GRAHAM, MARGARET (1860-1942), nursing sister and army matron, was born on 15
February 1860 at Carlisle, Cumberland, England, daughter of John Graham,
journeyman house-painter, and his wife Margaret, née Farrer. Nothing is known of
her early life or of the circumstances which brought her to Australia. She entered
the (Royal) Adelaide Hospital as a probationer on 2 April 1891, was recommended
for promotion to charge nurse on 22 October 1894 and acted in this position until
15 February 1895 when her promotion was cancelled for alleged insubordination; she
was later dismissed.
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Australian Dictionary of Biography
Margaret Graham began work at the Royal Adelaide Hospital in 1891, becoming a charge nurse in 1894, holding this position until her dismissal in 1895 for alleged insubordination (see the Australian Dictionary of Biography, vol. 9). Graham was eventually reinstated in 1896 after a Royal Commission into the management of the hospital. Graham was a foundation member of the South Australian Branch of the Royal British Nurses' Association and its 'elected lady counsel' from 1900-1920. In 1914 she became the first lady superintendent of the Australian Army Nursing Service (AANS), and was one of the first three nurses to leave Australia on active service for the AANS, Australian Imperial Force. For her role as matron with the AANS, Graham was awarded the Royal Red Cross (1 January 1917).
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Australian Women's Register
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