Detail of Wallsend Citizens’ Memorial
Photo: A John Bramble 2010

Connection with the Hunter Valley – Sister Agnes Ross Cuthbertson was born in Newcastle, trained at Wallsend Hospital and had a twenty-two year association with nursing in Singleton. She is named on the Wallsend and Singleton Citizens’ memorials.  Agnes was Matron of Singleton Benevolent Asylum from 1905 to 1907, then the first Matron of Dangar Cottage Hospital Singleton from 1907.  She returned to Dangar Cottage Hospital after the War and remained there until 1927.

“Her passing was a great loss to the community, for she was a virtuous woman and never grew callous or unkind through many years of nursing.  She had a genuine sympathy for the sick and suffering, and helped and comforted them to an extent beyond her mere duty.”  From a letter to the editor, Singleton Argus, 17 August 1938, p3, retrieved from Trove 25 January 2013

Detail of Singleton Citizens’ Memorial in Burdekin Park.
Photo: A John Bramble 2010

Service – Australian Army Nursing Service (AANS)

Service location – Egypt

Medals – British War Medal and Victory Medal

References:

National Archives of Australia B2455 CUTHBERTSON A R

Nominal Roll of the First AIF Australian War Memorial (AWM) AWM133,12-123

Embarkation Roll of the First AIF AWM Nurses (July 1915 – November 1918)

Sydney Morning Herald, 10 January 1920, retrieved from Trove 5 August 2010;  9 May 1936, retrieved from Trove 11 August 2010

Singleton Argus, 4 april 1914, retrieved from Trove 1 August 2012; 6 May 1936 & 17 August 1938, retrieved from Trove 25 January 2013

Personalities from Singleton’s Past – a history of some of the people who have helped develop Singleton, Singleton Historical Society & Museum Inc 2007

Souvenir of the Opening at Singleton of the Dangar Cottage Hospital, 22 June 1907, facsimile edition by Singleton Historical Society & Museum, n d.

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© Christine Bramble 2013