RESEARCH NOTES

Grace Nellie Walker

1917-1958

Born 22 June 1917, Mailors Flat, near Warrnambool. The oldest of three children born to John Walker, a labourer and Eliza Maynard Chaffey.

Date of nursing qualification – 10 Oct 1940 – trained at Echuca Hospital. Then worked at Mira Private Hospital, Nhill for 5 months before spending a year as staff nurse at Marcus Saltau House, Warrnambool Base Hospital. Commenced Obstetrics at Bendigo Hospital, 1 May 1942.

WWII SN 500256

Sister Group II 2 July 1942 – appointed to commission with rank of Sister

Sister Group I, 2 July 1943

The Remarks section of the Personal Interview contains the comment – no theatre – gives impression that she will be a steady worker.

2 July 1942 Posted No. 2 RAAF Hospital- Ascot Vale Melbourne

No. 2 RAAF Hospital was established on 1 Oct 1940 at the Melbourne Showgrounds in Ascot Vale. In June 1942 the cases were mostly medical as in from measles, mumps and influenza.

15 November 1942 posted to No. 6 RAAF Hospital - RAAF Heidelberg as a result of all major surgical cases were transferred from the No. 2 RAAF Hospital to the No. 6. No. 6 was co-located with 115 Army General Hospital at Heidelberg, later became Victoria’s Repatriation Hospital for Victoria.

25 October 1943 posted to No. 1 RAAF Hospital - RAAF Laverton.

22 June 1944 reposted to No. 6 RAAF Hospital.

19 August 1944 posted to No. 3 RAAF Hospital - RAAF Bradfield Park, Concord, Richmond. Also known as Army 113 General Hospital Concord. By the end of 1945 bed capacity was around 500.

16 August 1945 posted to No. 5 RAAF Hospital at Tocumwal. Nursed Australian and American personnel based at Tocumwal aerodrome.

A confidential report on Grace’s time at the No. 5 RAAF describes her as:

An average looking individual, with a consistent temperament, mentally alert, able to express ideas, self assured with some initiative, well balanced and cool headed, dependable and co-operative but not leadership material. Under the section entitled “Assessing Officer’s Statement” is the comment is ‘Sister Walker’s work is quite satisfactory.’ It was further noted that ‘She has frequently been absent from duty owing to illness.’

Discharged 3 June 1946.

1947 – March 1951- District Hospital Ouyen.

Advert - OVENS DISTRICT HOSPITAL.

Beechworth, Training School.

Applications are invited for the position of MATRON. Bed establishment 25. Salary at award rate. Modern hospital and nurses' home. Applicants for position should state age. experience and forward copies of testimonials. Applications close February 19. with the undersigned:

CHAS. O. REYNOLDS.

Secretary.

The Age, 11 February 1953.

Grace was appointed in June/July 1953 but resigned in October 1954:

HOSPITAL COMMITTEE ACCEPTS RESIGNATIONS OF MATRON AND SISTER

The committee of management of the Ovens District Hospital at its meeting on Friday night of last week, [15 October, 1954] accepted the resignation of the Matron, Sister G.N. Walker with regret. She has been matron at the hospital for the past sixteen months. …. Ovens and Murray Advertiser, 23 October 1954.

Unable to find any further information for the period December 1954 to December 1958.

Grace died 7 December 1958 at Heidelberg Repat., aged 41. COD: Acute & Chronic Pyelonephritis. Pyelonephritis is a type of urinary tract infection where one or both kidneys become infected. They can be infected by bacteria or a virus.

Probate granted 1959.