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

Sister Coates is working as a RDNS Liaison Officer in a Hospital and is sharing information with the Occupational Health Sister.Liaison had occurred between doctors and the Trained 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 MDNS, later called Royal District Nursing Service (RDNS), Trained nursing staff, 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. 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 field staff and Doctors when patients were referred by General Practitioners and did not attend a hospital.Black and white photograph of Sister Moira Coates, Royal District Nursing Service, (RDNS), Liaison Sister who is standing side on in the left foreground of the photograph. She has dark short hair, and is wearing her grey short sleeved uniform with an RDNS cloth badge at the top of her right sleeve, and her grey peaked uniform hat. She is in a Hospital and is holding an open leaflet in her left hand which she is showing to an Occupational Health Sister who is on her right, and is wearing her white uniform and white veil. Part of a trolley, with equipment on the top and bottom shelf, can be seen in the background on the right hand side. Closed Venetian blinds are seen in the background on the left hand side of the photograph.Photographers stamp and 'Quote No. GH 8'rdns, royal district nursing service, rdns liaison, sister moira coates

This photograph was taken just a few years after the District division of the 'Melbourne District Nursing Society and After Care Hospital' separated in 1957. The District Division then became known as 'Melbourne District Nursing Service'. They moved into their Headquarters at 452 St. Kilda Road, Melbourne which was used as the Nurses Home as well as for Administrative purposes. The Sisters left from there each day to do their rounds and returned to do their book work before retiring at the end of the day. This photograph depicts the winter uniform worn at this time; a grey felt beret which had a red Maltese cross attached in the centre; a grey cotton frock and red cardigan, and a grey woolen coat, some with a grey belt, worn over their uniform.In 1885, 50 years after Melbourne was founded, it was recognized that nursing care was needed for the sick poor in inner Melbourne. The Melbourne District Nursing Society (MDNS), the first Society of its kind in Australia, was founded in February 1885 with one Trained nurse (Nurse), and a second employed six months later, working in the now CBD ie. from Spencer Street to Spring Street and from Victoria Parade to Flinders Street. From its inception the Society was at the forefront of health care. They provided high quality trained nursing care; educated their patients in the curing and prevention of disease; teaching the importance of cleanliness and good nutrition, both by verbal instruction and demonstration, even supplying soup and milk when needed. At that time they walked the streets and lane ways amid the slums of inner Melbourne carrying their nursing bag containing lotion and dressings, and supplying equipment on loan, such as feeding mugs, bedpans, air-cushions, splints, bed cradles feeding mugs and providing clean bed linen and nightdresses as necessary. Trained midwives began home births in August 1893 taking midwifery bundles and providing clothes for the babe and mother as needed. The Society were pioneers in recognizing the need for premises where patients too ill to be in their own home, but not ill enough to go to hospital, was needed, and the Society built, then opened, the After-Care Home, (later called After-Care Hospital), in 1926, for their patients, and patients from Hospitals. Many children were nursed there, some long term during the Polio epidemic; the Society employed two School Teachers. The Society now ran two divisions, the After-Care with its own Trained nurses (Sisters) and nurses and the District division. The Society were the first in Melbourne, in early 1928, to recognize some patients leaving the After-Care, and many at home, needed further social care and they set up ‘Almoners’ from their Committee to visit these patients and be intermediaries in getting them social assistance. It was late the following year before the first training of Almoners took place in Melbourne. In 1930 the Society employed a full time kindergarten teacher to visit poor children in their homes. That year the Society were pioneers in opening an Ante-Natal Clinic at the After-Care, setting a high standard with equipment, keeping records and providing leaflets with instructions in how to keep healthy during pregnancy, what complications to look for and what to do when labour commenced. In 1934 the Society were pioneers again when they opened the first Women’s Welfare Clinic in Melbourne giving advice on birth-control, at first attended by their own patients, but then accepting patients from public hospitals until their own clinics were opened. A Social Service Officer was employed at the After-Care who successfully gained better housing from the Housing Commission for families living under unsuitable conditions. In 1957 the Hospital and Charities Commission decided to take over the After-Care Hospital, so the 'Melbourne District Nursing Society and After-Care Hospital' separated and the 'Melbourne District Nursing Service' was formed, setting up Headquarters at 452 St. Kilda Road. Royal patronage was granted in 1966, now becoming the Royal District Nursing Service, (RDNS). Liaison with public hospitals began with a District nurse attached to a hospital visiting patients before going home. Education continued to be at the forefront of District with research by RDNS Educators and programs being implemented. Initial visits not only assessed the specific nursing situation but the situation as a whole. Their patients ranged in age from babes, children, adults to the elderly and referrals were taken from Hospitals, General Practitioners and allied Health facilities. Some of the care the Sisters provided is as follows: – Post-Natal care given to mother and babe, Wound Care following various types of surgery, accidents, burns, cancer, leg ulcers etc. Supervising and teaching Diabetic Care, including teaching and supervising people with Diabetes to administer their own Insulin, and administering Insulin to those unable to give their own injections. Administering other injections and setting up weekly medication boxes. The Sisters performed Catheterizations on adults suffering from conditions such as Quadriplegia, Paraplegia, Multiple Sclerosis (MS), Motor Neurone Disease (MND) and Guillan-Barre Syndrome, and when required at school on children for e.g. those with Spina Bifida. The Sisters visited those requiring Cystic Fibrosis support and care; those requiring Haemo-Oncology care, including visiting children at school; those requiring Home Enteral Feeding care, and those requiring IV therapy at home and home Dialysis. Palliative Care was given including pain relief with the use of syringe drivers, personal care as needed, and advice and support to both patient and family. The Sisters provided Stoma management to those needing Urostomy, Ileostomy and Colostomy care and those requiring Continence care. HIV/AIDS nursing care was provided; visits to Homeless Persons were made. Personal care was given to patients ranging in age and with varying mobility problems, such as Amputees, those with MS, MND, Guillan-Barre Syndrome, Poliomyelitis, Quadriplegia, Paraplegia, Acquired Brain Injury, to those following a Cerebrovascular Accident (Stroke), those with severe Arthritis and those with a form of Dementia. When necessary the elderly were assisted with personal care and advice given on safety factors with the use of hand rails, bath or shower seats, and hand showers. Rehabilitation with an aim towards independence remained at the forefront of the Sister’s minds and when possible using aids and instruction on safe techniques enabled the person to become fully independent. All care included giving advice and support to the patient and their Carers. The Sisters liaised with the persons Doctor, Hospital and allied Health personal when necessary.Black and White photograph of seven (some partly hidden) Melbourne District Nursing Service (MDNS) Sisters wearing full winter uniform of grey berets and grey long coats, with lapels, over their uniform which is partly seen on one Sister. Some are on a path, and others walking to the open metal gate; one Sister is between two tall, square, dark grey concrete columns. Looking at the photograph, two Sisters have turned left onto the footpath. These two Sisters are carrying oblong leather type bags in their left hand and the Sister between the columns is carrying a white soft material type bag. The Sisters seen have short dark hair under their berets. White plaques with the black numbers '452' are attached to the top 1/3 of each column and an arched grey concrete fence with brick top runs to the left. Behind this are two medium size leafless trees. A metal spiked fence runs from the column to the right of the photograph. Attached to this, near the column, is a white plaque with 'Melbourne District Nursing Service Headquarters' written in black. In the rear is a light grey two story Italian style building with a polygon shaped bay window to the left on the ground floor. It has a long window in the front and another on the side. To the right of this is a veranda with two concrete arches, separated by a roman column. A door can be seen behind the first arch. Above the bay window on the second story are three long arched windows, and to the right of that an arched opening with a roman column separating the partially seen next window. A concrete balustrade is seen at the front of the second story.melbourne district nursing service, headquarters, mdns, nurses, nurses uniforms, royal district nursing service, rdns

