Matron Agnes Walsh

Agnes Marion McLean Walsh OBE (née Gibson; 10 June 1884 – 12 August 1967) was head matron of King Edward Memorial Hospital, a Western Australian maternity hospital[1] from 1922 until her retirement in December 1954, during which time more than 60,000 babies were born under her supervision.[2] In that capacity she advised the Commonwealth Government on midwifery policy and was on the National Medical Research Council.[3]

In the 1930s Dot Edis was working for her at the King Edward Memorial Hospital after taking further training in child care and midwifery there. Walsh made her responsible for the post-natal ward and she became so enamoured with a baby, who was under developed, that she adopted Reginald as her own child. Edis was to go on have a leading career in nursing.[4]

In the 1949 New Year Honours Walsh was made an Officer of the British Empire (OBE)[5] and received her award at Government House, Perth in July of the same year.[6]

The Agnes Walsh Nurses’ Home was opened by the West Australian Minister for Health, Dame Florence Cardell-Oliver in January 1953.[7]

References

  1. ↑ Martyr, Philippa, 'Walsh, Agnes Marion McLean (1884–1967)', Australian Dictionary of Biography, National Centre of Biography, Australian National University, accessed 16 September 2011.
  2. ↑ "Matron Walsh of K.E.M.H. to Retire". West Australian (Perth, WA : 1879 – 1954). 7 June 1954. p. 1. Retrieved 13 April 2019.
  3. ↑ "A Knighthood for Don Bradman". West Australian (Perth, WA: 1879–1954). 1 January 1949. p. 4. Retrieved 13 April 2019.
  4. ↑ Gare, Deborah, "Edis, Margaret Dorothy (Dot) (1890–1981)", Australian Dictionary of Biography, Canberra: National Centre of Biography, Australian National University, retrieved 22 September 2023
  5. ↑ "Agnes Miriam McLean Walsh". honours.pmc.gov.au. Retrieved 13 April 2019.
  6. ↑ "Matron's Outstanding Work For Women". West Australian (Perth, WA: 1879–1954). 21 July 1949. p. 18. Retrieved 13 April 2019.
  7. ↑ "Matron Honoured When Nurses' Home Is Named". The West Australian. Vol. 69, no. 20, 746. Western Australia. 16 January 1953. p. 5. Retrieved 29 November 2020 – via National Library of Australia.
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