Louisa ARDILL

ARDILL, Louisa (née WALES) (b. London, England, c.1853; d. Sydney, NSW, 16 July 1920). Evangelist, social worker, matron-superintendent of South Sydney Women's Hospital.

Early in life Louisa became interested in evangelistic work and before leaving England she successfully conducted a number of evangelistic missions. Arriving in NSW in 1884 she joined G E Ardill's (q.v.) Blue Ribbon Gospel Army and spent about a year conducting missions in various parts of the colony. She also became associated with the WCTU in which she held prominent office, represented it on the NSW Temperance Alliance for many years, and visited many towns in NSW, not only to promote temperance but also to advocate the vote for women, not achieved in NSW until 1902.

On 8 Sept 1885 she m. George E Ardill in Bathurst St Baptist Church and gave herself wholeheartedly to his charitable, evangelistic and missionary activities. With her experience as an evangelist she was a useful deputationist and valuable in women's work in the Sydney Rescue Work Society. In 1897 she visited England to promote the claims of the society.

Her outstanding contribution was as matron-superintendent of the Home of Hope for Fallen Women associated with which were the Home Training School and Lying-in Hospital. In the latter she held courses for the training of midwives. She held a Dip of the London Obstetrical Society and also a NSW certificate. Lectures given by the medical officer were supplemented by instruction from Mrs Ardill and by practical work in the Hospital. Her trainees gained pleasing results in the midwifery examinations. With the admission of private patients extensions were made to the Hospital in 1904, renamed in 1905 South Sydney Women's Hospital. With surgical as well as gynaecological departments there were further extensions in 1911.

Mrs Ardill was co-editor of The Rescue, a magazine publicising the work, needs, and interests of the Sydney Rescue Work Society.

Mrs Ardill had two children—Dr Katie Ardill-Brice, OBE, noted gynaecologist, and George E Ardill, Junior, MLA for Yass 1930-41.

ADB 7, s.v. 'George Ardill'; Sydney Rescue Work Society, The Rescue, 1892-1905; Sydney Rescue Work Society, Centenary Brochure, 1983

HUBERT WATKIN-SMITH