Historical information

Cream pith helmets were part of the uniform worn by Melbourne District Nursing Society (MDNS) Trained nurses (Nurses) from the early 1900s when giving nursing care to the sick poor of Melbourne. When riding their bicycles the helmet was held on by a long white scarf tied under the Nurse's chin.

Significance

From its earliest years when Melbourne District Nursing Society (MDNS) Trained nurses, known as 'Nurse' in those days, began to wear uniforms the chosen colour was grey, though the style changed throughout the years as fashions changed from the late 1800s through to the 1970s. The Nurses firstly wore long grey frocks and a white cap with a long white tail hanging from the centre back. When bicycles were introduced in 1903 the headgear changed to a cream pith helmet adorned with a red Maltese cross in the centre front. This was held on with a veil going over the hat and tied under the chin. Over the years there were complaints that the veils became wet in the rain and they asked for a change of uniform, but this did not happen until 1921. The Nurses complained their skirts became wet when riding their bicycles in the rain and asked, when raining, to be able to wear breeches and gaiters. This was granted provided they wore aprons when attending patients. It was not long before the uniform changed to a shorter length grey frock, red cardigan, grey coat and grey brimmed hat; later changed to a peaked grey hat. In 1966 MDNS were granted Royal patronage. Now as Royal District Nursing Service (RDNS), the uniform was redesigned and colour changed in 1971. By 1972 the Sisters were wearing the new winter uniform of a blue/grey skivvie under a V neck tunic style frock made of blue/grey herringbone winter material with the RDNS insignia on the upper left, and a beret of the same material. In summer the uniform became a royal blue V neck tunic style frock, with the RDNS insignia on the upper left, worn over a short sleeve white blouse. A royal blue peaked hat with the RDNS insignia in the centre front was worn at first and then only worn on official occasions. This uniform was worn until changed to a corporate style in the mid 1980s,

Physical description

This hard cream coloured pith helmet has a 'pudding basin' shaped crown with 2 eyelets on both sides of it and a raised 'button' in the centre of the crown. This is encircled by a slightly sloping brim. A red cotton Maltese cross is emblazoned in the centre. The crown has a 66 cm circumference and is 12 cm deep; the raised central button is 3.5 cm x 3 cm; and the brim has a 101 cm circumference and is 5 cm deep.