Docker, Betty Bristow (1920 - 2001)

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.

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

Director

• Royal Australian Air Force Nursing Service (RAAFNS) (1940 - )

  Matron-in-Chief 1969 - 1975

  [1944 - 1975]

Newspaper Articles

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

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... ]