OBITUARY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23334, 28 October 1937, Page 21

OBITUARY

MRS J. CARNEGY GARDNER The death has occurred in Invercargill, at the age of 70 years, of Mrs Fanny Beatrice Gardner. Mrs Gardner was the last surviving daughter of Dr W. P. Grigor, one of Invercargill's earliest medical practitioners. With her marriage to Mr J. Carnegy Gardner, a son of Captain Gardner, of Birchwood, two of the oldest and bestknown families in Southland were united. For many years she lived at Clifden Station, and only recently went to Invercargill to live. She is survived by her husband, three sons and two daughters. MRS W. HANDYSIDE The death occurred in Hastings on Tuesday, as the result of an accident a fortnight ago, of Mrs William Handyside, of Invercargill. Born at Hamilton Station, Otago, she was the eldest daughter of Mr John Cotton Rowley, owner of Avondale Station in the Nightcaps district, and a grand-daughter of Bishop Mathias, of Christchurch. an early New Zealand pioneer. Mrs Handyside went to Southland when 12 years of age. She decided to undergo a nursing training and she joined the staff of the Wellington Hospital, later going to London for maternity nursing training. She was in England when the South African war broke out and was chosen by Princess Christian as a member of a special battalion of nurses sent to South Africa, and she was on duty throughout the war. Her nursing ability and kindness to the wounded soldiers were spoken of very favourably, and her work was praised in a book, " New Zealanders and the Boer War," written by a New Zealander and published a few years after the war. She received the Princess Christian medal and three other decorations, and her friends in Nightcaps honoured her with a special presentation in recognition of her war nursing on her return to New Zealand.

Shortly afterwards she married Mr William Handyside and lived in Invercargill, being associated with her husband in philanthropic works. During the Great War she was extremely active in the efforts to raise funds for the Red Cross. During the influenza epidemic in 1918 she brought her valuable nursing experience into use, but contracted the illness with almost fatal results. She was a keen supporter of the Plunket movement, and was one of the first members of the committee in Invercargill. Mrs Handyside was a foundation member of the Invercargill Ladies' Golf Club, which was formed 32 years ago. and among her other interests was a great keenness for gardening. Mrs Handyside had no family, but she is survived by four sisters and four brothel's of a family of 11.