Matron Florence Chatfield, circa 1934
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The first Matron of Diamantina Hospital, Florence Chatfield OBE was a pioneer in the nursing profession. An inspiring leader, she made a significant contribution to the profession by establishing the Queensland Nurses Registration Board in 1912 and setting up the Diamantina Hospital Training School for nurses in 1913. Prior to 1918, Florence travelled to New Zealand to meet Dr Truby King, the founder of Baby Clinics, with a view to establishing the Clinics in Queensland. On 18th March 1918, the first Clinic was opened in Brunswick Street, Fortitude Valley, Brisbane.
In 1932, Florence was nominated for the Order of the British Empire by Diamantina Hospital staff “for a lifetime of service to the sick and suffering humanity”. She died in Brisbane on 5th November, 1949. In honour of this genuine, energetic pioneer in Queensland’s nursing history, in 1996, the Queensland Nursing Council established a $50,000 Florence Chatfield Research Grant for nurses who had a significant impact in the development of knowledge and provision of safe and competent care.
Download The Noble Florence Chatfield, OBE, by Patricia O'Shea here. (PDF 728 kB)
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© The State of Queensland (Queensland Health) 2008.