Gertrude Marion EVANS

EVANS, GERTRUDE MARION (née SINDEL) (b. Stanmore, NSW, 27 July 1880; d. Artarmon, NSW, 1956). Hospital visitor, personal worker, woman of prayer.

Fifth child of Robert Sindel, importer Gertrude Sindel came to personal faith in Christ as a child, in a household which knew only formal religion. At 21 she entered deaconess training, despite family opposition.

In 1904, as probationer deaconess, she was sent to take charge of St Luke's Parochial School, Dapto. Resigning because of ill health after the school closed in 1905, she continued to work in the parish. In 1911 she and James Ambrose Evans, of Dapto, were married. They moved to Sydney with their daughter in 1922.

As a young woman, unable because of ill health to go to China, Gertrude Sindel had prayed to be given 'the work nobody else wants'. Hospital chaplains were then practically unthought of, and hospital authorities viewed tactless 'Christian visitors' with disfavour. An invitation from Sydney Hospital to be its official visitor free to visit any ward, anytime, came as a result of Mrs Evans' visits to a patient. Her regular visiting later included Royal North Shore, the Cancer and Infectious Diseases Hospitals, Lazarette, and Home for Incurables. A little group of wise and trusted fellow Christians, known as 'Inasmuch', eventually shared the increasing and constant work.

Her ministry was as much to staff as patients. She was a valued member of the Nurses' Christian Movement Council and leader of nurses' Bible study groups. Christian medical students, forbidden, as were nursing staff, to speak to patients about religion, would ask her to visit concerned patients on her rounds. They themselves found her a wise counsellor and confidante, as did many of their university friends.

Visiting in slums such as Woolloomooloo where she brought material as well as spiritual help during the 1930s depression, she met many prostitutes. Abp Mowll (q.v.) suggested she undertake a ministry among them which during World War Two involved visiting special wards at Royal Prince Alfred Hospital. Staff were impressed by her love and compassion, patients were faithfully told of her Saviour.

A most self-effacing person, she gave herself unstintingly in prayer, Bible teaching, wise personal counselling, and practical service. She left no organisation or writings, but touched countless lives for good.

Anglican Deaconess Institution Annual Reports; family and personal information

W M DUNKLEY