Historical information

The photograph of the RDNS Clerical staff is taken in the Finance Department at Royal District Nursing Service ( RDNS) Headquarters, 452 St. Kilda Road, Melbourne

Significance

When 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.

Physical description

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.

Inscriptions & markings

Photographer stamp. Quote No. KJ 49