captain Newton to London in early December 1916 - she calls him Sauchiehall and Sauchie, both could be nicknames. Capt Newton later becomes Sir Wilberforce Newton, who was serving in the Royal Army Medical Corps on the Western Front between 1915 and 1917. His diaries are held in the University of Melbourne archive. He also left Melbourne on the RMS Orontes on 14 April 1915 (source Trove) and would have known the 14 Victorian nurses that went on to serve with QAIMNS. On 11 December 1915 he mentions trying to see a Sister Loughran at the No. 7 Stationary hospital - which was in Boulogne. Sister Loughran was also on the RMS Orontes. When he was ill he mentions receiving a parcel from two other nurses that were on the Orontes and served with QAIMNS (Madge Donnellan and Margaret Donaldson). Other things that indicate it might be Priscilla Wardle is that from Births Deaths and Marriages Victoria (BDM) she was born in Ballarat, her mother's maiden name was Allan, she had a sister Janet that went by the name of Jean who was married at the time mentioned in the diary (BDM and Trove), Priscilla's mother also died during the time of diary and coincides with the diary entry of the 'death of dear mother'. An article in Trove after Priscilla's return to Australia mentions she was in the areas mentioned in the diary. Also that Priscilla went on to be trained as an anaesthetist to help in the surgeries. It matches the comment in the diary that she was involved in many operations and even allowed to perform a bullet extraction. Finally on seeing the diary held by Ballarat Base Hospital Trained Nurses League - it was determined the handwriting matched and this diary is part of the larger diary held there, so is definitely Priscilla Wardle. After the war Priscilla Wardle married Cyril Terrence (Terry) Charles Kirby, an English soldier and they settled in Ballarat and later Melbourne. Terry Kirby became a Legatee in 1929 and transferred to Melbourne Legacy in 1935. He was a well liked, hard working Legatee and worked at Legacy House up to his death in 1967. That is probably how the diary ended up in the building. In May 2021 the pages were returned to descendants of Priscilla so now only electronic copies are in our archive.A valuable first hand account of life as a nurse in World War One. The founders of Legacy all served in World War One and may have known this nurse or been in situations similar to her.Handwritten diary of a nurse from 1916 on 10 pages of notepaper.memoir, world war one, nurse

This black and white photograph shows the front view of the Ovens Benevolent Home with one person sitting on a bench seat against the nearest part of the building and another person walking on the grass. This photo is estimated to have been taken in the early 1900’s when the Ovens Benevolent home would have still been fairly contemporary. According to Woods (p. 121) in the 1860’s the government spent considerable sums to establish several public buildings such as the Benevolent Asylum, the Hospital and Insane Asylum to support those in need of care in the area directly after the Indigo gold rush which had left Beechworth, a fairly remote regional and newly formed township (Gold was first discovered in Beechworth in 1852) with a number of infirm and destitute people in its wake and which due to the support and establishment of these facilities ‘made Beechworth a significant social welfare centre in Victoria’ (Woods, p. 121). Originally named the Benevolent Asylum, the building was renamed as The Ovens Benevolent Asylum in 1935 and again to The Ovens and Murray Home in 1954. The building construction began in 1862 and was unique in its features of Flemish Gothic Revival style which utilised red brick and granite, ‘the main facade is dominated by four curved, Flemish gable ends, […] incorporates paired windows of pointed Gothic form and dark brick diaperwork patterning. The adjacent J. A. Wallace Wing of 1899 was designed by Donald Fiddes as a separate building. Also constructed of red brick, Fiddes adopted a conservative approach, designing a simple domestic scale building with central projecting gable porch and flanking bull nosed verandahs.’ (https://vhd.heritagecouncil.vic.gov.au/places/118). Initially established to provide housing and care for aged, orphaned or widowed members of the population, over time the Ovens Benevolent Home focused more on the age care responsibility which functioned as such up until 2005.The Ovens Benevolent Home is significance due to its association with the early development of Beechworth. It shows the civic, social welfare development that took place in the town after the peak of the gold rush which helps to establish the character of the community being built at the time and their cultural values at play. This photograph also clearly shows the early functioning landscape of that building and its purpose as well as the significant elements of its aesthetic significance and unique and striking architectural forms of the building.Black and white rectangular photograph [copy from slide]Reverse: / 7588 /housing and care, aged care, donald fiddes, ovens benevolent home, flemish gable, brick diaperwork, photograph, black and white photograph, public building, benevolent asylum, indigo gold rush, beechworth, the ovens and murray home

Article about a new hostel wing at the Maldon Hospital and Community Care complex being named 'Jessie Bowe House' after Colonel Ethel Jessie Bowe.Two column article clipping'1995' [on back]ethel jessie bowe, royal australian army nursing corps, raans

