Olivia Lowrey in the uniform of a staff nurse of Queen Alexandra’s Imperial Military Nursing Service Reserve, taken before August 1918 by which time she had been promoted to Sister.
Photo: Courtesy Newcastle Museum

Connection to the Hunter Valley – Sister Olivia Lowrey was born at Clarencetown.  Her father was a diary farmer at Stroud. Along with her sisters she is named on the Stroud Memorial Grandstand and the honour roll of St John’s Stroud.  Her sisters Bessie and Hazel Lowrey also nursed overseas during the War.  A fourth sister, Joyce, signed up for the AANS late in the War but was not called on for overseas service.

Training and experience – graduated Sydney Hospital 1912, became Matron of Scone Hospital after the War.

Service – Queen Alexandra’s Imperial Military Nursing Service Reserve (QAIMNSR). Her Matron’s report in 1919 describes Olivia as “a good, conscientious medical & surgical nurse, … observant, punctual in the discharge of her duties and kind to the patients.” Matron Roscoe, QAIMNS, 17 January 1919

Service location – France and UK

Medals – British War Medal and Victory  Medal

This clock in the collection of Quambi House Museum Stroud was a gift to Sister Lowrey from grateful patients of Wharncliffe War Hospital in Sheffield England. Photo: Christine Bramble 2013

References:

National Archives of Australia MT1487/1 LOWREY O A

National Archives of the UK WO/372/23 & WO/399/5019

Sydney Morning Herald, 22 December 1911, p.7, retrieved from Trove 27 July 2010

Australasian Nurses’ Journal, Vol XIV No 11 November 1916, pp. 369-371, Vol XVII No 3 March 1919, pp.86-87

Do you know more?

© Christine Bramble 2013