Historical information

Ethel May Ogilvy (nee Stoddart) became a Red Cross Nurse during World War I after completing a course in Nursing and Hygiene conducted by the St John Ambulance Association in November 1914. The Red Cross was ostensibly non-military in line with its principles of neutrality and independence. While a group of 20 nurses were sent to Europe by the NSW Division of the Red Cross, most Red Cross nurses, like Ethel, contributed to the war effort at home. They filled a need created by the exit of a large number of Australian nurses to the front and by the influx of seriously injured personnel who were brought back home.
In 1919, Ethel Stoddart married Arthur James Ogilvy, a veteran of the Boer War and World War I. The couple moved to Emerald in 1936 where they lived the remainder of their lives.

Significance

This apron is part of a complete World War I Red Cross nurse uniform held by the Museum which was worn by a young woman who later moved to Emerald. The uniform is emblematic of the variety of ways in which women contributed to the war effort.

Physical description

White cotton apron consisting of a gathered skirt with two capacious pockets and a bib and waistband with a Red Cross symbol stitched in the centre of the bib. Two straps - each with one buttonhole - extend from the bib to be buttoned into the waistband at the back. The apron waistband has two buttons on one side and one button and one buttonhole on the other side. Separately there are two long narrow cotton strips which may have been suitable for bandages.