Born 1882 at Hurdle Flat to John Henry Kerr and Jemima Julia Milne.

Attended Hurdle Flat State School.

From the ODH House Committee report 30 October 1905 – Also that Miss Kerr of Hurdle Flat had been engaged for the probationer nurse vacancy and had commenced duty.

From the ODH House Committee report 5 February 1906 – Nurse Kerr has satisfactorily completed her three months on trial and her agreement was ready for signing.

From the ODH Inpatient Register 1 January 1906-28 April, 1925. Admitted as a patient with typhoid fever on 15 May 1908. 6 September 1908 discharged to her parents (Jemima & John) at Hurdle Flat.

From the ODH Inpatient Register 1 January 1906-28 April, 1925. Admitted as a patient with perinephric abscess on 7 September 1908. 29 December 1908 discharged to her mother, Mrs Jemima Kerr at Hurdle Flat.

… Nurse Kerr was unable at present to continue duty … Ovens and Murray Advertiser, 23 January 1909.

From 1909 June Una Journal - Royal Victorian Trained Nurses’ Association. FINAL EXAMINATIONS. The following candidates were successful at the examinations held on the 8th and 9th June:— …  Clemens, Hartigan, Kerr, Rockett (Ovens District Hospital)

From the ODH House Committee report 21 June 1909 – that Nurses Clemens and Kerr at the conclusion of their probation be retained as staff nurses.

Date of qualification 18 July 1909.

DEATH AT HURDLE FLAT – Mrs . Kerr, wife of Mr. John Kerr, of Hurdle Flat, roadman of the Beechworth Shire Council, died yesterday (Friday) [20 Aug 1909] evening, after an illness of some duration. The late Mrs. Kerr was highly respected, and some years ago took a prominent part in the Women’s Christian Temperance Union, of which she was president for a term. Nurse Kerr of the Ovens District Hospital is a daughter of the deceased. The internment will take place at the Beechworth Cemetery on Sunday (tomorrow afternoon, the funeral leaving her late residence, Hurdle Flat, at 2 o’clock, under the direction of Mr. W.J. Edwards, undertaker.

Ovens and Murray Advertiser, 21 August 1909.

Buried Beechworth Cemetery, 22 August 1909.

From the ODH House Committee report 30 August 1909 – … and the nursing certificates of Nurses Kerr, Clemens & Rockett were ready for signature and sealing.

From the minutes of ODH board meeting 14 September 1909, Nursing certificates were presented to Nurses Kerr and Clemens by the chairman. Addressing Nurse Kerr, Mr. Ingram said he had the greatest possible pleasure indeed it was a special pleasure to him as he took a deep interest in the welfare of the hospital's trained nurses— to present her nurse's certificate - Ovens and Murray Advertiser, 18 September 1909, page 9.

Addressing Nurse Kerr, Mr. Ingram said he had the greatest possible pleasure indeed it was a special pleasure to him as he took a deep interest in the welfare of the hospital's trained nurses— to present her nurse's certificate - Ovens and Murray Advertiser, 18 September 1909, page 9.

From the ODH House Committee report 3 January 1910 – The Secretary reported that the Matron was leaving for Melbourne the next morning on account of the serious illness of her father; Nurse Kerr would take charge.

From the minutes of ODH House Committee report 10 October 1910 – The matron was granted one month’s holiday from the 15th inst., the same arrangements to be made regarding the acting matron as last year. It was decided to pay Nurses Kerr and Clemens £1 each extra for the extra work they do as acting matrons.

From the minutes of ODH House Committee report 14 November 1910 – It was decided … to raise Nurse Kerr’s salary to £50 a year from December 1st …

Acting matron January & October 1910.

From the ODH House Committed report 13 March 1911 – The Secretary reported that he had received the resignation of Nurse Kerr as Sister …

May 1912 Una Journal, Special Register - Kerr, Mary K., Beechworth—Cert. Midwifery and Gynaecology, Women’s Hospital, Feb., 1912. Gen. Cert. Beechworth.

From the ODH House Committed report 8 September 1913 – The Secretary was authorized to make arrangements if possible with Nurse Kerr to relieve the Matron for her annual holiday later on in the year.

Returned to be acting matron November 1913 while Matron Winning was on leave for a few weeks - see Ovens and Murray Advertiser, 12 November 1913, page 2.

1914 nurse at May Day, Dixon Street, Cressy.

KERR - On the 22nd July, at Ovens District Hospital, Beechworth John Henry, beloved father of Neil, James, Mary, John, Flora, and Mrs. W. Roberts (of Harrietville), aged 68 years. Argus, 28 July 1915

DEATH OF HURDLE FLAT RESIDENT - We regret to record the death of one of the oldest residents of Hurdle Flat, in the person of Mr. John Kerr. The deceased, who for some years was employed as roadsman by the Beechworth Shire Council, having in his younger days been engaged as a ship's carpenter, often found his earlier experience of great advantage to him in the construction and repairs to bridges and culverts, and being a conscientious workman, his services were of great value to the council. On the reallotment of positions a few years ago, Mr. Kerr retired and lived on his property on the eastern end of Lake Kerferd, where he tended to his orchard. For the last two or three weeks, his health was not as good as hitherto, and on Wednesday night he became so ill that his neighbours became alarmed, and on Thursday, Mr. John Morton brought him to the Ovens District Hospital, but about three hours after his admission he succumbed to peritonitis. Mr. Kerr was one who used every endeavour to advance the interests of the locality in which he resided, and for many years occupied the position of president of the annual picnic. Mrs. Kerr predeceased him six years ago, but a family of three daughters - Nurse Kerr (Cressy), Miss Flo Kerr (Melbourne), and Mrs. Roberts (Harrietville), and three sons, John, Neil and James, are left to mourn the loss of a fond father. The funeral is appointed to leave the hospital to-morrow (Sunday) at 2.30 p.m. for the Beechworth Cemetery.

Ovens and Murray Advertiser, 24 July 1915.

Buried with his wife at Beechworth Cemetery on 25 July 1915.

1916 Mary married John Wilson McKenzie, a grazier who owned a property called “Flodden Field” at Cressy.

 McKENZIE. On March 2 at Ballarat, John Wilson McKenzie, late of Cressy, loving husband of Mary, loved father of Muriel, (Mrs O. White), Colin, Jack, Flora (Mrs E. Nelson) and Ian. Argus, 3 Mar 1952.

 John died 2 Mar 1952. Mary died 6 Aug 1955. Both buried at Cressy Cemetery.

©Anne Hanson, 2023                                                                          E-mail:  Anne Hanson