Olive Anstey
Encyclopedia
Olive Eva Anstey CBE
(9 August 1920 – 18 August 1983) was an Australian hospital matron.
Born at Fremantle
to sawmill benchman Terence Edwin Anstey and Eva Annie, née Donovan, Olive and her family moved to Sydney
when she was eighteen months old. She moved back to Western Australia in 1934, learning shorthand and typing at Perth Technical College before starting work at a box factory in 1935 at the age of 15 (continuing her studies at night). She began training to be a nurse at the Royal Perth Hospital
in 1941, despite the disapproval of her family who viewed nursing as "servitude". Passing her final examinations in 1944, she won election to the local council of the Australasian Trained Nurses Association. She campaigned in 1946 for better pay and conditions before returning to Sydney to study midwifery
, running a small private hospital from 1947. She was honorary founding secretary of the New South Wales College of Nursing in 1949 before moving to South Australia
as a community health nurse.
Anstey returned to Perth
in 1953 to work at the Perth Chest Clinic, and was appointed matron of the new Perth Chest Hospital in May 1958 after studying nursing administration at the College of Nursing, Australia, in Melbourne
. The hospital was renamed the Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital
and Anstey extended its responsibilities into community health. In 1958 she was elected councillor of the Royal Australian Nursing Federation (RANF)'s Western Australian branch, of which she would serve as president from 1962 to 1966. She was on the council of the College of Nursing, Australia, from 1964 to 1971 and federal president of the RANF from 1971 to 1975. From 1977 to 1981 she was president of the International Council of Nurses.
Anstey retired in 1981. She had been appointed MBE in 1969 and was elevated to CBE in 1982. On the night of 18-19 August 1983 she died suddenly at Shoalwater
and was buried in Karrakatta cemetery. She is commemmorated by an accommodation block for student nurses at Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital (1974) and the Olive Anstey Nursing Fund, established shortly after her death.
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
(9 August 1920 – 18 August 1983) was an Australian hospital matron.
Born at Fremantle
Fremantle, Western Australia
Fremantle is a city in Western Australia, located at the mouth of the Swan River. Fremantle Harbour serves as the port of Perth, the state capital. Fremantle was the first area settled by the Swan River colonists in 1829...
to sawmill benchman Terence Edwin Anstey and Eva Annie, née Donovan, Olive and her family moved to Sydney
Sydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
when she was eighteen months old. She moved back to Western Australia in 1934, learning shorthand and typing at Perth Technical College before starting work at a box factory in 1935 at the age of 15 (continuing her studies at night). She began training to be a nurse at the Royal Perth Hospital
Royal Perth Hospital
Royal Perth Hospital is an 855-bed teaching hospital located on the northeastern edge of the CBD of Perth, Western Australia . Royal Perth Hospital also has specialised rehabilitation facilities at Shenton Park.-History:...
in 1941, despite the disapproval of her family who viewed nursing as "servitude". Passing her final examinations in 1944, she won election to the local council of the Australasian Trained Nurses Association. She campaigned in 1946 for better pay and conditions before returning to Sydney to study midwifery
Midwifery
Midwifery is a health care profession in which providers offer care to childbearing women during pregnancy, labour and birth, and during the postpartum period. They also help care for the newborn and assist the mother with breastfeeding....
, running a small private hospital from 1947. She was honorary founding secretary of the New South Wales College of Nursing in 1949 before moving to South Australia
South Australia
South Australia is a state of Australia in the southern central part of the country. It covers some of the most arid parts of the continent; with a total land area of , it is the fourth largest of Australia's six states and two territories.South Australia shares borders with all of the mainland...
as a community health nurse.
Anstey returned to Perth
Perth, Western Australia
Perth is the capital and largest city of the Australian state of Western Australia and the fourth most populous city in Australia. The Perth metropolitan area has an estimated population of almost 1,700,000....
in 1953 to work at the Perth Chest Clinic, and was appointed matron of the new Perth Chest Hospital in May 1958 after studying nursing administration at the College of Nursing, Australia, in Melbourne
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
. The hospital was renamed the Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital
Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital
Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital is one of Australia's leading teaching hospitals, and is located in Nedlands, a suburb of Perth, Western Australia...
and Anstey extended its responsibilities into community health. In 1958 she was elected councillor of the Royal Australian Nursing Federation (RANF)'s Western Australian branch, of which she would serve as president from 1962 to 1966. She was on the council of the College of Nursing, Australia, from 1964 to 1971 and federal president of the RANF from 1971 to 1975. From 1977 to 1981 she was president of the International Council of Nurses.
Anstey retired in 1981. She had been appointed MBE in 1969 and was elevated to CBE in 1982. On the night of 18-19 August 1983 she died suddenly at Shoalwater
Shoalwater, Western Australia
Shoalwater is an outer southern suburb of Perth, the capital city of Western Australia, located within the City of Rockingham.Shoalwater is located within the Shoalwater Islands Marine Park which includes Shoalwater Bay, Warnbro Sound, Cape Peron and several small islands being Penguin island, Seal...
and was buried in Karrakatta cemetery. She is commemmorated by an accommodation block for student nurses at Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital (1974) and the Olive Anstey Nursing Fund, established shortly after her death.