Sister Gibbs is liaising with Dr. Gibbs to discuss his patients who are attended by RDNS.Liaison had occurred between doctors and the Trained 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), 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. 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 field staff and Doctors when patients were referred by General Practitioners and did not attend a hospital.On the left of this black and white photograph is Sister Melanie Gibbs of the Royal District Nursing Service (RDNS). To her right is Dr. L.B. Witts who is wearing glasses; has short dark hair and is wearing a grey suit, white shirt and dark tie; he has a stethoscope around his neck with the end on his lap. He is sitting 'side on' at the end of a low cabinet with three drawers seen.and is turned toward Sister Gibbs. His right arm and hand are resting on an open book on the top of the cabinet. Sr. Gibbs, who has dark curled hair, is wearing her grey RDNS uniform coat with the RDNS insignia on the upper sleeve, and peaked hat. She is seated 'side on' in the photograph facing Dr. Witts. Her dark leather rectangular shaped case, with RDNS written in the top third, is resting on Dr. Witts' low cabinet. On the left in the background sit a set of four light grey metal drawers above a set of dark drawers and part of an open Venetian blind over a window is to the right.Photographer's Stamp. Quote No. HN 47melbourne district nursing society, mdns, royal district nursing service, rdns, patient care, rdns liaison, sister melanie gibbs, dr l.b. witts

This photograph is taken in a Hospital. RDNS Liaison Officer, Sister Pat Holdsworth is giving the hospital patient, who was to be seen by RDNS District staff on his discharge, a leaflet explaining what to expect at the time of the first RDNS visit. Sr. Hodsworth is wearing the RDNS summer uniform of that era, which was a white blouse worn under a royal blue V neck tunic style frock with the RDNS insignia emblazoned on the upper left.Liaison had occurred between doctors and the nurses of the Melbourne District Nursing Society (MDNS), from its inception in 1885. This increased when Midwifery was introduced in 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), nursing staff, 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. 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 field staff and Doctors when patients were referred by General Practitioners and did not attend a hospital.Standing on the left of the black and white photograph is a Hospital Sister, with her dark hair drawn up, and wearing her white uniform and white cap, To her right is Royal District Nursing Service (RDNS), Sister Pat Holdsworth, who has short wavy hair; is wearing glasses, and wearing a V neck tunic style frock over a short sleeve white blouse.. She is holding a paper in her left hand which is extended over the side rail on a patient's bed. Her right arm is also extended over the bed rail and she is pointing out information on the paper to the gentleman patient who is sitting up in bed. The man has blonde shoulder length hair and is wearing a light coloured long sleeve striped gown.. His hands are resting on the white bed covers and his left wrist is bandaged. The bed has bed rails attached on each side. Another hospital staff member, a lady with dark hair who is wearing a white hospital style coat, is on the right hand side of the bed with her arms resting on the right hand bed rail..melbourne district nursing society, mdns, royal district nursing service, rdns, rdns liaison, melbourne district nursing service, sister pat holdsworth

