Myra Blanch
Encyclopedia
Myra Rose Blanch was the fourth child of Hector and Elizabeth Blanch. Myra trained as a nurse at the Nambour District Hospital and at Epworth Hospital
in Melbourne
. After working for a while in Victorian Hospitals she became, in 1940, Sister in Charge at the Australian Inland Mission
Hospital at Innamincka, South Australia. In 1942 she joined the Australian Army Nursing Service with the rank of Lieutenant
, serving in varying places including a six month period at Torokina
in the Solomon Islands
.
On her return to Australia in 1945 she joined the Royal Flying Doctor Service based at Broken Hill remaining there for ten years.
Myra later served as Deputy Matron at Tamworth Base Hospital and as Matron at Guyra District Hospital and at Quirindi General Hospitals. In 1960 she transferred to Wollongong Hospital as Matron and Superintendent of nursing as in 1966 she moved to St. Andrew's Toowoomba Hospital where she was involved with the commissioning of the hospital.
Throughout her career Myra Blanch was active in many professional organizations; R.A.N.F. and the Queensland Nurses' Association. She was also active in the Service Club, Quota International, Wollongong and Toowoomba
. She was a Fellow
of the N.S.W. College of Nursing, and was, until her retirement in 1979, an Associate Fellow of the Darling Downs Institute of Advanced Education
, now the University of Southern Queensland
. She served three years on the Board of Governors
of St. Andrew's Toowoomba Hospital and was a Justice of the Peace
for Queensland
. In her retirement Myra was still active in Quota International, and like her sister, Eileen, maintained an interest in the mentally handicapped through her involvement with "Crossroads".
Epworth Hospital
-Epworth HealthCare:Epworth HealthCare is a provider of acute medical, surgical and rehabilitation services in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. The group has four divisions: Epworth Richmond, Epworth Eastern, Epworth Cliveden, Epworth Freemasons and Epworth Rehabilitation, with rehabilitation sites...
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...
. After working for a while in Victorian Hospitals she became, in 1940, Sister in Charge at the Australian Inland Mission
Australian Inland Mission
The Australian Presbyterian Mission was founded by the Presbyterian Church of Australia to reach those "beyond the farthest fence" with God's Word. It is better known as the Australian Inland Mission . Rev...
Hospital at Innamincka, South Australia. In 1942 she joined the Australian Army Nursing Service with the rank of Lieutenant
Lieutenant
A lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer in many nations' armed forces. Typically, the rank of lieutenant in naval usage, while still a junior officer rank, is senior to the army rank...
, serving in varying places including a six month period at Torokina
Torokina
Torokina is a coastal village on the island of Bougainville, Papua New Guinea. It is located on the western coast of that island, at ....
in the Solomon Islands
Solomon Islands
Solomon Islands is a sovereign state in Oceania, east of Papua New Guinea, consisting of nearly one thousand islands. It covers a land mass of . The capital, Honiara, is located on the island of Guadalcanal...
.
On her return to Australia in 1945 she joined the Royal Flying Doctor Service based at Broken Hill remaining there for ten years.
Myra later served as Deputy Matron at Tamworth Base Hospital and as Matron at Guyra District Hospital and at Quirindi General Hospitals. In 1960 she transferred to Wollongong Hospital as Matron and Superintendent of nursing as in 1966 she moved to St. Andrew's Toowoomba Hospital where she was involved with the commissioning of the hospital.
Throughout her career Myra Blanch was active in many professional organizations; R.A.N.F. and the Queensland Nurses' Association. She was also active in the Service Club, Quota International, Wollongong and Toowoomba
Toowoomba, Queensland
Toowoomba is a city in Southern Queensland, Australia. It is located west of Queensland's capital city, Brisbane. With an estimated district population of 128,600, Toowoomba is Australia's second largest inland city and its largest non-capital inland city...
. She was a Fellow
Fellow
A fellow in the broadest sense is someone who is an equal or a comrade. The term fellow is also used to describe a person, particularly by those in the upper social classes. It is most often used in an academic context: a fellow is often part of an elite group of learned people who are awarded...
of the N.S.W. College of Nursing, and was, until her retirement in 1979, an Associate Fellow of the Darling Downs Institute of Advanced Education
Darling Downs Institute of Advanced Education
The Darling Downs Institute of Advanced Education was a tertiary education facility offering undergraduate degrees and certificates in Toowoomba, Queensland Australia, from the 1967 until it was elevated to University College status and later University status as the University of Southern...
, now the University of Southern Queensland
University of Southern Queensland
The University of Southern Queensland is based in Toowoomba, Queensland, Australia. The institution was established in 1967 as the Queensland Institute of Technology...
. She served three years on the Board of Governors
Board of governors
Board of governors is a term sometimes applied to the board of directors of a public entity or non-profit organization.Many public institutions, such as public universities, are government-owned corporations. The British Broadcasting Corporation was managed by a board of governors, though this role...
of St. Andrew's Toowoomba Hospital and was a Justice of the Peace
Justice of the Peace
A justice of the peace is a puisne judicial officer elected or appointed by means of a commission to keep the peace. Depending on the jurisdiction, they might dispense summary justice or merely deal with local administrative applications in common law jurisdictions...
for Queensland
Queensland
Queensland is a state of Australia, occupying the north-eastern section of the mainland continent. It is bordered by the Northern Territory, South Australia and New South Wales to the west, south-west and south respectively. To the east, Queensland is bordered by the Coral Sea and Pacific Ocean...
. In her retirement Myra was still active in Quota International, and like her sister, Eileen, maintained an interest in the mentally handicapped through her involvement with "Crossroads".