THE WORKING MEN'S COLLEGE.

TELEGRAPHY EXAMINATION.

Passed (in order of merit): Catherine Carolan, Alexander Flelnus, Flora Melville, Charles S. Robertson. Age, 10 July 1897

From the March 1915 Una Journal, Supplementary Register - Melville, Flora, Albion-st. West, Brunswick—Cert. Beechworth Hospital, January 1915. Exam., November, 1914.

April 1915 Flora unsuccessfully applied for a position at Portland Hospital.

May, June, July 1915 Una Journal – 438 Albion Street, West Brunswick

August– December 1915 – Una Journal – Dornoch Private Hospital, Warrnambool.

January & February 1916 Una Journal lists Flora at 438 Albion St., West Brunswick.

August 1916 at No. 5 Australian General Hospital, (AGH), St. Kilda Road, Melbourne

8 December 1916 - Enlisted AIF, appointed staff nurse, British India Service. Flora had her 40th birthday on 3 November 1916 yet on enlisting she stated she was aged 35.

26 December 1916 – Embarked SS Mooltan bound for Bombay.

DISTRICT NURSES FOR THE FRONT. Nurses F. Melville and E. G. Chappell, who were trained at the Ovens District Hospital, Beechworth, have sailed from Australia as nurses for our wounded soldiers at the front. Nurse Chappell received her certificate here in August, 1914, and Nurse Melville in January, 1915. Another of Matron Winning's trainees, Nurse Marie M. Cameron, was decorated by King George some time back for distinguished services. … Ovens and Murray Advertiser, 6 January 1917.

15 January 1917 – Disembarked Bombay. Posted to Colaba War Hospital for duty.

28 May 1917 – Transferred to Victoria War Hospital, Bombay.

18 February 1918 – Transferred to Station Hospital, Rangoon

28 May 1918 – 18 June 1918 spent 22 days in hospital at Rangoon. Diagnosis difficult to read.

10 June 1918 – Transferred to Station Hospital, Maymyo

23 October 1918 – Transferred to G.F. Thomas Freeman Hospital, Bombay for duty

Promoted to sister whilst in India, Mesopotamia or on duty at sea.

18 November 1918 – embarked at Bombay on Royal George for UK

6 January 1919 – Disembarked at South Hampton

8 January 1919 – Admitted to Southwell Gardens Hospital, an Australian Army Nursing Service hospital in London.

29 January 1919 (?) Medical Board Report on a Disabled Officer – Disability Bronchial Catarrh & Debility. Date of origin – about 15 December 1918 – place of origin Egypt. Was on duty in Cairo on the way from India to England when she developed a cough and pain in the left chest. Did not report sick. Pain improved but there was a relapse 1/1/19. Has to sit up in bed to get ease from it. Admitted to AANS Southwell Gardens on 8/1/19.

Present condition: She is markedly thin. Chest – There prolongation of expiration and alteration in pitch of breath … Sputum test negative to for T.B. on 14/1/19. Refer to page 25 of SR re classification. (Not fit for general service for 3 months).

2 March 1919 – discharged from Southwell Gardens

3 March 1919 – Invalided to Australia – Euripedes

Death of Mr. Melville, M.L.C.

Mr Donald Melville, M.L.C. died this morning at his residence, Albion street, Brunswick. The deceased gentleman, who was in his 90th year, was known among members as the Father of the Legislative Council, having been a member since November 30, 1882, taking his seat continuously at the meetings ever since. Mr Melville was Minister for Defence and Minister for Health for Victoria in the McLean Ministry from December 1899, till November 19, 1900. He was elected to the first Parliamentary Standing Committee on Railways on December 10, 1890, and, except during the period when he was a Minister the Crown, he had been a member ever since. Since 1904 he had held the position of Vice-Chairman of Committees. Messages of sympathy have been sent to Mr Melville's family by the Clerk of the Legislative Council on behalf of the President, and of the staff of the Council, and by the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Railways. The flag at State Parliament House is flying at half-mast today. The funeral will take place tomorrow in the Melbourne General Cemetery. Carriages for members attending the funeral will leave State Parliament House at 1.30 p.m. Herald, Melbourne, 20 March 1919

25 April 1919  - Flora arrived home

23 May 1919 – termination of appointment recommended

19 July 1919  - discharged

From November 1919 until May 1920 Una Journal – address is 174 Riversdale Road Hawthorn, the home of her sister Kate and husband Ernest Homewood James (Merchant).

23 August 1921, Ada Melville, Flora’s elder sister, dies Ballarat Lunatic Asylum – CoD epilepsy and exhaustion.

February 1922, RVTNA Register of Nurses address is 10 Bowen Street, Kew.

1924, 1925 ER living at Bowen Street, Kew with her mother and her sister Daphne - Flora a nurse, Daphne a secretary.

4 April 1924 see The Brunswick & Coburg Leader re a letter Flora wrote to the Brunswick City Council advising that she learns through the Press that the Council is considering the advisability of purchasing land in N.W. Brunswick for a children's playground, and bringing under notice that she has land in that part of the city for sale.

11 April 1924 – see The Brunswick & Coburg Leader re the naming of Melville Road, Brunswick.

30 June 1924 Catherine Melville, Flora’s mother died at Bowen Street, Kew. Will states real estate £1,124, personal estate £6,376 3s 1p. Estate left to all four surviving daughters.

September 1924 Una Journal – Sister F. Melville, who was on duty during the war in India and in England is spending the winter in Queensland and is feeling much better. Her friend, Sister Chambers is going north as well.

The Equity Trustees Company Ltd. is applying for probate of the will of Catherine Melville, of Bowen Street, Kew, widow, who died on June 30. The assets are sworn at £7,008, consisting of real estate £1,124 and personal estate £5,884, which testatrix bequeathed to her four daughters. Argus, 13 September 1924.

19 November 1926 - Flora is a 2nd class passenger on the Maloja, bound for Melbourne. Arrived back in Melbourne 26 December 1926.

1931 - 1936 ER at 20 Alfred Street, Kew - home duties.

MELVILLE - On April 4, Flora, of 20 Alfred Street, Kew, daughter of the late Donald and Catherine Melville of West Brunswick and sister of Theodora, Kate (Mrs E H James) and Daphne. Cremated [at Springvale] April 8. The Argus, 6 April 1949

Probate granted 10 Aug 1949.

©Anne Hanson, 2023                                       E-mail:  Anne Hanson