The photograph is taken in a Hospital Physiotherapy Department. Anne Radford is the Physiotherapist at the Hospital and is teaching RDNS Liaison, Sister Short, the transfer technique required when transferring a patient who will be discharged home. This knowledge will be given to the RDNS Sister who will be attending to the patient in her home when she is discharged.Liaison had occurred between Doctors and the Trained nurses of the Melbourne District Nursing Society (MDNS), from its inception in 1885. This increased when Midwifery was introduced in 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), nursing staff, 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 clients that required ongoing nursing care. Liaison Sisters regularly attended discharge planning meetings, interviewed prospective clients, co-ordinated discharge and booked the first visit by the visiting RDNS staff. 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 in the field and Doctors when patients were referred by General Practitioners and did not attend a hospital. RDNS also held Physiotherapy workshops for staff teaching safe transferring techniques. The Physiotherapist would visit the home of a patient with the attending Sister when required.On the left of the black and white photograph is Royal District Nursing Service (RDNS), Liaison, Sister Margaret Short, and to her right is hospital Physiotherapist, Anne Radford, who is smiling at the patient. She has short dark hair and is wearing a white hospital coat. She is kneeling on a physiotherapy table behind, and assisting, a young patient to transfer. Sister Short, who has short dark hair and is wearing her RDNS, grey short sleeve uniform with the RDNS insignia seen at the top of the sleeve, and her grey peaked hat, is slightly bent over the physiotherapy table with her arms under the legs of the young patient.. The Physiotherapist has her hands under the patient's armpits. The patient, who has dark short hair and is wearing a long sleeve white top and check slacks, has her forearms through a transfer ring which is hanging from a thick rope. Her buttocks are just touching the dark covered physiotherapy table and the Sister is supporting her legs which are slightly raised off the table.. A row of crutches can be seen in the left rear of the photograph and a bar with some equipment hanging on it can be seen on the right rear behind the physiotherapy table..Photographer stamp. Handwritten information.royal district nursing service, rdns, rdns liaison, rdns uniform, sister margaret short, ms anne radford

Sister Short is writing down information being given by patient Sue Rowley who will be discharged from the Hospital. It will be phoned through to the appropriate RDNS Centre where it is recorded by the Clerical staff and passed to the RDNS Sister who will visit Sue on her discharge. Liaison had occurred between Doctors and the Trained nurses of the Melbourne District Nursing Society (MDNS), from its inception in 1885. This increased when Midwifery was introduced in 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), nursing staff, 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 clients, co-ordinated discharge and booked the first visit by the visiting RDNS staff. 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 in the field and Doctors when patients were referred by General Practitioners and did not attend a hospital. A Physiotherapist worked under contract to teach transfer techniques to RDNS Sisters before RDNS employed there own Physiotherapist who taught staff the correct techniques, not only for safety of the patient, but to reduce physical strain on RDNS nursing staff and patient’s family members. The Physiotherapist made home visits with the attending RDNS Sister when required.Standing to the left of the black and white photograph is hospital Physiotherapist, Anne Radford, who has short dark hair and is wearing a white coat. She is side on and has her hands placed on the upper and lower right arm of Sue Rowley, who is sitting in a wheelchair. Sue has short dark hair and is wearing a neck brace and her left hand is holding a pulley rope. She is wearing a white top under a dark jacket and light coloured slacks. To her right is Royal District Nursing Service (RDNS), Liaison Sister, Margaret Short who is facing Sue. She has her left hand extended supporting an open book and has a pen in her right hand which is poised on a page in the book. Sister Short is wearing her RDNS grey short sleeve uniform dress and grey peaked hat over her short dark hair. The RDNS insignia is seen on the top of her left sleeve. Behind the wheelchair are some wooden bars, two upright and two vertical, which are attached to a brick wall, the pulley rope is through a wheel attached to the right hand upright. The brick wall joins another which has part of a window visible. Behind the Sister and wheelchair are four shelves attached to this brick wall. Several round weights are on the shelves.Photographer stamp. Hand written informationroyal district nursing service, rdns, rdns liaison, rdns uniform, ms sue rowley, physiotherapist anne radford, sister margaret short

