qld midwives

[Billyblue]

Pwh
OH's daughter says:
Qld Nurses Regn Board was subsumed into the national Nurses Registration Board while she was working there.
She says if you know where your GGM did her midwifery training (which hospital) then that's the first place to try. 
She knows that a lot of the QNRB records went to Qld State Archives including a bunch of microfiche which was mainly exam results.  You could email them to find out just what they have:
www.archives.qld.gov.au.   But I don't think they have any kind of lookup service - for this you'll have to appeal to any friendly RCer, or pay someone.  If you have to use a paid researcher, I know of at least one who specialises in Archives (QSA) - which would hopefully make it cheaper when you pay them by the hour   

Dawn M

[Aussie1947]

Hi pwh,

It would be most likely that she did qualify and was registered by the Nurses Board, there would have been many midwifes in the same situation. The Act stated that the registrations would be Gazetted in January of each year so the 1913 January Gazette might be a good place to see if she was mentioned as a registered midwife under the new arrangements.

With regards to the Queensland Government Gazette, these should be held by the State Library so you may want to consider using their "Ask a Librarian" service to  try and find your GGM starting in 1913, maybe 1912.

http://askslq.altarama.com/reft100.aspx?pmi=8bV3VH2vkk

Gerry

PS, that was a long career as a midwife and with over a 1000 baby deliveries it would have been very difficult for the bureaucracy to say that your GGM was not qualified and therefore be granted registration under the new legislation starting in 1912.

[pwh]

billyblue
                       That information sent me on an internet search. My GGM  arrived  in
Rockhampton in 1865 at the age of eighteen. The Port Curtis and Leichardt  District
Hospital later known as the Rockhampton Hospital opened in 1868. If she began as a midwife
in the 1870s she would have been about 25. If she had formal training it would most likely
have been there. At least it is a place to start. Please pass my thanks on to your OH daughter.

                                                                                       pwh

[Billyblue]

No problem, she was pleased to assist     

Of course, in the 1800s she may have just 'learned by experience' type of thing.
And also, of course, no guarantee the Rocky Hospital has archives back that far.
Good luck!
Dawn M

[Aussie1947]

Hi Pwh,

Don't know if you have seen this but here is a site that may be of interest it centres around the Rockhampton Hospital.

http://www.achha.org.au/index.php

Check out the About us and Our Collection and Other resources headings.

Considering that your GGM was a nursing pioneer with the Hospital they might like to hear from you and they just might have some vital information as well.

Just for interest, there were 108 births at the Rockhampton Hospital in 1874.

Gerry
 

[pwh]

aussie1947
                     Thanks for that tip. I have sent an email off this morning.

                                                                        pwh

[Aussie1947]

Just for interest, my GGM had a baby at the Rockhampton Hospital in 1892, he might have been delivered by your GGM!

Gerry

[pwh]

aussie1947
                    If that did turn out to be the case it would show just how small a place the
world can sometimes be.
                                               pwh

[Billyblue]

Pwh, there is also the Mater Hospital at Rockhampton, to consider, if you aren't successful with the General Hospital.
This is a private hospital, but does have an obstetric section.  According to Wiki, it was built around 1894 as a private residence, the Sisters of Mercy bought it for a hospital in 1915.  They say 'a new' obstetric wing was built around 1940 so presumably they already had an obstetric section prior to that.  Your GGM could also maybe have worked there?
The Mater Hospital is more likely to have archives 'on site' than is the General Hospital, I should think. The latter being government-run, would send old records to Qld State Archives.

Dawn M