Edna Shaw
Edna Mary Anna Jane Shaw | |
|---|---|
 Royal Hospital for Women Paddington Christmas 1936 | |
| Born | 7 June 1891 Murrumburrah,New South Wales, Australia |
| Died | 25 January 1974(aged 82) Waverley,New South Wales, Australia |
| Nationality | Australian |
| Education | Marrickville Hospital,Royal Hospital for Women |
| Occupation | matron |
| Employer | Crown Street Women's Hospital |
| Known for | "Mother of 100,000 babies" |
Edna Mary Anna Jane ShawOBE(7 June 1891 – 25 January 1974) was anAustralianhospital matron. She was called the "Mother of 100,000 babies".
Life[edit]
Shaw was born inMurrumburrah,New South Wales. Her parents were Mary Emillia (born Druitt) and her husband the Rev. Augustus Rutherford Shaw. They had both been born in Australia. She was their first child and they would have five more. She trained as a nurse atMarrickville Hospitalin the suburbs of Sydney during the war years of 1914 to 1917. She qualified as a midwife in the following year at what became theRoyal Hospital for Women.She volunteered for the military but the armistice was soon agreed.[1]
In January 1919 Shaw joinedCrown Street Women's Hospitalas deputy matron and was appointed matron in 1936.[2]
From 1938 until the end of her career she was a member of theAustralasian Trained Nurses' Association's council.[1]
In 1951 she was still organising the nursing at Crown Street Hospital when she was lauded for arranging what was called a "Baby Bureau". Previously expectant women had to go from hospital to hospital in Sydney to find a bed where they could give birth. Shaw'sMaternity Booking Office for Metropolitan Hospitals(aka Baby Bureau) took on this task giving mothers a one-stop shop where they would be told of a hospital that had a free bed for them. The booking also benefitted the hospitals as mothers would reserve beds in several hospitals to ensure that they had a space.[3]
Shaw retired as a matron in 1952 having been identified as "the mother of 100,000" babies. A public appeal raised a thousand pounds for her.[1]She had been made anOBEin 1950[2]for her services to nursing.[4]
She died inWaverleyin 1974.[2]
References[edit]
- ^abcFulloon, Gillian,"Edna Mary Anna Jane Shaw (1891–1974)",Australian Dictionary of Biography,Canberra: National Centre of Biography, Australian National University,retrieved2024-03-31
- ^abc"Shaw, Edna Mary Anna Jane – Person".Encyclopedia of Australian Science and Innovation.Retrieved2024-03-31.
- ^"BUREAU TO HELP EXPECTANT MOTHERS".Daily Mirror.1951-05-16.Retrieved2024-03-31.
- ^Centre, The University of Melbourne eScholarship Research."Shaw, Edna Mary Anna Jane - Bright Sparcs Biographical entry".www.asap.unimelb.edu.au.Retrieved2024-03-31.