This photograph is taken in one of Melbourne's Public Hospitals. The Liaison Sister is learning the transfer technique required to transfer Julianne. She will then relay this information to the appropriate RDNS Centre where it will be passed to the Sister who will be visiting Julianne and attending to her care when she is discharged from hospital.Liaison had occurred between Doctors and the Trained nurses of the Melbourne District Nursing Society (MDNS), from its inception in 1885. This increased when Midwifery was introduced in 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), nursing staff, 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 clients that required ongoing nursing care. Liaison Sisters regularly attended discharge planning meetings, interviewed prospective clients, co-ordinated discharge and booked the first visit by the visiting RDNS staff. 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 in the field and Doctors when patients were referred by General Practitioners and did not attend a hospital. From the founding of the Melbourne District Nursing Society (MDNS) in 1885, known as Royal District Nursing Service (RDNS) from 1966, the rehabilitation of patients to insure they were able to live independently in their own homes was at the forefront of care given by their Trained nurses (Sisters). As well as teaching and supervising the use of equipment, the Sisters taught them safe transfer techniques. These techniques were also taught to family members to enable them to care for their loved ones. RDNS at first contracted, and then in then employed a Physiotherapist who taught staff the correct techniques, not only for safety of the patient, but to reduce physical strain on RDNS nursing staff and patient’s family members. When required the Physiotherapist accompanied the Sister on her visit to the patient in their home.On the left of this black and white photograph is Royal District Nursing Service (RDNS), Liaison Sister, who has short dark hair and is wearing her RDNS grey uniform dress, in a bent position over a bed with her arms extended and under the legs of, and assisting, hospital patient, Julianne Goney as she is transferring from her bed into a wheelchair. Julianne, who has her long hair drawn up and is wearing light coloured slacks and top with a chain and locket hanging down it, has her right arm extended and her hand gripping a triangular monkey bar; her left hand is extended reaching the far arm of the wheelchair. Dr. R. Bartlett, who has short dark hair and is wearing a white coat, is behind and to the right of Julianne.with his left arm bent and his hand under her armpit assisting her to transfer. Julianne's buttocks and the heels of her shoes are just touching the light coloured coverings on the white metal frame bed. Part of a wall and two windows are to the left of the RDNS Sister. Part of a white locker with a bowl and apple on it, is seen behind the doctor and part of a privacy curtain is seen to the right of the photograph.Photographer Stamp Handwritten informationroyal district nursing service, rdns, rdns liaison, rdns uniform, ms julianne goney, doctor r. bartlett

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

Sister Barbara Watson is an RDNS Liaison Officer and is meeting with Hospital staff and a patient in a Ward at the Alfred Hospital before the patient is discharged home where he will receive the nursing care required from a visiting RDNS Sister. Sr. Watson is wearing her RDNS winter uniform, which is a blue/grey skivvie worn under a V neck tunic style frock made of herringbone blue/grey 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, coordinated discharge and booked the first visit by the visiting RDNS District 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.Black and white photograph showing Royal District Nursing Service, RDNS, Sister (Sr.) Barbara Watson who is standing with hospital staff and with a patient who is resting in a hospital bed. On the left foreground of the photograph is Sr. Watson, who has blonde shoulder length curled hair and is wearing her RDNS uniform of a light grey skivvie worn under a darker grey V neck tunic style frock. She has her head turned to the left looking at the patient. Next right stands a Doctor, who is wearing glasses and has short dark hair. He is wearing his hospital white coat over his clothes and has his arms folded across his chest. Next right is another Doctor who is at the head of the hospital bed; He has short dark hair and is wearing his white hospital coat over a grey shirt. black tie and dark grey pants. They are all smiling at an elderly man who is sitting up in the bed resting against a white pillow and looking toward them. He is wearing glasses; has short dark sparse hair and is wearing a dark coloured pyjama coat with some white piping, and a white handkerchief in the pocket. He is looking at the three and has his hands clasped on top of the bedclothes. The hospital bed has a white iron frame and an 'over bed table' is at its foot and in the foreground of the photograph. On the right of the bed is a hospital Sister, who has short dark hair; is wearing glasses and wearing her white uniform dress and cap. She is smiling as she looks toward the patient and Doctors. A hospital curtain is against the wall behind her. Part of a window and curtain are seen on the far left of the photograph.Photographer stamp. Quote No. LA 6 Name of hospital and RDNS liaison sister.melbourne district nursing society, mdns, royal district nursing service, rdns, rdns liaison, sister barbara watson

This photograph shows Royal District Nursing Service (RDNS) Sister (Sr.) Moira Coates doing Liaison work at St. Vincent's Hospital in Melbourne. Miss C. Healy is St. Vincent's Home Care Supervisor and she and Sr. Coates are discussing plans with Miss E. Monks for the future care she requires following her discharge from hospital. Sr. Coates is wearing the RDNS uniform of a royal blue dress with white piping around the peaks of the collar. An RDNS logo is on its upper left. She is wearing a darker blue jacket.Liaison had occurred between Doctors and the 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 the left foreground of this black and white photograph is Miss C. Healy who has collar length dark hair and is wearing a hospital uniform dark cardigan over a white blouse and dark skirt. She is sitting on a kitchen style chair and has an open folder; a pen in her right hand is poised over a white sheet of paper. She is smiling and looking to her left at Miss E. Monks who is resting in a bed in front of her. Standing to her right, and at the head of the bed, is RDNS Sister Moira Coates who has short dark hair. and is wearing a dark jacket over a dark colour dress with white piping on the collar peaks. Her identity card is clipped on the right hand pocket. She is smiling at Miss Monks and has her left hand on an RDNS leaflet which Miss Monks is holding. To her right is Miss Monk who has short dark hair and wearing a light coloured nightdress. She sitting up supported against pillows on a hospital bed which has the top section raised. She is looking at the RDNS folded leaflet; two photographs and writing can be seen on the front cover. White bedclothes cover most of Miss Monks body. Drawn curtains are seen in the left rear of the photograph and some switches and a name card are seen behind the bed. Barry Sutton. LJ93 and namesrdns, royal district nursing service, rdns liaison, rdns uniform, sister moira coates, miss c. healy, miss e. monks

