Bringing Matron Brown back home

A nurse from Nelson Hospital’s past was the focus of the International Nurses Day celebrations this year. A special presentation was made to acknowledge Sylvia (Daisy) Brown, who was Matron of Nelson Hospital from 1920 to her retirement in 1937.

In 2018 Director of Nursing and Midwifery Pamela Kiesanowski received a call from Ian Martyn, the founder of Medals Reunited New Zealand.

Ian had been given a medal, engraved ‘Sister S Brown’, by Nelson police constable Benjamin Wallbank in the hope that Ian could return it to a relative. To do so, Ian undertook substantial research using ancestry websites, Auckland War Memorial Museum records and the UK Archives.

At the International Nurses Day celebration at Nelson Hospital Ian shared what he had found out about her military history.

Pamela Kiesanowski says it seemed appropriate and right that on International Nurses day, nurses took the time to reflect on vulnerable service men and women during the war – their impact, leadership and influences.

“Hearing about Sylvia’s life it is hard to imagine what she endured and the toll it took on her life and I am thrilled to be able to bring her back to Nelson and into her Nelson Hospital nursing family,” Pamela says.

Speaking at the presentation Pamela reminded nurses to take time to reflect on what they do and their effect on people’s lives every day.

“As I go around talking to patients, I get nothing but praise about the care you offer with compassion and kindness,” she said. “I feel privileged to lead a group of professionals that give 100 per cent each day – I know you are here to do the very best you can.”

Above: Director of Nursing and Midwifery Pamela Kiesanowski and Ian Martyn, from Medals Reunited New Zealand.

A BIOGRAPHICAL SNAPSHOT —

1883: Daisy Sylvia Brown is born in 1883 in Yorkshire, England

1906: Sylvia starts her nursing career at the London Temperance Hospital

1906-1915: During this time, Sylvia graduates as a registered nurse with qualifications in midwifery, physiotherapy and therapeutic massage. She joins the Colonial Nursing Service and is posted to Kalgoorlie, Australia.

1915: Sylvia returns to Britain and enlists with the Queen Alexandra Imperial Military Nursing Service Reserve (QAIMNSR). She is posted to York, near her home.

1917: Silvia relocates to New Zealand to work at Waiapu Hospital in the Gisborne area before moving to Timaru Public Hospital.

1917: Sylvia’s wish to serve overseas is granted. She is posted to Étaples, France, to care for the war wounded at a British Expeditionary Force camp.

1917-1919: Sylvia endures bombing attacks, poor facilities and acute diseases during the war. As a consequence she suffers many ailments including what was described at the time as ‘nervous disability’ but is now known as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

1919: Sylvia is released from service (known as ‘demobbing’) and returns to New Zealand

1920-1937: Sylvia holds the position as Matron of Nelson Hospital.

1950: Sylvia dies and is buried in the Returned Serviceman’s section of Wakapuaka Cemetery, Nelson.

2018: One of Sylvia’s war medals is recovered by police.

2019: A wreath is laid on Sylvia’s grave on 30 May 2019, the anniversary of her death. The Returned Serviceman’s Association bugler played the last post and raised the New Zealand flag in memory of Sylvia and her contribution to nursing, locally and internationally over her lifetime.