Research Notes

Kathleen Veronica Casey

1907 - 1999

Born 9 Dec 1907 to labourer William Joseph Casey and Marion Cassidy, Learmonth, Victoria. Second eldest of 8 children. There is confusion as to whether her first name was Kathleen or Catherine. All documents cited in relation to her nursing career have her name as Kathleen Veronica NOT Catherine Veronica.

From the ODH house committee report 21 January 1930 – The Secretary reported that Nurses Casey & Kellett had commenced duty since the last meeting. This makes a total of 16 trainees.

 From the ODH House Committee report 18 February 1930 – … and that if Nurse Casey gets a concession from the Nurses Board for time served previous to coming to Beechworth that it will be allowed off her first year training here.

 From the ODH House Committee report 18 March 1930 – The matron informs me that Nurse Casey has been allowed 12 months on account of previous training. She commenced here on 31/12/29 and is entitled to second years’ salary from that date.

 From the ODH House Committee report 15 November 1932 - … Nurse Casey would complete her training on the 9th of December …

 Passed final examinations November 1932 - see Argus, 1 December 1932.

 Date of qualification – December 1932.

 1935 ER is a nurse at Mental Hospital, Wendouree - Lakeside Mental Hospital, originally known as Ballarat Asylum, later as Ballarat Hospital for the Insane and finally, before its closure, as Lakeside Psychiatric Hospital located in the suburb of Wendouree, the north-western fringe of Ballarat. One of her sisters, Elizabeth Theresa was also employed as a nurse at Lakeside.

 1936 ER at the Womens’ Hospital.

 1937 ER at 159 Grey Street, East Melbourne – possibly St Vincent’s private hospital.

 Married Tasmanian born Douglas Charles Targett, a farmer. Couple lived at Highclere, Broadford. Appear to have had two sons, Christopher & Brendan. A Christopher Walter Stephen Targett became a medical practitioner.

 Restored to the 1951 Nurses’ Register in the name of Targett nee Casey, Kathleen Veronica.

 Removed from Nurses’ Register 1955.




Died 11 April 1999, Camberwell.

Buried with husband at the Kilmore Catholic Cemetery. 

 Probate granted 15 September 1999. 




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