History of Nursing in South Australia

Mollie Dutton was born in Adelaide. Her parents opposed her desire to nurse. She conducted a kindergarten as a young woman, but made her own decision to seek nursing training at the age of 28. She began training at the Adelaide Hospital in 1924, and subsequently did midwifery at the Queen Victoria Hospital. Experience as a registered nurse included several years as a charge nurse at the RAH, and eleven years as matron at a Western Australian hospital. After a short term in charge of the Magill ward of the RAH Mollie Dutton enlisted in the Royal Australian Air Force Nursing Service and as a matron served at RAAF hospitals in Darwin and Laverton, Victoria. After the war Miss Dutton returned to the RAH and was Sister in Charge of Bice Ward until 1954, when she retired to care for her elderly mother.