This photograph is taken in a Hospital ward and shows a meeting between a patient, an RDNS Liaison Sister; and the Hospital staff, L-R, a Doctor, a Physiotherapist, a Social Worker and an Occupational Therapist. The group are discussing with the patient the ongoing care she will require when shes goes home. The Sister. has an RDNS information leaflet open in her hands which will be given to the lady. From those present, the Sister is ready to write, on the clipboard, any information required to be passed to the RDNS District Sister to carry out the nursing care needed when the lady goes home. The Sister is wearing the RDNS winter uniform of a light blue.grey skivvie under a darker blue/grey V neck tunic style dress made from 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 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, coordinated 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.On the left of this black and white photograph is a Royal District Nursing Service (RDNS) Sister who is seated and has her curly dark hair head, turned to her left looking at a lady who is resting in a hospital bed. The Sister, who is wearing a light grey skivvie under a darker V neck tunic style dress, is holding an open folded page with typed writing seen, in her hands; a pen is sitting between the fingers of her right hand and a clipboard is on the bed. The elderly lady, to her right, is sitting propped up against white pillows on her hospital bed and is looking, and smiling, at the Sister. She is wearing glasses; has curly grey hair; and is wearing a light coloured nightdress. The light coloured bedclothes cover most of her body. On the right of the bed, and from its head down, L-R is:a man who is standing; he has short dark hair and is wearing a leather type jacket over a dark skivvie and plaid trousers. Next, sitting, is a lady who has short slightly waved dark hair; she is wearing a grey round neck sleeveless frock over a light coloured long sleeve blouse. Next, seated, is a male who has short dark hair and a short dark beard.He is wearing a dark grey suit jacket over a light grey shirt and patterned tie. Next, on the far right, standing, is a lady who has curly dark hair and is wearing a hospital white coat over a light coloured skivvie. A Hydronic heater is attached to the lower part of the wall behind the bed and a monkey bar is attached to the centre of the bed. Some flowers are also seen behind the bed and a drawn curtain is behind the staff on the right hand side of the photograph.Barry Sutton LO12royal district nursing service, rdns uniform, rdns liaison

Sister Watt is an RDNS Liaison Sister and has arrived at the Community Care Centre at Southern Memorial Hospital where she works. She attends discharge meetings and visits patients who will need nursing care from RDNS when they go home. Sr. Watt is wearing the RDNS winter uniform of a blue/grey skivvie under a blue/grey V neck tunic style dress made of herringbone winter material. The RDNS logo on the car is a royal blue edged circle with the words "Royal District Nursing Service" written in white capital letters around it. The centre of the circle is divided in three with the upper and lower sections white, and the centre section royal blue with white capital letters "RDNS".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.On the left of this black and white photograph is Royal District Nursing Service (RDNS) Sister (Sr.) Helen Watt, who has short dark wavy hair; is smiling and is looking towards the camera. She is standing with her left hand on the bottom edge of a large white sign with a black border and capital letters. It reads, in four lines, "Community Care Centre/, Southern Memorial Hospital/, 240 Kooyong Road/, Caulfield/." Sr. Watt is wearing a light grey skivvie and a darker grey V neck tunic style frock. Her right hand is holding the solid horseshoe style handle on top of a black leather bag with the light colored letters "RDNS" in the upper centre. The sign is held up with white round poles either side. These are placed in a garden bed with low foliage and a rock border. Directly behind Sr. Watt is a grey Torana car with the RDNS logo on the upper section of the door. In the left background, behind the car, is a wooden fence and behind that a brick building with a tiled roof and a large window. In the right background, behind the sign, Is part of a brick building with part of a doorway. It has a flat roof.Barry Sutton LO 28royal district nursing service, rdns, rdns liaison, rdns uniform, sister helen watt

Sister Watt is an RDNS Liaison Officer and has assisted a hospital employee to transfer a patient into a car. The lady will be attended by RDNS District Sisters when she returns to her home.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.On the left of this black and white photograph is the side-on view of a lady who has short curled hair and is wearing a white hospital coat over a dark skivvie and dark slacks. She is standing against the inside of the open passenger door of a grey car and is holding the removed arm of a wheelchair in her hands. She is looking down at a lady who is sitting in the passenger seat of the car. The lady, who has short curly dark hair, has her head turned to her left and is smiling. She is wearing a grey and black patterned frock. A wheelchair is in front of the opening of the door with the seat, which has a sheepskin on it, close to the car seat and the back of the chair to its right. Sister Helen Watt of the Royal District Nursing Service (RDNS) is standing side-on behind the chair and is holding its handles; her legs are placed between its large wheels. Sr. Watt has curled dark hair and is wearing a light grey skivvie over a darker grey V neck tunic style frock. Only a small section of her face can be seen; she is smiling and looking down at the lady. In the background, part of a brick building with a white framed, open curtained window can be seen. Barry Sutton LO 34royal district nursing service, rdns, rdns liaison, sister helen watt

