Bell, Jane (1873-1959)

Field of activity
Hospital Matron and Nurse; army matron; hospital matron (general); nurse (general); nursing administrator; Nurse
NLA Persistent Identifier
http://nla.gov.au/nla.party-763085

Biographies

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.

View the full record at 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.

View the full record at 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.

  • 1898 Career position - Nursing Certificate completed at the Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Sydney
  • 1898 - 1903 Career position - Various staff appointments
  • 1903 - 1904 Career position - Matron at Bundaberg Hospital, Queensland
  • 1904 - 1906 Career position - Matron at Brisbane General Hospital
  • 1906 - 1907 Career position - Midwifery training at Queen Charlotte's Hospital, London
  • 1907 - 1910 Career position - Senior Assistant Superintendent of Nurses at Edinburgh Royal Infirmary
  • 1910 - 1934 Career position - Lady Superintendent of Melbourne Hospital
  • 1913 - 1915 Career position - Australian Army Nursing Service
  • 1924 - 1950 Career position - Member of the Nurses' Board
  • 1931 - 1934 Career position - President of the Royal Victorian College of Nursing
  • 1938 - 1946 Career position - President of the Royal Victorian College of Nursing
  • 1944 Award - Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE)

View the full record at Encyclopedia of Australian Science

Related people and organisations

Australian Women's Register

Resources for Jane Bell

Selected resources (14)

Australian Dictionary of Biography Online

  1. 'Bell, Jane (1873 - 1959)', Australian Dictionary of Biography, Volume 7, p. 257.
    Lyndsay Gardiner
    [1979]
    Published: Melbourne University Press

Australian Women's Register

  1. Bell, Jane (1873 - 1959), Biographical EntryBright Sparcs : Bell, Jane (1873 - 1959), Biographical Entry
    [2002]
    Published: Australian Science and Technology Heritage Centre
    Series: http://www.asap.unimelb.edu.au/bsparcs/biogs/P000970b.htm
  2. Bell, Jane (1873-1959)Australian Dictionary of Biography Online 07 : Bell, Jane (1873-1959)
    Gardiner, Lyndsay
    [2006]
    Published: Australian National University
    Series: http://www.adb.online.anu.edu.au/biogs/A070254b.htm
  3. Faith, Hope and Charity Australian Women and Imperial Honours: 1901-1989
    Australian Women's Archives Project
    [2003]
    Published: Australian Women's Archives Project
    Series: http://www.womenaustralia.info/exhib/honours/honours.html
  4. Where are the Women in Australian science?
    Australian Science and Technology Heritage Centre
    [2003]
    Published: Australian Science and Technology Heritage Centre
    Series: http://www.austehc.unimelb.edu.au/wisa/wisa.html
  5. Australian nurses since Nightingale 1860-1990
    Burchill, Elizabeth
    [1992]
    Published: Spectrum Publications Pty Ltd
  6. The Ever open door : a history of the Royal Melbourne Hospital 1848-1998
    Gregory, Alan
    [1998]
    Published: Hyland House
  7. 200 Australian Women: A Redress Anthology
    Radi, Heather
    [1988]
    Published: Women's Redress Press
  8. National Archives of Australia, National Office: Bell Jane (c. 1914 - c. 1920)
    Bell Jane : SERN P/MATRON : POB N/A : POE Melbourne VIC : NOK S Steindl J M
    B2455/1

Encyclopedia of Australian Science

  1. 200 Australian Women: a Redress Anthology
    Radi, H.
    [1988]
    Published: Women's Redress Press Inc
  2. Jane Bell, OBE, Lady Superintendent: the Royal Melbourne Hospital, 1910-1934
    Goodman, Rupert and Williams, Jennifer A.
    [1988]
    Published: Spectrum Publications
  3. Jane Bell (1873-1959) hospital matron200 Australian Women: A Redress Anthology Heather Radi : Jane Bell (1873-1959) hospital matron
    Williams, Jennifer
    [1988]
    Published: Women's Redress Press Inc
  4. Bell, Jane (1873-1959), hospital matronAustralian Dictionary of Biography Bede Nairn and Geoffrey Serle 7 257 : Bell, Jane (1873-1959), hospital matron
    Gardiner, Lyndsay
    [1979]
    Published: Melbourne University Press
  5. Who's Who in Australia 1944
    Alexander, John A.
    [1944]
    Published: The Herald and Weekly Times Ltd

Resources about Jane Bell (4)

  1. Jane Bell OBE (1873-1959) Lady Superintendent, the Royal Melbourne Hospital (1910-1934) / Jennifer A. Williams and Rupert D. Goodman
    Williams, Jennifer Ann
    [ Book : 1988 ]
    At 30 libraries
    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 34.389)

    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 34.389)

  2. Matron Bell at war / by Barbara Stacpoole
    Stacpoole, Barbara
    [ Thesis : 1997 ]
    At RMIT Library
    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 6.258)

    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 6.258)

  3. Frontline, nursing research [executive producer, original concept and script], Ralph Guice
    Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology. Communication Services Unit
    [ Video : 1993-2010 ]
    At 12 libraries
    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 5.831)

    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 5.831)

  4. Frontline nursing research / producer, director, Ian Shiel
    Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology
    [ Video : 1993 ]
    At LaTrobe Uni Melb
    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 2.523)

    This resource is very relevant to your query (score: 2.523)

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