Research Notes

Mary Jessie Warden

1867-1924

Ovens District Hospital — The selection of Miss Warden, from among the numerous applicants, for the position of matron to this institution, appears to have been most judicious, judging from the manner in which she has performed her duties since assuming office. Her services have given unqualified satisfaction, not only to the hospital committee, but to the patients under her superintendence, and fully confirm her experience as testified by the excellent credentials which accompanied her application.

Ovens and Murray Advertiser, 4 July 1896.

From the Ovens District Hospital (ODH) House Committee Report, 6 July 1896 – The secretary stated that the recently appointed Matron, Miss Warden had arrived and taken up her quarters. … the rooms authorized by the committee had been papered and painted – but that it had been found necessary to paper and paint the room to be used as a bedroom by Miss Warden.

… Miss Warden’s room had been furnished since the previous meeting – the secretary stating that the furniture had produced as cheaply as possible with the whole of the furniture for the bedroom and sitting room would not come to more than £12 or £13.

The House Committee then interviewed the matron and formally [considered] her duties. It was decided to reconsider her roles with a view to amending the existing ones and adding some additional ones [and] that the matron be instructed to keep the diet sheet and make out the Cook’s ticket daily.

Special meeting of the ODH House Committee Report 27 July 1896 – … that the salary to be paid to the 3 lead nurses be £32.10.0 per annum. The committee then interviewed the matron who suggested that the salary of nurse be raised to £35 p.a. [agreed] and that nurses should do their own washing. …

Special meeting of the ODH House Committee Report 27 July 1896 – … Re Cooks – the matron presented applications from Agnes Porter and Beatrice Castieau for the positions of cook and assistant cook at salaries of £40 and £30 p.a. It was decided to recommend the appointment of the applicants on the recommendation of the matron.

From the ODH House Committee report 1 March 1897 – … The matron reported that in accordance with the instructions of the Resident Surgeon, Nurse Dodd was appointed permanently to the position of one of the night nurses and that Nurse Dodd had refused to comply with the instruction. The matron therefore begged to report the matter in accordance with Rule 4, page 40.

From the ODH House Committee report 15 March 1897 – Applications were received from the secretary and the matron for an increase in their salaries. The secretary having proved himself a very efficient officer in every respect and the matron having given ample evidence of her thorough fitness for the position, the committee begs to recommend that the salaries of the secretary and the matron be increased by £15 and £5 per annum respectively.

From the ODH House Committee Report 12 April 1897 – That the matron be granted a week’s leave of absence.

From the ODH House Committee report 12 April 1898 – That the matron should be permitted to use one of the upper small wards as a bedroom. …

A letter was read from the matron, laying charges of incapacity against Mrs Dodd and of insulting language against the Resident Surgeon. It was agreed that the matron should draw up a list of specific charges of incapacity against Mrs Dodd and that the charge against the Doctor together with five other matters brought up at this committee meeting should be investigated at a Special Meeting to be held on Monday afternoon, the 18th and that the Patients’ Committee should be invited to be present and that a list of the charges should be sent to the Doctor for him to report upon.

From a special joint meeting of the ODH House and Patients’ Committee held to investigate certain charges of misconduct made against Mrs Dodd (nurse) and Dr. Dobbyn (Resident Surgeon): Mr Billson related that on Sunday evening last, he had attended the hospital with Mr Rowe and in consequence of certain matters, he had suspended the Resident Surgeon from duty for 24 hours. … The charge against Mrs Dodd was firs considered and a list of specific cases of incapacity on the part of Mrs Dodd was received from the Matron. A full enquiry was held and after evidence, it was unanimously resolved to recommend to the General Committee that Mrs Dodd should be discharged and should receive three months’ salary in lieu of notice.

The charges against the Resident Surgeon were next proceeded with and a letter was received from Dr. Dobbyn denying the charges. A full inquiry was held and it was unanimously resolved to recommend to the General Committee that the Resident Surgeon should be retired immediately and should receive leave of absence for 3 months on full pay from the date of suspension. It was also decided to suspend the Resident Surgeon until after the General Committee meeting on Tuesday the 26th.

Fremantle Hospital, The Fortnightly Meeting

For the position of matron of the hospital at a salary of £125 per annum and quarters 41 applications were received. Miss Mary Warden, at present matron of the Ovens District Hospital, Beechworth (Vic), was appointed subject to the approval of the Governor-in Council. Daily News, Perth, 14 April 1898.

From the ODH House Committee report 25 April 1898 – A letter was read from Matron resigning her position, she having been appointed matron of Fremantle Hospital, W.A., and applications for the vacant position were received …

... From Miss Warden, the matron, resigning her position, as she had secured, a position as matron of the Fremantle (W. A.) hospital, and thanking the committee for their courtesy to her during her term of office. The resignation was accepted, and one week's leave of absence granted.

Ovens and Murray Advertiser, 30 April 1898.

Mary was matron of the ODH from 6 July 1896 to the end of April 1898.

Mary’s Family Background

The fourth child of Christina Orr and sea captain, Robert Warden. Born 5 June 1867, Roseneath, Dunbartonshire, Scotland. Christina died in July 1873 at the family home aged thirty-eight.

Mary and her four brothers arrived in Melbourne, June/July 1875 on the City of Perth. Her father, Robert, was the ship’s Captain. Robert married his second wife, Abigail Brown, shortly after his arrival in Melbourne. Five children, three sons and two daughters resulted from this marriage. Robert died aged sixty-six, in early January 1889, at his home, Roseneath, in the Melbourne suburb of Camberwell. He left an estate of £4,785 (real estate) and personal estate of £330 5 shillings.

In March 1900, Mary married Dr Thomas Lynewold Anderson at Fremantle. They had two sons, Colin and Ian.

Mary died aged fifty-seven from breast cancer in May 1924 and was buried in the Karakatta Presbyterian Cemetery.