Elsbeth (Elsie) EDGAR

EDGAR, ELSBETH (ELSIE) (b. Chengtu, China, 1 Sept 1905; d. Melbourne, Vic, 10 Nov 1985). Presbyterian missionary in Korea and New Hebrides (now Vanuatu).

Elsie Edgar was the daughter of James and Lily Edgar (née Trudinger), CIM missionaries. She and her three brothers attended the CIM school in Chefoo, North China. Elsie graduated in 1923, went to Adelaide, SA where her Trudinger (q.v.) relatives lived, and trained as a nurse.

In 1929 she went to Innamincka, in the far north of SA, where she and a colleague worked in the Presbyterian Australian Inland Mission Bush Nursing Hospital through a difficult drought year. In 1931 she joined the Australian Presbyterian Mission and nursed in the Paton Memorial Hospital in Chinju, Korea. She became matron in 1934. Her work included not only nursing in all categories, but administration and the training of nurses and male orderlies.

Missionaries were withdrawn from Korea in 1941, and by the end of that year Elsie Edgar was relieving in the Paton Memorial Hospital in Vila, New Hebrides. She returned to the Trudinger family home, Adelaide in May 1942 and nursed in the Memorial Hospital in Adelaide for some years.

In 1947 she returned to the New Hebrides and became matron of the Paton Memorial Hospital in Vila. Once again she was involved in the training of nurse midwives and dressers (male nurses). She wrote and duplicated textbooks for their use. On the completion of their training, they worked throughout the New Hebridean islands, bringing medical care to many isolated villages. She arranged for the nurses and dressers to conduct Sunday schools in five of Vila's suburban churches. She was involved in the work of the Paton Memorial Church in Vila and was the first woman to be elected as an elder to its session.

Elsie Edgar was wise, considerate and practical in dealing with patients and staff. She maintained a strong Christian atmosphere in the hospital and was well respected by the staff and the community. In 1965 she was made an MBE for her work in Vila.

Elsie Edgar was a good swimmer and enjoyed walking and climbing. She led a disciplined life. She delighted in personal Bible study and read theological articles. When her daily quota of study was done, she could then indulge in light reading or the classification of her shell collection.

She retired to Melbourne in 1973 and then served for short periods in Aurukun, Queensland and in the Warburton Ranges in South Australia.

JOYCE MCLEOD