Daughter of Irishman, Laurence O’Toole and Ellen Gooden. Born 19 May 1910, Port Fairy. Third of eight children. Known as Cassie. Brought up on a farm at Rosebrook near Port Fairy.
From the ODH House Committee report 16 August 1927 - Miss O’Toole arrived and a few hours after she started, she slipped and injured her knee and she is laid up for a few days.
From the ODH House Committee report 20 December 1927 – Nurse O’Toole has completed her 3 months and is approved of by the Medical Officer and Matron. She has signed her indentures in conjunction with her father as she is under age.
From the ODH house committee report 17 July 1928 – The Secretary reported that … Probationer nurses O’Toole and Hart had given notice of their intention to discontinue their training. Nurse Hart had not signed her indentures, nurse O’Toole had signed hers.
From a special meeting of ODH house committee 14 August 1928… Nurse O’Toole, one of the trainees has forwarded her resignation and had left the institution and two other trainees said that they would leave on the 31st inst.
From the ODH house committee report 21 August 1928 – The secretary reported that … Nurse O’Toole has left and I understand that she is at Wangaratta … … It was agreed to recommend that the resignations of the following trainees be not entertained, viz Kathleen O’Toole, Kathleen Elliott and Elsie Meades [should read Elizabeth Meades] and that their salaries not be paid if they broke their agreement or indentures.
Date of qualification – February 1931, Ovens District hospital & Wangaratta District hospital.
1931 is at Westham Private Hospital, Wangaratta.
Possibly still in Wangaratta in April 1932 – See Table Talk, 21 April 1932.
1934 ER 82 Park Street, St. Kilda West. This is a trained nurses’ hostel.
First registered as a midwife 31 August 1934. Undertook midwifery training at Queen Victoria Hospital, Melbourne.
PORT FAIRY … Sister O’Toole of Wangaratta has been appointed to the nursing staff of Port Fairy Hospital. The Sun News Pictorial, 19 December 1935.
1936 is still nursing at the Port Fairy Hospital. See Port Fairy Ball, 29 August 1936.
1939 Midwives Registration address is Bank Street, Port Fairy
1940 Register of Nurse, Kathleen is at 43 May Street, North Fitzroy.
Enlisted WW2 11 March 1941 at Heidelberg.
Posted to the 115 AGH. Between March 1941 and May 1947, the 115th AGH was located on campus of the Austin Hospital at Heidelberg in north eastern Melbourne. The 6th RAAF Hospital was also located there. In 1947 the 115th AGH was handed over to the Repatriation Commission to become the Repatriation General Hospital Heidelberg.
1943 Register of Midwives has her address as 43 May Street, North Fitzroy. (Her parents’ home)
1947 Register of Midwives has her address as 31 Willow Bank Street, Fitzroy. (Her parents’ home)
1948 removed from General Nurses’ Register.
Married John Alexander Donald.
DONALD. - John Alexander (Alex). On Dec. 30, 1999, at St. Vincent's Hospital, Melbourne. Late of Mt. Waverley. Beloved husband of Kathleen, only son of the late John Philip and Edith Donald, formerly of "Woodford", Dartmoor. Grandson of Alexander Donald, Member of Portland Shire Council 16 years between 1879-1898, President 8 terms, and Elizabeth (Philip), great- grandson of the late Capt. John and Mrs. Margaret Philip "Miga Lake". Loved brother of Margaret (Mrs. S. E. Spencer, dec.), Dorothy (dec.), Jean (dec.), Elizabeth (Mrs. E. P. Smith, Frankston), Ann (Mrs. A.E. Harvey, Mildura). Father of Alex (Callington S.A.) and Margaret (Mrs. R. J. Bartlett, Coolum Beach, Qld.). Grandfather of James, Katherine, Elizabeth and Megan Donald, Mrs. James Symes, (Mooloolaba Qld.) and Gregory Bartlett (Adelaide S.A.). Great- grandfather of Corey, Bethany and Kelsey Symes, Carley, Ethan and Kiana Bartlett. Herald Sun, 1 January 2000.
Died 12 October 2004 at Burwood. Probate granted 5 January 2005.
DONALD (O'Toole). - Kathleen Dorothy. On Oct. 12, Kathleen, loved wife of the late Alex and stepmother of Margaret and Alex. Died peacefully at Elizabeth Gardens Nursing Home, Burwood, aged 94 years. Loved daughter of Lawrence and Ellen O'Toole (both dec.). Sister of Larry, Jack, Jim, Ned, Mary (Bartholomew) (all dec.), Sheila (Moloney), Greg and Pat (Dowling). Loved sister-in-law of Eileen and Sheila (both dec.), Kitty, Geoff (dec.), Jack (dec.), Blanche and Maurie (dec.). Loved "Auntie Kath" to their families. We are eternally grateful to the wonderful Staff at Elizabeth Gardens and to Barry Pointon for his untiring dedication. R.I.P. Herald Sun, 14 October 2004.