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 dress 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

Long blue cotton dress with long sleeves - at the end of each sleeve are two mother of pearl buttons and buttonholes. The dress has four mother of pearl buttons and buttonholes down the front and two buttonholes at the neck. There are three loops at the waist at the back for a belt to be threaded through. Separate long narrow sash-like belt of the same material. (The belt may have originally had a buckle.)