P003416 revised AU-VU:EOAS Encyclopedia of Australian Science and Innovation

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 English AACR2 Anglo-American Cataloguing Rules Person created 2001-05-25 human Australian Nursing History Project, Judith Cornell updated 2025-12-31 human https://www.eoas.info/biogs/P003416b.htm person Doherty Muriel Knox RRC AACR2 19 July 1896 29 September 1988 Place of Birth Melbourne, Victoria, Australia Place of Death New South Wales, Australia Nurse Nurse educator Muriel Doherty began nursing in 1921 at Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, New South Wales, and set up the first preliminary training school at the Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, 1933-1937. In her capacity as Matron in Charge she was the first nurse appointed to the rank of Squadron Leader in the Royal Australian Air Force, where she inaugurated the Royal Australian Air Force Nursing Service. After the Second World War she worked with displaced persons at Bergen Belsen concentration camp, as a member of United Nations Relief and Rehabilitation Administration. One of four founders of the New South Wales College of Nursing in 1949, she was also instrumental in the establishment of the Civilian Nursing Services Bureau, and co-authored the first Australian text book for nurses, Modern Practical Nursing Procedures, 1944.

Muriel Knox Doherty was born 19 July 1896 in Victoria. She began her nursing career in 1921 at Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, New South Wales. Completing her training in 1925, she received the Royal Prince Alfred Hospital's Sir Alfred Roberts Medal for General Nursing Proficiency. In 1930 she gained a Sister Tutor Diploma, Kings College of Household and Social Sciences, University of London, UK. On her return to Australia she set up the first preliminary training school at the Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, 1933-1937. She served in the Red Cross Voluntary Aid Detachment during the First World War and in the Services from 1935 to 1946. She was the first nurse appointed to the rank of Squadron Leader in her capacity as Matron in Charge in the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) later rising to the rank of Wing Commander. This work was recognised by the award of the Royal Red Cross Medal (1st Class) presented by King George VI in London in 1945. A member of United Nations Relief and Rehabilitation Administration (UNRRA) she was also involved with displaced persons in the immediate post war period in the capacity of Chief Nurse and Principal Matron at Bergen Belsen concentration camp in Germany. In 1946 Knox Doherty was posted to Poland and assisted with rehabilitation and nursing education.

Her interest in the growth of the nursing profession is evidenced in the strategic and developmental activities in which she took part, particularly in New South Wales. She was a member of the Australasian Trained Nurses Association; one of four founders of the New South Wales College of Nursing in 1949 and a Foundation Fellow, 1949-1988. She was also a member of the Institute of Hospital Matrons (NSW & ACT). She assisted in the inauguration of the National Florence Nightingale Memorial Committee, becoming one of its first two Vice-Presidents and was instrumental in the establishment of the Civilian Nursing Services Bureau. She co-authored the first Australian text book for nurses, Modern Practical Nursing Procedures, along with Marjorie Bernice Sirl and Olive Isabel Ring (Sydney: Dymocks Book Arcade, 1944). Knox Doherty died 29 September 1988 in New South Wales.

1914 1914 Gained St John Ambulance First Aid Home Nursing Certificate 1914 1917 School Nurse and untrained teacher at Abbotsleigh School in Wahroonga, New South Wales 1917 1919 Red Cross No. 6 Voluntary Aid Detachment (full time) 1919 1921 Teacher (relief) Abbotsleigh (and home duties) 5 November 1921 5 November 1921 Commenced nurse training at the Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Sydney 1925 1925 Charge Nurse for six months and then appointed Sister at the Royal Prince Alfred Hospital 1930 1932 Private nursing work in London and Europe 1932 1933 Tutor sister course at Kings College, University of London 1933 1937 Sister Tutor at the Royal Prince Alfred Hospital and established the first Preliminary Training School 1935 1935 Volunteer for the Australian Army Nursing Service 1937 1939 Sister Tutor at the Prince Henry Hospital, Sydney 1939 1939 Called up as Sister Clerk to the Office of the Principal Matron with the Australian Army Nursing Service 1940 1940 Transferred to RAAF and was First Squadron Leader / Matron-in-Charge and later Principal Matron and Wing Commander at the No. 3 RAAF Hospital in Richmond, NSW. Established the Royal Australian Air Force Nursing Service in New South Wales 1940 1943 Member of the Kelly Committee for the Reorganisation of the Nursing Profession 1945 1946 Demobilised and appointed to United Nations Relief and Rehabilitation Administration (UNRRA). Served in Germany (Belsen) and as the Chief Nurse to the Public Health Consultant in Poland 1946 1946 Returned to Australia 1955 1957 Travelled extensively in Europe 1957 1961 Lived in Australia 1961 1965 Lived in UK 1966 1966 Returned to Australia and lived in Sydney until her death in 1988 Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF), Commonwealth of Australia (1921 - )

