Nursing in Australia

This material is held atRoyal College of Nursing Archives

Scope and Content

Records from Mary Baxter's time nursing in Australia, 1950-1952. File inlcudes:

Letter of recommendation from D.K. Noller at the Bush Nursing Service. Noller was the Supervisory Sister of the service and gives Evans a very positive reference - 11 Jul 1952

“Annual Summary of Work Performed in the British Nursing service – July 1949 to June 1950,” A report published by D.K. Noller, a Supervisory Sister for the British Nursing Service in Hobart, Tasmania - c.1950

Menu from a fancy dress ball held on the R.M.S Orion, an ocean liner that travelled from Europe to Australia. The front of the menu features a lithograph of Hampton Court Palace - 24 Jan 1953

Menu from a “children’s tea party” held aboard the R.M.S Orion, an ocean liner that travelled from Europe to Australia. The front of the menu has an illustration of several animals on board an ocean liner - 23 Jan 1953

Clothing Book, 1944 – 1947

“Document of Identity” issued in lieu of passport to Mary Evans by the Department of Immigration, Australia - 4 Oct 1950

Mock certificate given to Mary Evans on board the H.M.S. Cheshire, which was serving as repatriation ship after the Second World War -1 Dec 1950

“Information for Persons Travelling to Australia and Full-Fare Paying Passengers” from the Office of the High Commissioner for Australia - c.1950

“The Nursing Profession in Australia – Recognition of Qualifications Obtained in the United Kingdom and Prospects of Employments Generally” from the Office of the High Commissioner for Australia - c. 1950

“Australian Migration Newsletter” - 12 Aug 1960

“Australia – A Bulletin of Holiday and Travel News” - 2 Aug 1960

Administrative / Biographical History

Mary Baxter (nee Evans) was born in Greater Manchester on 19 Mar 1915. She gained her first qualification as a nurse in c.1940 in Greater Manchester. She registered as a nurse in Tasmania, Australia in 1941 and saw war time service in India and Egypt before returning to Manchester to train as a midwife at St. Mary’s Hospital, Newton Heath in 1946. In 1950, Evans travelled to Australia again to work as a nurse and she returned to Manchester in 1951 where she subsequently trained as health visitor. She retired from nursing and health visitor practice in 1969 due to ill health. Mary Baxter passed away in 1999.

Access Information

This collection is available for research. Readers are advised to contact the RCN Archives in advance of their first visit.

Conditions Governing Use

Royal College of Nursing