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Docker, Betty Bristow (1920 - 2001)

RRC, QHNS, FCNA

Born
26 March 1920
St Kilda, Victoria, Australia
Died
2001
Occupation
Servicewoman, Nurse and Matron

Summary

The funeral service for former Group Officer Betty Docker, aged 81, was held at the Royal Military College, Duntroon. Director of the Royal Australian Air Force Nursing Service (RAAFNS) Docker trained at the Alfred Hospital, Melbourne. She then joined the hospital staff before enlisting with the RAAFNS in 1944. During her time in the service she fought for change so married women could continue on as nurses and women could reach the highest ranks - something not allowed previously. After 28 years with the RAAFNS Docker retired in 1975 having been awarded The Royal Red Cross (2nd Class), 1968; Royal Red Cross, 1970; the Florence Nightingale Medal, 1971 and the National Medal in 1977.

Details

Events

September 1939
Commenced nursing training at the Alfred Hospital, Melbourne
1943 - 1944
Staff member at the Alfred Hospital
1944
Joined the Royal Australian Air Force Nursing Service (RAAFNS)
1944 - 1950
Posted to Aeromedical Evacuation Duties and Japan Occupation Force
1965 - 1967
Assistant to the Director of Nursing Service
1967 - 1969
Supervised the flight nursing staff to and from Vietnam
1967 - 1969
Matron of No 4 RAAF Hospital, Butterworth, Malaysia
1 January 1968
Awarded the Royal Red Cross (2nd Class) Medal
1969
Presented with the Queen's Honorary Nursing Sister (QHNS) Award
1969 - 1975
Director of Nursing Service
13 June 1970
Awarded the Royal Red Cross Medal
1971
Awarded the Florence Nightingale Medal for distinguished service
1975
Retired from the RAAFNS, after 28 years of service
14 July 1977
Awarded the National Medal

Sources used to compile this entry: Glendinning, Lee, 'A true Nightingale in a shining uniform', Sydney Morning Herald, Obituaries, 30 November 2001, p. 28; Legge, J S (ed.), Who's who in Australia, 1971, 20 edn, The Herald and Weekly Times, Melbourne, 1971, 1024 pp.

Related entries

Director

Archival resources

Australian War Memorial Research Centre

  • Commandant Janice Webb and Wing Officer Betty Docker, 1967, P02017.027; Australian War Memorial Research Centre. Details

Published resources

Newspaper Articles

  • Glendinning, Lee, 'A true Nightingale in a shining uniform', Sydney Morning Herald, Obituaries, 30 November 2001, p. 28. Details

Online Resources

See also

  • Halstead, Gay., Story of the RAAF nursing service : 1940-1990, Nungurner Press, Metung, Vic., 1994, 440 pp. Details
  • Legge, J S (ed.), Who's who in Australia, 1971, 20 edn, The Herald and Weekly Times, Melbourne, 1971, 1024 pp. Details

Digital resources

Title
Commandant Janice Webb (later Hilton), Australian Red Cross (ARC), and Wing Officer Betty Docker, Matron of 4 RAAF Hospital at Butterworth, Malaysia
Type
Image
Date
1967
Control
P02017.027
Source
Australian War Memorial

Details

Anne Heywood

Created: 1 October 2003, Last modified: 29 April 2009

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http://www.womenaustralia.info/biogs/AWE0576b.htm

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