CLARKSON, Annie Eveline

Annie, who was born in Queensland in 1888, was the eldest of eight children born to James and Mary Clarkson. It is not known where she completed her nursing training, however in 1917 she was Matron at Inverell District Hospital. 

The Inverell Times newspaper, 24 December 1917 reported on a public function held at the Council Chambers to farewell Matron Clarkson ‘… the third matron from the local hospital to volunteer for service at the front.’  The Mayor, after making a speech of praise for Matron Clarkson, presented her with an Inverell medal. The Hospital Committee presented her with a ‘beautiful leather writing companion and fountain pen’.

No Service Record has been found for Matron Clarkson however the 1919 Commonwealth Electoral Roll lists her as resident at 6th A.G. Hospital, Brisbane.  By 1930 she had been working at the Lower Clarence Hospital at Maclean NSW when she was appointed Matron of Mt. Morgan hospital. During the 1930s and 40s she was Matron at Cloncurry District Hospital and by 1954 nursing at Taroom, Qld.

Matron Clarkson died at Nanango in August 1954 and was cremated in Brisbane.  An obituary in the Townsville Daily Bulletin, 10 August 1954 stated she had ‘… served at the Kangaroo Point Military Hospital during the First World War.’