McCREADY, GEORGINA (1888-1980), nurse, trade unionist and administrator, was
born on 17 December 1888 at Greenock, Renfrewshire, Scotland, daughter of George
Johnstone, telephone inspector, and his wife Margaret, née Gibson. The parents
moved with their eight children to Glasgow and Georgina was educated there. While
employed in a chartered accountant's office, she advanced to ledger-work and
learned shorthand at evening-college. She then sought a new vocation, entered the
Eastern District Hospital and qualified as a general nurse on 1 November 1912.
Georgina accompanied her father when he visited relations in Australia in 1913. In
the following year the entire family settled in the Sydney suburb of Dumbleton
(Beverly Hills).
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Australian Dictionary of Biography Online
Georgina McCready was appointed as one of the first supervisory sisters in the New South Wales Department of Health in 1929, under the Public Health Act (1929). A founding member of the New South Wales Nurses Association (NSWNA) in 1931, she was its first honorary secretary and the first woman to hold such a position in an industrial organisation in Australia. McCready was one of four founders of the New South Wales College of Nursing (NSWCN) in 1949. The McCready Scholarship (tenable at NSWCN) was established in 1954 by NSWNA in her honour. She was appointed MBE - Member of The Order of the British Empire (Civil) - 8 June 1963, for services to the nursing profession.
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Australian Women's Register
Georgina McCready was appointed as one of the first Supervisory Sisters in the New South Wales Department of Health in 1929, under the Public Health Act (1929). A founding member of the New South Wales Nurses Association (NSWNA) in 1931, she was its first Honorary Secretary and the first woman to hold such a position in an industrial organisation in Australia. McCready was one of four founders of the New South Wales College of Nursing (NSWCN) in 1949. The McCready Scholarship (tenable NSWCN) was established in 1954 by NSWNA in her honour. She was appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) on 8 June 1963, for services to nursing.
Georgina McCready (née Johnstone) was born 17 December 1888 in Greenock, Renfrewshire, Scotland. She married Samuel McCready (died 1940) on 25 January 1932 at St Stephen's Presbyterian Church, Sydney City, and died 16 September 1980 in Leichhardt, Sydney, New South Wales. She received her General Nursing Certificate from Eastern District Hospital, Glasgow, Scotland in 1912. She visited Australia with her father in 1913 and in 1914 the Johnstone family moved to Sydney. In 1914 she registered with the Australasian Trained Nurses Association, completing her Midwifery Certificate at the Women's Hospital, Crown Street, Sydney in 1922 and her Mothercraft Certificate at the Tresillian Centre, Petersham, New South Wales in 1928. She was appointed as one of the first Supervisory Sisters in the New South Wales Department of Health in 1929, under the Public Health Act (1929). A founding member of the New South Wales Nurses Association (NSWNA), 27 February 1931, she was its first Honorary Secretary and the first woman to hold such a position in an industrial organisation in Australia. McCready held this post again in 1935 and from 1941 to 1945, becoming Assistant General Secretary, 1946-1953.
McCready was one of four founders of the New South Wales College of Nursing (NSWCN) in 1949, and held the post of President of the Provisional Council from 12 January 1949 to 31 January 1950 (called Honorary Chairman to 19 May 1949). She was recognised as a Founder and invested as Foundation Fellow, 18 September 1952. She was one of the first two people to become Life Members of New South Wales Nurses Association (NSWNA), 1953. The McCready Scholarship (tenable at NSWCN) was established in 1954 by NSWNA in her honour. She was awarded the MBE, 8 June 1963, for services to nursing.
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1913
Private nursing home in Bedford, UK
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1913 - 1915
Head Nurse at Renwick Children's Hospital in Summer Hill, New South Wales
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1915 - 1916
Deputy Matron of St George District Hospital in Kogarah, New South Wales
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1917 - 1918
Private hospital in Kogarah
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1919 - 1923
Sister and Matron at the Cessnock Hospital, New South Wales
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1923 - 1926
Matron at Maitland Hospital, New South Wales
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1926 - July 1928
Matron at Broken Hill Hospital, New South Wales
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July 1928 - March 1932
Baby Health Centres and Supervisory Sister with the Department of Health in New South Wales
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1932 - 1943
Honorary Secretary of the New South Wales Nurses Association (NSWNA)
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1943 - 1945
Salaried officer at NSWNA
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1946 - 1953
Assistant General Secretary in NSWNA
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1953 - 1960
Worked at NSWNA (part-time)
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1963
Award - Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE)
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Encyclopedia of Australian Science