Bessie Cecilia Teresa Claire DUTTON / REID

Born C.1877 in Wrockwardine Wood, Shropshire, England ^[20]
Daughter of Thomas DUTTON ^[15]
Married George William John REID in 1902 in London, England ^[21]
In 1911 she, her husband and Amy C. TAUNTON were living at Hirondelle Beech in Alton, Hampshire, England ^[20]
Departed London, England on the steamship Commonwealth on 15 October 1915 and disembarked in Adelaide, South Australia ^[203]
Resided with her husband and Amy C. TAUNTON on Auchindoir Farm in Winchester, Western Australia in 1916 and 1917 ^[19]
Winchester was a railway siding along the Midland Railway, located between Coorow and Carnamah ^[P1]
The farm was a Ready-Made Farm which her husband and Amy were purchasing from the Midland Railway Company ^[34]
Treated accidents, emergencies and acted as a midwife in Winchester and Carnamah in 1916 and 1917 ^[34]
In 1916 she saved the life of a man who had been bitten by a snake and set another's broken collar bone ^[34]
The Midland Railway Company gave her a cheque for £20 in September 1917 for the medical assistance she had rendered ^[34]
In September 1917 entered a year's training in nursing at King Edward Memorial Hospital in the Perth suburb of Subiaco ^{[10: 5-Oct-1917]}
She completed her training at King Edward Memorial Hospital and was registered as a nurse on 14 February 1919 ^[488]
Following the completion of her training she joined the Australian Trained Nurses Association ^{[10: 9-May-1919]}
Returned to Winchester where she locally became known as "Nurse Reid" ^{[10: 9-May-1919]}
Said to have delivered in Winchester one of the children of Mrs Mary E. CLARK of Carnamah who came earlier than expected ^[P93]
She was farewelled by the residents of Winchester at a social evening at the home of John & Janet RAFFAN ^{[10: 9-May-1919]}
Regret was expressed at her leaving Winchester "as a capable woman is always an acquisition" ^{[10: 9-May-1919]}
Left Winchester around May of 1919 to take up a Government appointed nursing position in Wyalkatchem ^{[10: 9-May-1919]}
District & Maternity Nurse in Wyalkatchem 1919-1932 ^{[6] [10: 9-May-1919]}
Within a few weeks of arriving she was appointed Matron of the State Hospital in Wyalkatchem in 1919 ^{[10: 30-May-1919]}
Nurse at Saint Anthony's Private Hospital in Wyalkatchem 1933-1935 ^[6]
In 1936 she was working as a Maternity Nurse and living at 24 Ourtram Street in Boulder ^[50]
She passed away at Saint John of God Hospital in Kalgoorlie ^{[334: 3-Jul-1937]}
Died 30 June 1937; buried at the Kalgoorlie Cemetery in Kalgoorlie, Western Australia ^{[334: 1 & 3-Jul-1937]}


From The Moora Herald and Midland Districts Advocate newspaper, Friday 5 October 1917:
Personal
"Mrs. Bessie Reid, of Winchester, has received permission to enter the King Edward Maternity Hospital at Subiaco to undergo a year's training in maternity nursing with a view of qualifying for bush nursing. Mrs. Reid is the first of the bushwomen to be granted this opportunity. We wish her and the movement which she represents every success."


From a letter from A. J. BARBER, General Manager of the Midland Railway Company in London, dated 1 November 1918:
"I am very pleased to learn that Mrs Reid is so appreciative of the payment of £20 made to her, as authorised by the Board, in consideration of past services to the Settlers, and that this will enable her to go to the King Edward Hospital to complete her training."


From The Moora Herald and Midland Districts Advocate newspaper, Friday 30 May 1919:
Wyalkatchem Notes
"Recently, on Dr. Atkinson's, the Public Health Commissioner's recommendation, the Government appointed Nurse Bessie Reid, A.T.N.A., district and maternity nurse at Wyalkatchem, and still later matron of the State Hospital in that town. This lady comes with testimonials of a flattering nature from the medical fraternity in Perth, who testify warmly to her tact and ability. She also has, nevertheless, letters from former patients under her charge at the King Edward Memorial Hospital, Subiaco, where she administered for some years."

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