Evelyn Conyers

Evelyn Conyers
Born(1870-03-01)1 March 1870
Invercargill, New Zealand
Died6 September 1944(1944-09-06) (aged 74)
Richmond, Victoria, Australia
Buried
Boroondara Cemetery, Kew, Victoria
AllegianceAustralia
Service / branchAustralian Army
Years of service1903–1920
RankMatron
CommandsAustralian Army Nursing Service (1916–20)
Battles / warsFirst World War
AwardsCommander of the Order of the British Empire
Royal Red Cross & Bar
Mentioned in Despatches
Florence Nightingale Medal

Evelyn Augusta Conyers, CBE, RRC & Bar (1 March 1870 – 6 September 1944) was a New Zealand-born Australian matron-in-chief of the Australian Army Nursing Service during the First World War. She was its first member to be awarded the Florence Nightingale Medal, the highest award for nursing service.[1][2]

Early life and training

Conyers was born at Invercargill, New Zealand, on 1 March 1870 to William and Fanny (née Mainprize).[3][4]

After completing her secondary education in New Zealand, Conyers migrated to Victoria where she trained as a nurse at the Melbourne Children's Hospital until 1894 and then the Melbourne Hospital from which she graduated in 1896.[1]

Nursing career

In 1901 Conyers was appointed matron of a private hospital in Melbourne.[1] A year later she applied for register a patent for "an improved supporting frame to be used with slipper bed-pan".[5]

Conyers was one of the original members of the Australian Army Nursing Service which was formed in 1903.[6][7]

First World War

Conyers enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force on 11 October 1914. In January 1916 she was appointed Matron-in-chief of the 1st Australian General Hospital. Conyers was mentioned in a despatch of General Sir John Maxwell "in connection with services rendered in Egypt". In September 1916 she was awarded the Royal Red Cross "for conspicuous services rendered" and later a Bar "in recognition of her valuable nursing service". On 1 January 1919 King George V appointed Conyers a Commander of the Order of the British Empire. In 1921 she was awarded the Florence Nightingale Medal with diploma.[8]

Her war service complete, Conyers left London for Australia in December 1919 per Orvieto and was discharged on 7 March 1920.[8]

Death

Conyers died on 6 September 1944 in Epworth Private Hospital, Richmond and was buried at Boroondara Cemetery.[9]

  • Conyers (centre) and four nurses on board Troopship Orvieto on voyage home to Australia
    Conyers (centre) and four nurses on board Troopship Orvieto on voyage home to Australia
  • Conyers laying a wreath on the Edith Cavell Memorial in Melbourne, Anzac Day 1942
    Conyers laying a wreath on the Edith Cavell Memorial in Melbourne, Anzac Day 1942

References

  1. ^ a b c Alafaci, Annette. "Conyers, Evelyn Augusta (1870–1944)". Encyclopedia of Australian Science. Retrieved 25 April 2018.
  2. ^ "Women to Talk About". The Register News-pictorial. Vol. XCIV, no. 27, 428. South Australia. 12 July 1929. p. 35. Retrieved 25 April 2018 – via National Library of Australia.
  3. ^ "Death Certificate – Conyers, Evelyn Augusta". Births, Deaths & Marriages Victoria. Retrieved 25 April 2018.
  4. ^ Heywood, Anne. "Conyers, Evelyn Augusta (1870–1944)". The Australian Women's Register. The National Foundation for Australia Women (NFAW). Retrieved 25 April 2018.
  5. ^ "Application for registration of patent by Evelyn Augusta Conyers titled – An improved supporting frame to be used with a slipper bed-pan". National Archives of Australia. Retrieved 25 April 2018.
  6. ^ "Women Ready to Aid and Offer Services". The Herald. No. 12, 088. Victoria, Australia. 3 August 1914. p. 12. Retrieved 25 April 2018 – via National Library of Australia.
  7. ^ "Commonwealth Military Forces". Commonwealth Of Australia Gazette. No. 65. Australia. 21 November 1903. p. 865. Retrieved 25 April 2018 – via National Library of Australia.
  8. ^ a b "Attestation Paper of Evelyn Augusta Conyers". National Archives of Australia. Retrieved 25 April 2018.
  9. ^ Reid, John. "Conyers, Evelyn Augusta (1870–1944)". Australian Dictionary of Biography. Canberra: National Centre of Biography, Australian National University. ISBN 978-0-522-84459-7. ISSN 1833-7538. OCLC 70677943. Retrieved 25 April 2018.