Sarah Ann PLUMB

PLUMB, SARAH ANN (b. Lawson, NSW, 23 June 1884, d. Sydney, NSW, 8 Nov 1962). Secretary, Australian Nurses Christian Movement (NSW).

Sarah Plumb was eldest daughter and one of seven children of William Plumb and his wife. She completed her education at Cleveland St Public School, Redfern in 1901, where she was described as 'painstaking, assiduous and obliging'. From 1903 to 1906 she taught at St Saviour's Parochial School, Redfern. Her head teacher, Mrs Elizabeth Rook, wrote of her as 'painstaking, diligent and most attentive to her duties'. During these years she was converted through J D Langley (q.v.), rector of St David's Surry Hills. Having acquired considerable competence as a teacher in these youthful years, she trained as a nurse at the government Coast Hospital (later Prince Henry's) (1908-13), where she developed an active Christian ministry among the nurses. It was here she became known as 'Cherry Plumb'. She then was accepted for training at the CMS St Hilda's Home (Melbourne), but was not accepted as a missionary for health reasons. Presumably she nursed instead.

In 1922 she was appointed the first organising secretary of the Australian Nurses' Christian Movement (ANCM), serving till her retirement in 1947 and then as vice-president till her death. In that pioneering role she was a mother in Israel for many women who undertook nurse training in Sydney. She established ANCM structures and guided it, often when support was very small. 'Miss Plumb knew us all, was vitally interested in our Christian progress, and was never slow to challenge us about any lowering of Christian standards or our lack of responsible witness for Christ in our hospitals. We respected her and loved her. She taught capably and forcefully from the Bible to many groups of nurses meeting weekly for Bible study, prayer and fellowship. During the war she was also given charge of a CENEF hut in the grounds of St Andrew's Cathedral, Sydney, offering friendship, food and accommodation to serving nurses, often with long-lasting impact.

She maintained an active support of CMS, worshipped regularly at St Andrew's Cathedral, supported the Children's Special Service Mission, and in her retirement the Chesalon Homes. She followed the careers of girls she met as trainee nurses, as they served as missionaries or as married women, offering guidance and encouragement. She combined significant talents as a teacher and organiser with great sympathy and above all a life-long Christian commitment.

BLANCHE C LINDSAY