Obituary

Kai Tiaki : the journal of the nurses of New Zealand, Volume XVI, Issue 4, 1 October 1923, Page 181

Obituary

.Many oi the old Wellington Hospital nurses will be grieved to hear of the death .of Miss Amy Thomas, on June 15. Miss Thomas was, after her training m the Wellington Hospital, on the staff of the Palmerston North Hospital, under Miss Dougherty, and later went to London and joined the Queen Victoria Jubilee District Superintendent's staff, and was assistant district superintendent. She did some military nursing during the war. In January of this year Miss Thomas was seriously ill, and underwent an operation for amputation of the breast. She was making a satisfactory recovery, and planned a trip to New Zealand, but suddenly developed severe pain m the head and died. It was discovered that there was a growth on the cerebellum. Nurse Thomas was a woman of the highest ideals of her profession and a great favourite with those around her, and still remembered with affection by the nurses with whom she trained.

On the 31st July, the death occurred of Mrs. Spear (Sister Ethel Barnes), late of the N. Z.A.N. S. Mrs. Spear was trained at Nelson Hospital, and qualified m 1914. She joined the Army Nursing Service m 1915, went to Egypt with one of the early contingents of nurses from New Zealand and served m an Imperial hospital m Cairo during the great rush of wounded and sick from Gallipoli. She was invalided back on account of heart strain, and was a patient at the Lowry Bay Convalescent Home, but as soon as possible resumed work when nurses were badly needed, and then acted as charge nurse at the Convalescent Hospital, where she was a great favourite with the returned men and staff. After her marriage she lived at Nelson, where nurses were warmly welcomed m her home. Her early death is greatly regretted by all who knew her.

The death of Mrs. Ogilvie (Nurse Gertrude Smith, of Wellington Hospital) will

be learnt with great regret by the many nurses who knew her. She suffered a iong illness, and died m Christchurch on 23rd 'July, leaving a husband and several little children lo mourn their loss.

We regret exceedingly to record the death of Mrs. Ewart, the wife of Dr. John Ewart, of Wellington, on September Bth. Thirty-four years ago, Mrs. Ewart (then Nurse Brandon) gained the first certificate as a nurse granted by the Wellington Hospital Boa I'd. The training was for four months, and the certificate was gained after a course of lectures and an examination conducted by Dr. Truby King, at that time medical superintendent of the hospital, with Miss Godfrey as matron. Dr. Ewart, who had just joined the staff, succeeded Dr. Kino, and persuaded the Board to raise the term of training to one year, later to two years, and m 1901 to three years, m accordance with the Act for the Registration of Nurses passed m that year. Though Nurse Brandon married shortly after gaining her certificate, and thus did not carry on her nursing work, her friendship with the nurses of Wellington, her unselfishness, and her Great bravery and fortitude m suffering (of which she had far more than her share), have been an inspiration to many and an influence for good among all who knew her. Her death is a great loss, but she leaves behind her a beautiful memory for her family and her many loving friends.

After a long and very painful illness. Sister Rosa Pollard, trained at Edinburgh Royal Infirmary, passed away at the Waipukurau Hospital on September 16th. Sister Pollard was well known m the Dominion, though trained m England. She was for several different periods on the staff of the Te Waikato Sanatorium, and after that institution was closed was a senior sister at Pukeora Sanatorium until the commencement of her fatal illness. Sis-

ter Pollard's death is a great loss to the nursing profession. She was a most devoted nurse, and duty waste her the highest aim of life. She was m every way a fine woman of the highest ideals. Her sister arrived from England about two months before her death, and was with her at the last. The funeral took place at Waipukurau on Tuesday, September 18th. The service was attended by Miss Drummond (matron of Waipukurau Hospital), Miss Whyte, R.R.C. (matron of Pukeora Sanatorium), and members of the staff. Among the pall-bearers were Drs. Short, Reed and Raymond.

With regret we record the death of Miss Amelia Veitch, which occurred at Dunedin on July 13th. She was born at Dundee, m 1858, and commenced her training at Dunedin Hospital on June 27, 1889. Many of us knew her best as charge nurse m the Houghton Ward. Tn 1903, she was appointed sub-matron, being the first to hold this position. She resigned

m 1911, after which she was appointed matron of the Cottage Hospital at Port Chalmers, from which she resigned on July 31, 1917. From that time she lived m retirement. Shy, and reserved by disposition, she did not take part m the social life of the community. Those of us who knew her best know well of the noble nature underlying, and how bravely she surmounted the trials and troubles through life's journey, her devotion to duty, and her kindness to those under her care is known to all who came m contact with her.. On May 24th, 1923, she had a paralytic seizure, and her last days were spent m a room specially prepared for her off Miller Ward, where she was ministered to by the medical and nursing staff of the hospital where her life's work was done. She was visited frequently by former nurses, and daily by her artist brother, whom she loved so well. Of her it can truly be said, "Well done, thou good and faithful servant; enter now into the joy of thy Lord." — (By one who knew her well.)