History of Nursing in South Australia

Hilary Cranswick, nee Hogarth, was born in Victoria. When her father enlisted in the war Hilary came with her mother and sister to live with relatives in Adelaide. Her father was killed during the war. After leaving school Hilary took a course in Domestic Science at the School of Mines before beginning training at the Children's Hospital. Later she nursed in Sydney and went to England in 1939. Her wartime nursing in Britain included working as an occupational health nurse with the Bowater paper manufacturing firm. She accompanied children of the employees to Canada when the blitz necessitated their evacuation. On returning to Australia in 1942 Hilary joined the Australian Army Nursing Service and had postings in Papua New Guinea and in New South Wales. After discharge from the army Hilary went to the United States to take a course in psychiatric nursing. She retired from nursing after her marriage.