This group and RDNS Sisters are at a meeting at Fawkner Park Community Centre and are listening to the lady on the left who is pointing out information to them.. 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 and Community Centres would be beneficial, for not only the MDNS, later called Royal District Nursing Service (RDNS) Trained nurses (Sisters), but also for the patients of RDNS 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. District Sisters also liaised with personnel attached to Community Centres.This black and white photograph is of a group of two men and five ladies, three of whom are Royal District Nursing (RDNS), Sisters, sitting at a large dark wooden table which has an open folder and papers with diagrams or information on them, Notepads and pens sit in front of several. L-R is a partly hidden man who has short dark hair; wears glasses, a dark suit over a white shirt and dark tie. His left hand is up to his face. Next is another man with short dark hair who wears glasses; has a grey suit, white shirt and patterned tie. His right hand is up to his face. Next is a lady with short curled hair who is wearing a dark patterned and white edged vest over a round neck grey jumper. She is looking at, and holding a pen in her right hand poised over, a sheet of paper with columns and writing on it. Next is an RDNS Sister with collar length dark curled hair, who has her left hand up to the side of her face. Then an RDNS Sister with short straight hair. Next is a lady with her dark hair drawn back and wearing a white jumper; she has her hands up to her chin. Next, and far right, is an RDNS Sister, who has short straight blonde hair and has a pen in her right hand. Her left hand, with a dark watch at the wrist, is up to the side of her face. The group are all looking at the columned information sheet which the lady on the left is pointing out with her pen. The RDNS Sisters are wearing light grey skivvies under dark grey V neck tunic style frocks.Barry Sutton LO 40royal district nursing service, rdns, rdns liaison, rdns uniform

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

non-fictionUNA, the journal of the Victorian Trained Nurses Association (1903-1974). Media images: UNA Nursing Journal Vol. 74 No. 4 July-August 1976. Members have often asked where the name UNA originated. On this final issue, that question is answered UNA Nursing Journal Vol. 74 No. 2 March-April 1976. RANF (Vic Branch) Specialised Area Nurses - Special Interest Group: four members of the committee at the Burns Study day held at Repatriation General Hospital, Heidelberg on Wednesday 11th February. Left to right: Robyn Millership, Chairman; Judy Aiello, Vice Chairman; Diane Blair; Margaret Farnfield, Hon. Secretary UNA Nursing Journal : Journal of the Royal Victorian College of Nursing Vol. 67 September 1969. Cover picture: Miss Judith Watts is featured on the cover as the graduate of St. Vincent's Maternity Hospital who gained the highest marks in the Midwifery examination in September, 1969 UNA : Journal of the Royal Victorian College of Nursing Vol. 42 No. 9 September 1944. Group of nurses leaving the University after the theoretical examination of the Nurses' Board UNA : The Journal of the Royal Victorian College of Nursing Vol. 38 No. 1 January 1940. Women's Hospital Melbourne UNA : The Journal of the Royal Victorian College of Nursing Vol. 37 No. 12 December 1939. The caravan comes to the Mallee UNA : The Journal of the Royal Victorian Trained Nurses' Association Vol. 18 No. 5 July 1920. Council intelligence; personal; the Alfred Hospital Nurses' League UNA : The Journal of the Royal Victorian Trained Nurses' Association Vol. 11 No. 4 June 1913. List of members UNA : The Journal of the Royal Victorian Trained Nurses' Association Vol. 3 No. 11 January 1906. Hospital news: Queen Victoria Hospital; Women's Hospital; Kyneton Hospital; Maldon Hospital; Maryborough Hospital; Ovens District Hospital; Warrnambool Hospital. Christmas, 1905, amongst a few of the district nurses' patientsnursing history, nursing, nursing education, nursing professional standards, nurses - labour unions - victoria, labour unions, history of nursing, australian trained nurses' association, nursing periodicals, royal victorian college of nursing, royal australian nursing federation, australian nursing federation. victorian branch, anmf, anf, ranf, rvcn, vtna, atna, rvtna

Phosphatine Falieres was invented by pharmacist Émile Falières in the 1880s and marketed as a fortifying cereal or "farine" [flour] for infants, enriched with calcium. Said to be easily mixed and easily digestible, the cereal was added to an infant’s milk. It was made in Australia and distributed by a number of pharmaceutical companies, in the 1950s by Joubert & Joubert. The Phosphatine Falieres company advertised extensively, marketing to doctors, nurses, and mothers always using pictures of rosy-cheeked children. Falières created charming three-dimensional chromolithography pop-up/pop-out/moveable images many of which had a little tab. When the tab was pulled, these colourful sales props showed happy and healthy children opening a tureen of food that was fortified with Falieres cereal. The collection of Nurse Florence Green RWHA_2018_069 contains one such item of ephemera. Green was a graduate of the Women’s Hospital’s midwifery nurse training scheme in 1914. She lived at Hawthorn. The container is a cardboard cylinder with a printed label (stained) covering the entire surface. It has a metal (rusted) lid. The word "BORAX" has been written on the side.

