Historical information
This photograph is a visual record of Mrs. Hallenstein who was President of Royal District Nursing Service (RDNS) from 1967-1974. In February 1970 the Royal District Nursing Service (RDNS) hosted the First International Congress on Domiciliary Nursing and, as President of RDNS, Mrs. Hallenstein presided over the opening ceremony. Mrs. Hallenstein played an integral roll in the planning and correspondence to the College of Arms, London, which concluded with the Royal District Nursing Service being granted a Coat of Arms in 1970.
Significance
In 1949 Mrs. D. (Elsa) Hallenstein was elected as a member of the Committee of Management of the Melbourne District Nursing Society (MDNS) and After-Care Hospital, and In 1951 was elected as a member of the Committee of Management, and appointed to the Board of Directors of the Nursing Service Division, of MDNS and After-Care. In 1957 when the Society and After-Care Hospital separated, Mrs. Hallenstein was on the first Committee of Management of the now Melbourne District Nursing Service whose Headquarters was located at 452 St. Kilda Road, Melbourne. In 1962 she was elected as a Vice-President and in 1964 as senior Vice-president of MDNS until 1967 when she became President of the Committee of Management of the now renamed Royal District Nursing Service (RDNS), a role she held until 1974. In February 1970 RDNS hosted the First International Congress on Domiciliary Nursing and, as President, Mrs. Hallenstein presided over the opening ceremony.
Mrs. Hallenstein played an integral roll in Melbourne District Nursing Service being granted Royal patronage in 1966, now becoming Royal District Nursing Service (RDNS), and with the planning and correspondence to the College of Arms, London, which concluded with the Royal District Nursing Service being granted a Coat of Arms in 1970.
Physical description
Black and white photograph of the head and shoulder view of Mrs. D. (Elsa) Hallenstein, who has light coloured wavy short hair. She is smiling and is wearing a black frock with small brooch attached. She is sitting in a floral lounge chair and has an open white leaflet in her hands.