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Doherty, Muriel Knox (1896-1988), Biographical Entry

 Doherty, Muriel Knox (1896-1988)

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 'Doherty, Muriel Knox', in Encyclopedia of Australian Science and Innovation, Centre for Transformative Innovation, Swinburne University of Technology Doherty, Muriel Knox Swinburne University of Technology, Centre for Transformative Innovation Encyclopedia of Australian Science and Innovation Book: Lifework: Heroes of Australian Health Murray, James Lifework: Heroes of Australian Health Edgecliff, NSW Focus Publishing for [Medical Benefits Fund of Australia Ltd] 1997 Book: Letters from Belsen 1945: an Australian Nurse's Experiences with the Survivors of War Doherty, Muriel Knox, and Cornell, Judith and Russell, R. Lynette (eds) Letters from Belsen 1945: an Australian Nurse's Experiences with the Survivors of War St Leonards, NSW Allen & Unwin 2000 Edited Book: The Life and Times of Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Sydney, Australia Doherty, Muriel Knox and Russell, R. Lynette The Life and Times of Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Sydney, Australia Sydney New South Wales College of Nursing 1996 Edited Book: Off the Record - The Life and Times of Muriel Knox Doherty 1896-1988: an Autobiography Doherty, Muriel Knox and Russell, R. Lynette Off the Record - The Life and Times of Muriel Knox Doherty 1896-1988: an Autobiography Glebe, NSW New South Wales College of Nursing 1996 Resource: A9301 RAAF Personnel files of Non-Commissioned Officers (NCOs) and other ranks, 1921-1948 CA 778, Air Services Branch; CA 35, Department of Air, Central Office A9301 RAAF Personnel files of Non-Commissioned Officers (NCOs) and other ranks, 1921-1948 National Archives of Australia, RecordSearch Edited Book: Who's who in Australia 1944 Alexander, John A. Who's who in Australia 1944 12th Melbourne, Victoria The Herald and Weekly Times Ltd 1944 Scrapbooks, letters and papers of Muriel Knox Doherty (Matron, RRC, AANS and RAAF Nursing Service) Australian War Memorial Research Centre Scrapbooks, letters and papers of Muriel Knox Doherty (Matron, RRC, AANS and RAAF Nursing Service) 3DRL/2518 1914 - 1954 Scrapbooks containing news reports, letters, cards, insignia and nominal rolls covering both wars. Letters regarding the nursing service. Photograph album presented to Matron Hetherington by patients at Reinga, 1916. Certificate of service, diaries. 5 items Letters of Muriel Knox Doherty (Matron) Australian War Memorial Research Centre Letters of Muriel Knox Doherty (Matron) PR91/169 1946 - 1983 Includes one letter from Warsaw in 1946 describing the state of the city, and five letters written between 1974-1983 discussing history of RAAF Nursing Service. 6 letters Papers of Muriel Knox Doherty National Library of Australia Manuscript Collection Papers of Muriel Knox Doherty MS 1518 1946 - 1952 1. Folio of cuttings, pamphlets, letters, photos entitled: Poland 1946. Includes 'Copy of Community letters from Poland 1946', war photos, t.s. 'Welfare Services in Poland' etc. 2. Scrapbook with certificate inside cover: 'This records the loyal and valued services of Muriel Knox Doherty to the United Nations Relief and Rehabilitation Administration... 31 Dec. 1946'. Contains papers, official letters, newspaper cuttings, photos etc. 3. T.s. extracts from the 'Polish Bulletin', Dec. 1951 to Sept. 1952, on the Katyn War Murders. 10pp. 4. 2 T.s. circular letters 'Youth Auxilliary for European relief' 2p. 0.11 m Muriel Knox Doherty - United Nations Relief and Rehabilitation Administration Muriel Knox Doherty - United Nations Relief and Rehabilitation Administration Courtesy New South Wales College of Nursing. Signature of Muriel Knox Doherty Signature of Muriel Knox Doherty Courtesy New South Wales College of Nursing. Muriel Knox Doherty Muriel Knox Doherty Courtesy New South Wales College of Nursing.

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