Denis Gibbons (1937 – 2011) Trained with the Australian Army, before travelling to Vietnam in January 1966, Denis stayed with the 1st Australian Task Force in Nui Dat working as a photographer. For almost five years Gibbons toured with nine Australian infantry battalions, posting compelling war images from within many combat zones before being flown out in late November 1970 after sustaining injuries. The images held within the National Vietnam Veterans Museum make up the Gibbons Collection. A black and white photograph taken at the 1st Australian Field Hospital, Vung Tau,South Vietnam. A dentist treats a Vietnamese woman who was an employee of the Australian Logistic Support Base where the hospital was located.photograph, 1st australian field hospital, vung tau, dentists, vietnamese women, australian logistic support base, gibbons collection catalogue, denis gibbons, photographer, vietnam war

This book by Ian Shaw is about the Australian nurses who were evacuated from Singapore after it fell to the Japanese in 1942 and their subsequent fates. Two of the nurses, Wilma Oram and Mona Wilton trained at the Warrnambool Hospital. Wilma Oram survived the war but Mona Wilton, born in Willaura near Warrnambool, was killed when the ship ‘Vyner Brooke’ was sunk by the Japanese in 1942. Mona Wilton was a member of the Australian Army Nursing Service and had been part of the 13th Australian General Hospital unit in Singapore. A Mona Wilton memorial window is now in the Warrnambool Hospital (South West Health Care). This book is of interest as it contains the stories of those Australian nurses who served and died in World War Two after the fall of Singapore in 1942 and in particular it has the stories of those nurses who trained at the Warrnambool Hospital before the advent of war. The story of Mona Winton’s war experiences and her death is of special significance as she was born in the Warrnambool district. This is a soft cover book of 370 pages. The cover has a colour photograph of three nurses on the front and printing on the back. The book contains a prologue, three sections of text, a postscript, a bibliography and an index. A middle section contains several black and white photographs. mona wilton, world war two nurse, world war two, warrnambool

Denis Gibbons (1937 – 2011) Trained with the Australian Army, before travelling to Vietnam in January 1966, Denis stayed with the 1st Australian Task Force in Nui Dat working as a photographer. For almost five years Gibbons toured with nine Australian infantry battalions, posting compelling war images from within many combat zones before being flown out in late November 1970 after sustaining injuries. The images held within the National Vietnam Veterans Museum make up the Gibbons Collection. A black and white photograph taken at the 1st Australian Field Hospital, Vung Tau, South Vietnam. Here, the physiotherapist Lt Sue Wooley treats a patient in the physio hut where the hospital ensured the sick and wounded diggers received the best of care.photograph, 1st australian field hospital, nui dat, physiotherapy, lt sue wooley, gibbons collection catalogue, denis gibbons, photographer, vietnam war, diggers, wounded serviceman

Item engraved with MCH (Margaret Coles maternity wing at the Alfred Hospital). MCH opened in 1943. "This maternity wing, which has been named after Mrs Coles, wife of Mr G. J. Coles, who gave more than £35,000 toward it." "The hospital's Margaret Coles House delivered maternity services from 1943-1984."An item that was used in MCH which is no longer in existence. Triangular with three bars of equal size with diamond shaped engraved crest 1st/ Floor/ M.C.H. / Hexagram star shaped emblem/ scroll inscribedmch, ahnl, alfred hospital, alfred hospital nurses league, melbourne hospitals, margaret coles, maternity care, obstetrics, midwifery

Denis Gibbons (1937 – 2011) Trained with the Australian Army, before travelling to Vietnam in January 1966, Denis stayed with the 1st Australian Task Force in Nui Dat working as a photographer. For almost five years Gibbons toured with nine Australian infantry battalions, posting compelling war images from within many combat zones before being flown out in late November 1970 after sustaining injuries. The images held within the National Vietnam Veterans Museum make up the Gibbons Collection. A black and white photograph of Long Xuyen, IV Corps, South Vietnam 1969. Children suffering schrapnel wounds are nursed anything up to four to a bed in Long Xuyen Hospital, under the care of an Australian Civilian Surgical Teamphotograph, long xuyen hospital, australian civilian surgical team, gibbons collection catalogue, iv corps, vietnamese children, wounded children, denis gibbons

Denis Gibbons (1937 – 2011) Trained with the Australian Army, before travelling to Vietnam in January 1966, Denis stayed with the 1st Australian Task Force in Nui Dat working as a photographer. For almost five years Gibbons toured with nine Australian infantry battalions, posting compelling war images from within many combat zones before being flown out in late November 1970 after sustaining injuries. The images held within the National Vietnam Veterans Museum make up the Gibbons Collection. A black and white photograph at the 1st Australian Field Hospital, Vung Tau, South Vietnam, Army personnel, including the CO of the hospital hand Medivac Diggers to the care of RAAF personnel for the flight home. On the left of the photo is Maj Nel Espie and Red Cross girl Carmel O'Shea.photograph, 1st australian field hospital, vung tau, medivac, digger, raaf, maj nell espie (matron), red cross, carmel o'shea, gibbons collection catalogue, denis gibbons