One pharmaceutical enterprise which put greater emphasis on the manufacturing side of its business and whose successors strengthened this emphasis was Faulding's. A pharmacist, Francis H. Faulding, started his shop in Adelaide in 1841 and formed a partnership with an English physician, L. Scammel, in 1861. From its beginnings the firm showed a flare for innovation. After Simpson's discovery of the anaesthetic properties of chloroform in 1847, Francis Faulding was the first to import chloroform; in 1858 he distributed cocaine preparations; in 1864 he produced the first olive oil from South Australian olives and, after J. Lister's reports in Lancet on the reduction of mortality after surgery with the use of phenol, Faulding began production of antiseptics ('Solyptol') in 1867. Faulding was also the first to utilize the medicinal and antiseptic properties of eucalyptus oil which was obtained from distilleries on Kangaroo Island The Second World War in Europe disrupted the supply of cod liver oil, an important source of Vitamin A. Faulding chemists found an alternative source in white schnapper shark, which sustained supplies in Australia as well as generated exports to the UK . When supplies of I.G. Farben's newly discovered sulpha drugs ran out, Faulding became involved in the national program organised by the Medical Equipment Control Committee (MECC) and, jointly with universities, synthesised sulphanilamide. Following the transfer of American knowhow. Faulding's was also the first private enterprise to produce yet another life saving drug of military importance, penicillin. After the war basic synthesis of antibiotics became difficult to sustain by private enterprise because of the gigantic scale advantages of competing US producers, and competition in the synthesis of new drugs demanded huge investment in R & D; Fauldings maintained their business by a combination of marketing, wholesaling and producing consumer and medical products. In the 1970s, however, Fauldings set a remarkable precedent in research strategy and achievement in the Australian pharmaceutical business. They decided to concentrate their research on drugs which had proven efficacy, but which also suffered from certain shortcomings restricting their clinical usefulness, and to seek advances overcoming these shortcomings. This was an imaginative new strategy, a way of grafting Australian knowhow on to major products, in keeping with local resources and yet offering opportunities for sophisticated skill. At the same time it promised to open international markets, since the major producers of the basic drugs could hardly ignore significant advances. https://www.samhs.org.au/Virtual%20Museum/Medicine/drugs_nonsurg/Fauldings_drug/Fauldings_drugs.html This decorative gift box once containing Faulding’s Old English Lavender soap or powder belonged to Dr. Angus’ wife Gladys. It was donated to Flagstaff Hill Maritime Village by the family of Doctor William Roy Angus, Surgeon and Oculist. It is part of the “W.R. Angus Collection” includes historical medical equipment, surgical instruments and material once belonging to Dr Edward Ryan and Dr Thomas Francis Ryan, (both of Nhill, Victoria) as well as Dr Angus’ own belongings. The Collection’s history spans the medical practices of the two Doctors Ryan, from 1885-1926 plus that of Dr Angus, up until 1969. Powder or soap in boxes such as this was perfumed and used as part of a women’s personal grooming in the early to mid 20th century. Faulding’s Company began in Adelaide, Australia, in 1845 and made a wide range of cosmetic and perfume products as well as pharmaceuticals. The company is still in operation today. ABOUT THE “W.R.ANGUS COLLECTION” Doctor William Roy Angus M.B., B.S., Adel., 1923, F.R.C.S. Edin.,1928 (also known as Dr Roy Angus) was born in Murrumbeena, Victoria in 1901 and lived until 1970. He qualified as a doctor in 1923 at University of Adelaide, was Resident Medical Officer at the Royal Adelaide Hospital in 1924 and for a period was house surgeon to Sir (then Mr.) Henry Simpson Newland. Dr Angus was briefly an Assistant to Dr Riddell of Kapunda, then commenced private practice at Curramulka, Yorke Peninsula, SA, where he was physician, surgeon and chemist. In 1926, he was appointed as new Medical Assistant to Dr Thomas Francis Ryan (T.F. Ryan, or Tom), in Nhill, Victoria, where his experiences included radiology and pharmacy. In 1927 he was Acting House Surgeon in Dr Tom Ryan’s absence. Dr Angus had become engaged to Gladys Forsyth and they decided he further his studies overseas in the UK in 1927. He studied at London University College Hospital and at Edinburgh Royal Infirmary and in 1928, was awarded FRCS (Fellow from the Royal College of Surgeons), Edinburgh. He worked his passage back to Australia as a Ship’s Surgeon on the on the Australian Commonwealth Line’s T.S.S. Largs Bay. Dr Angus married Gladys in 1929, in Ballarat. (They went on to have one son (Graham 1932, born in SA) and two daughters (Helen (died 12/07/1996) and Berenice (Berry), both born at Mira, Nhill ) According to Berry, her mother Gladys made a lot of their clothes. She was very talented and did some lovely embroidery including lingerie for her trousseau and beautifully handmade baby clothes. Dr Angus was a ‘flying doctor’ for the A.I.M. (Australian Inland Ministry) Aerial Medical Service in 1928 . Its first station was in the remote town of Oodnadatta, where Dr Angus was stationed. He was locum tenens there on North-South Railway at 21 Mile Camp. He took up this ‘flying doctor’ position in response to a call from Dr John Flynn; the organisation was later known as the Flying Doctor Service, then the Royal Flying Doctor Service. A lot of his work during this time involved dental surgery also. Between 1928-1932 he was surgeon at the Curramulka Hospital, Yorke Peninsula, South Australia. In 1933 Dr Angus returned to Nhill and purchased a share of the Nelson Street practice and Mira hospital (a 2 bed ward at the Nelson Street Practice) from Dr Les Middleton one of the Middleton Brothers, the current owners of what previously once Dr Tom Ryan’s practice. Dr Tom and his brother had worked as surgeons included eye surgery. Dr Tom Ryan performed many of his operations in the Mira private hospital on his premises. He had been House Surgeon at the Nhill Hospital 1902-1926. Dr Tom Ryan had one of the only two pieces of radiology equipment in Victoria during his practicing years – The Royal Melbourne Hospital had the other