The age-herald., 1900-03-25
AUSTRALIAN NURSES
 FOR SOUTH AFRICA

One of the most encouraging features of the Australian hospital system is the large number of efficiently nurses employed In connection with the same, especially in New South Wales, where, despite over a hundred years of settle- ment, the natural resources of the coun- try by no means developed and many men are at work far away from the homo comforts of everyday life, and from homo attendance in case of sickness or injury. Hospitals have become absolutely essential under the conditions eff life dn the country districts of the colony, and they are accord irgly found in every important country town. At the close of the year 1898 there were 1l0 hospitals or fnfirmares in opera tion nearing completion in the colony, coTta[ning accommodation tor 3,lO0 in-door patients, the number treated during the year being 29.60f indoor, and U, ,90S outdoor.
 Of these institutions thirteen are in Syd- ney and its suburbs, and the remainder in the country. The nursing staff comprises 112 matrons and sub-matrons, and BIO sis ters, nurses probationers, and wardsmen. The regular nurses are among the most skillful of their class, and devotedly attach- ed to the profession they have embraced. Their courage and self-denial has been re- peatedly evinced during outbreaks of infec- tious disease, and from the moment 1t was known that New South Wales was prepared to send troops to the scene of war, many of the sisters declared their willingness to accompany them, several, possessing some little means offering to defray their own expenses. The colonial government could select a few, and ultimately it was ar ranged that in connection with the New South Wales section of the Second Austra- liam contingent, an army nursing service corps, consisting of fourteen members, should be formed.
 Ten times the number of nurses could have been obtained, but the strength of the army medical corps, forming portion of the contingent, was taken into consideration. The nursing corps is under the superintend- ence of Miss Ellen Julia Gould, an English lady, who arrived in the colony in 1885, and has since devoted herself to hospital work. With Miss Gould is associated Miss Julia Bligh Johnston, who during an outbreak of smallpox in Tasmania, was isolated with a number of other nurses amongst the pa tents She hold the position of senior sis ter at the Sydney hospital, is a member of the Royal British Nursing association also of the Australian Nursing association. in the council of which she holds seat.
 Of the remaining twelve nurses, Mss Therese Emile Woodward, a native or Sydney, commenced her career in the Ho- bart hospital subsequently, going to Eng land and gaining experience in fhe London hospltal; afterwards in St. Lukes hospital, New York, and finally in the Royal Milf tary hospital Medley, and the Herbert Military hospital at Woolwsch, returning, for family reasons, to Sydney few months ago. Her sister nurses, the Misses "A. Bes- sic Pocock, Nancy Newton. Elizabeth Nixon, Emily Hoadey, Penelope Frater, Elizabeth Lister, Austin, Marion Phillips Martin, Elizabeth Steel, Anna Jane Mat ciaett and Anna Gardiner Garden, each possesses considerable experenc in nursing work, and in volunteering for service in A frica baWn n enc i'm stance, made heavy sacrifices
 It has been arranged that each of the nurses returning after the conclusion Of the war shall be reinstated in her old position if so desired. They are all well educated, pos sessing kindly disposition, and have all ready become known as the "Austraiian NigChtingales" after the word-famous heroine of the Crimea. Their presence at the scene of war cannot fail to prove bene- ficial and will add another link to the many which unite the Australian colonies with the mother country.