BELL, JANE (1873-1959), hospital matron, was born on 16 March 1873 at Middlebie,
Dumfriesshire, Scotland, daughter of William Bell, farmer, and his wife Helen, née
Johnston. Jane was educated at a small school near Dumfries. When both parents and
four of the children died of tuberculosis, Jane and her surviving brother and two
sisters were helped by their local Presbyterian congregation to migrate to Sydney,
arriving in 1886.
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Australian Dictionary of Biography Online
Jane Bell was lady superintendent of Melbourne Hospital 1910-1934. She was responsible for many innovations, including replacement of male orderlies by sisters in the operating theatres; the appointment of tutor-sisters to instruct trainees and of a house-sister to supervise the nurses' quarters; the introduction of a six-week preliminary course; and pay for trainee-nurses. She was appointed OBE - Officer of The Order of the British Empire (Civil) - 1 January 1944 for her work as president of the Royal Victoria College of Nursing.
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Australian Women's Register
Jane Bell was lady superintendent of Melbourne Hospital 1910-34. She made many innovations, including replacement of male orderlies by sisters in the operating theatres; the appointment of tutor-sisters to instruct trainees and of a house-sister to supervise the nurses' quarters; the introduction of a six-week preliminary course; and pay for trainee-nurses.
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1898
Career position - Nursing Certificate completed at the Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Sydney
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1898 - 1903
Career position - Various staff appointments
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1903 - 1904
Career position - Matron at Bundaberg Hospital, Queensland
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1904 - 1906
Career position - Matron at Brisbane General Hospital
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1906 - 1907
Career position - Midwifery training at Queen Charlotte's Hospital, London
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1907 - 1910
Career position - Senior Assistant Superintendent of Nurses at Edinburgh Royal Infirmary
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1910 - 1934
Career position - Lady Superintendent of Melbourne Hospital
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1913 - 1915
Career position - Australian Army Nursing Service
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1924 - 1950
Career position - Member of the Nurses' Board
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1931 - 1934
Career position - President of the Royal Victorian College of Nursing
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1938 - 1946
Career position - President of the Royal Victorian College of Nursing
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1944
Award - Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE)
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Encyclopedia of Australian Science