one. Over the years Dr Tom Ryan had gradually set up what was effectively a training school for country general-practitioner-surgeons. Each patient was carefully examined, including using the X-ray machine, and any surgery was discussed and planned with Dr Ryan’s assistants several days in advance. Dr Angus gained experience in using the X-ray machine there during his time as assistant to Dr Ryan. When Dr Angus bought into the Nelson Street premises in Nhill he was also appointed as the Nhill Hospital’s Honorary House Surgeon 1933-1938. His practitioner’s plate from his Nhill surgery is now mounted on the doorway to the Port Medical Office at Flagstaff Hill Maritime Village, Warrnambool. When Dr Angus took up practice in the Dr Edward and Dr Tom Ryan’s old premises he obtained their extensive collection of historical medical equipment and materials spanning 1884-1926. A large part of this collection is now on display at the Port Medical Office at Flagstaff Hill Maritime Village in Warrnambool. In 1939 Dr Angus and his family moved to Warrnambool where he purchased “Birchwood,” the 1852 home and medical practice of Dr John Hunter Henderson, at 214 Koroit Street. (This property was sold in1965 to the State Government and is now the site of the Warrnambool Police Station. and an ALDI sore is on the land that was once their tennis court). The Angus family was able to afford gardeners, cooks and maids; their home was a popular place for visiting dignitaries to stay whilst visiting Warrnambool. Dr Angus had his own silk worm farm at home in a Mulberry tree. His young daughter used his centrifuge for spinning the silk. Dr Angus was appointed on a part-time basis as Port Medical Officer (Health Officer) in Warrnambool and held this position until the 1940’s when the government no longer required the service of a Port Medical Officer in Warrnambool; he was thus Warrnambool’s last serving Port Medical Officer. (Masters of immigrant ships arriving in port reported incidents of diseases, illness and death and the Port Medical Officer made a decision on whether the ship required Quarantine and for how long, in this way preventing contagious illness from spreading from new immigrants to the residents already in the colony.) Dr Angus was a member of the Australian Medical Association, for 35 years and surgeon at the Warrnambool Base Hospital 1939-1942, He served as a Surgeon Captain during WWII1942-45, in Ballarat, Victoria, and in Bonegilla, N.S.W., completing his service just before the end of the war due to suffering from a heart attack. During his convalescence he carved an intricate and ‘most artistic’ chess set from the material that dentures were made from. He then studied ophthalmology at the Royal Melbourne Eye and Ear Hospital and created cosmetically superior artificial eyes by pioneering using the intrascleral cartilage. Angus received accolades from the Ophthalmological Society of Australasia for this work. He returned to Warrnambool to commence practice as an ophthalmologist, pioneering in artificial eye improvements. He was Honorary Consultant Ophthalmologist to Warrnambool Base Hospital for 31 years. He made monthly visits to Portland as a visiting surgeon, to perform eye surgery. He represented the Victorian South-West subdivision of the Australian Medical Association as its secretary between 1949 and 1956 and as chairman from 1956 to 1958. In 1968 Dr Angus was elected member of Spain’s Barraquer Institute of Barcelona after his research work in Intrasclearal cartilage grafting, becoming one of the few Australian ophthalmologists to receive this honour, and in the following year presented his final paper on Living Intrasclearal Cartilage Implants at the Inaugural Meeting of the Australian College of Ophthalmologists in Melbourne In his personal life Dr Angus was a Presbyterian and treated Sunday as a Sabbath, a day of rest. He would visit 3 or 4 country patients on a Sunday, taking his children along ‘for the ride’ and to visit with him. Sunday evenings he would play the pianola and sing Scottish songs to his family. One of Dr Angus’ patients was Margaret MacKenzie, author of a book on local shipwrecks that she’d seen as an eye witness from the late 1880’s in Peterborough, Victoria. In the early 1950’s Dr Angus, painted a picture of a shipwreck for the cover jacket of Margaret’s book, Shipwrecks and More Shipwrecks. She was blind in later life and her daughter wrote the actual book for her. Dr Angus and his wife Gladys were very involved in Warrnambool’s society with a strong interest in civic affairs. He had an interest in people and the community They were both involved in the creation of Flagstaff Hill, including the layout of the gardens. After his death (28th March 1970) his family requested his practitioner’s plate, medical instruments and some personal belongings be displayed in the Port Medical Office surgery at Flagstaff Hill Maritime Village, and be called the “W. R. Angus Collection”.Fauldings Company is a very historical Australian company, still in operating today. The powder box is an example of fashion and grooming in the 1930's in Australia. The W.R. Angus Collection is significant for still being located at the site it is connected with, Doctor Angus being the last Port Medical Officer in Warrnambool. The collection of medical instruments and other equipment is culturally significant, being an historical example of medicine from late 19th to mid-20th century. Dr Angus assisted Dr Tom Ryan, a pioneer in the use of X-rays and in ocular surgery.Container, wooden powder box with separate lid. Round box is made from light coloured timber and was sold containing Faulding’s Old English Lavender cosmetic powder. The wooden bowl is light in colour and the lid has a decal with text and images of two ladies facing each other, a gentleman looking over his shoulder at them, and red roses. From the W.R. Angus Collection.Faulding's Old English Lavender, and picture of old English men and women in period costume.flagstaff hill maritime museum and village, great ocean road, shipwreck coast, warrnambool, shipwtreck coast, dr w r angus, faulding's, lavender, powder, cosmetic

bartlett, nurse, 1954, ballarat base hospital, ballarat, badge, royal women's hospital, midwifery, england & wales, gillian johnston, victoria

bartlett, nurse, 1954, ballarat base hospital, ballarat, certificates, royal women's hospital, queensland, northern territory, western australia, england & wales, nursing council, gillian johnston