Edna Nell Doig

Edna Nell Doig RRC (21 June 1915 – 24 November 1988) was an Australian army matron-in-chief.

Edna Nell Doig

RRC
Born(1915-06-21)21 June 1915
West End, Queensland
Died24 November 1988(1988-11-24) (aged 73)
Manly, Queensland
Occupationnurse, matron-in-chief
Years active1939 – 1970

Early life

Doig was born on 21 June 1915 at West End, Queensland.[1] She won a scholarship for her high school education at All Hallows' School[2] and completed the Junior Public examination with first class passes in four of her five subjects.[3] She completed her nursing training at Brisbane General Hospital in 1937.[1]

Career

In December 1939 Doig joined the Australian Army Nursing Service as a staff nurse. She served in the 2/3rd Australian General Hospital (AGH) at Godalming, Surrey, before being transferred to the 2/2nd AGH in Egypt, where she was promoted to sister. In March 1942 she returned to Australia where she was appointed lieutenant, then captain, both in 1943.[1]

From September to November 1945 she was part of the 2/14th AGH that cared for the Australian prisoners of war released from camps in Malaya prior to their repatriation. Doig spent 1946 to 1949 as deputy-matron of the 130th AGH in Japan. Returning to Australia, she transferred to the Army Reserve in April 1949 and settled in Melbourne. There she undertook midwifery training at the Women's Hospital and worked at the Repatriation General Hospital, Heidelberg.[1]

In 1953 Doig was promoted to Major in the Royal Australian Army Nursing Corps.[4] She became matron-in-chief and director of the Army Nursing Service, on 23 May 1961.[1] She was then promoted to Lieutenant Colonel in 1963. As Commanding Office of the 1st Australian Field Hospital, Doig toured South Vietnam in 1969.[5]

Doig retired as Colonel on 21 June 1970.[4]

Awards and honours

In the 1953 Queen's Birthday Honours, Doig was made an Associate of the Royal Red Cross (ARRC).[6] She was decorated with the award by Queen Elizabeth II at Government House, Sydney on 6 February 1954.[7]

Doig received the Royal Red Cross (1st Class) (Imperial) in the 1963 New Year Honours for her service in the Royal Australian Army Nursing Corps.[8]

She was awarded the Florence Nightingale Medal in 1969 as one of the 22nd Awards. She received the medal from Lady Hasluck, in her role of President of the National Red Cross, in Melbourne.[9]

Death and legacy

Edna Nell Doig died on 24 November 1988 at Manly, Queensland and was cremated.[1]

References
  1. Bomford, Janette, "Doig, Edna Nell (1915–1988)", Australian Dictionary of Biography, National Centre of Biography, Australian National University, retrieved 13 April 2019
  2. "Extension Scholarships". Daily Standard (Brisbane, Qld. : 1912 - 1936). 29 January 1931. p. 13. Retrieved 19 April 2019.
  3. "Details of Students' Successes in Junior Public Examination". Telegraph (Brisbane, Qld. : 1872 - 1947). 18 January 1933. p. 6. Retrieved 19 April 2019.
  4. "Colonel Edna Nell Doig". www.awm.gov.au. Retrieved 13 April 2019.
  5. "Care of the sick". Canberra Times (ACT : 1926 - 1995). 12 November 1969. p. 29. Retrieved 19 April 2019.
  6. "Government Gazette Notices". Commonwealth of Australia Gazette (National : 1901 - 1973). 11 June 1953. p. 1595. Retrieved 19 April 2019.
  7. "To be decorated by the Queen". Courier-Mail (Brisbane, Qld. : 1933 - 1954). 22 January 1954. p. 6. Retrieved 19 April 2019.
  8. "Lt. Col. Edna Nell Doig, ARRC". honours.pmc.gov.au. Retrieved 13 April 2019.
  9. International Committee of the Red Cross (May 1970). "Twenty-second Award of the Florence Nightingale Medal" (PDF). International Review of the Red Cross. 110.
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