Historical information

Published: The Age 26 Dec 1933 page 9
Published title: "THE NURSES' CHRISTMAS."
Trove article identifier: http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article203364946

Description: Group of nurses in uniform enjoying Christmas dinner at the Alfred Hospital.

Research by project volunteer Ernie Ward:
Alfred Hospital nurses enjoy their Christmas Lunch: The hierarchical system of Nursing and Nurse Training (as indicated by the headwear, armbands and seating positions) is on full display as Alfred Hospital nurses propose a Christmas Lunch toast (strictly non-alcoholic) to The Age photographer, Hugh Bull.

Some of the bolder nurses have decorated their headwear in a festive way that would be frowned upon the other 364 days of the year. The soft drinks are Marchants and Elliotts, the flower arrangements feature the highly fashionable gladioli, and the floral patterned curtains have been pulled aside so the summer sunshine can stream in. The sunshine would, in a couple of hours, be replaced by flooding rainstorms which caused havoc on Christmas night. This very Melbourne weather phenomenon was the focus of The Age Boxing Day edition pictorial.

At the rear of the room is Matron Grace Wilson C.B.E, already a World War One heroine for setting up and working at Australian military hospitals in Greece, Egypt and France (as seen on the second episode of the 2014 television series Anzac Girls). As Australia’s most highly-ranked peacetime military nurse, Matron Wilson also appears as the only woman in any official capacity at the Dedication of the Shrine of Remembrance in 1934. She can be seen in the grand panorama documenting this occasion (also featured in this exhibition).

Physical description

Glass plate negative

Inscriptions & markings

Photographer notations on slide: "The Nurses' Christmas Alfred Hospital Age 1933 B9".