Did you know that the Royal Adelaide Hospital had a hockey team? No.. Neither did I
Everyone needs some downtime: time to relax, to have fun with friends, to get some exercise.
“An outside interest or two is most necessary to the well-being of a nurse. She needs mental relaxation as well as physical”.
Nurse Nance Robinson a Trainee Nurse at the RAH (1934-1936)
In the late 1940s a time when there was a resurgence of activity in the nursing associations in South Australia, a branch of the Student Nurses’ Association was formed in South Australia. With the guidance of the Australasian Trained Nurses Association they encouraged nurses to form groups and interact outside of the hospital and study. In 1949 the Royal Adelaide Hospital Student Nurses Hockey team was formed.
In 1950 they won the D Grade Section (SA Hockey Association) in their first year, after which they were promoted straight to B Grade. Matron Scrymgour supported their efforts and at least once went to watch the game.
There was also an annual dance held to commemorate and celebrate the hockey season. A committee made up of the president of the SA Women’s Hockey Association and the Chairman would announce the winner of “Miss Hockey” and in 1950 Nurse Shirley Simes was a finalist. The winner would be given a trip to Tasmania with the interstate team. All the finalists received a pair of nylon stockings.
Sadly the RAH Nurses’ Hockey team disbanded in the early 1960s but they definitely made their mark in the South Australian hockey community.
Team Members
(Back Row)
M P (Bryce) ROBINSON – graduated in April 1950
Shirley V MILLARD – graduated in April 1950
Mary CORNISH (Team Captain)
Patricia Gwendolen LORD – graduated in April 1950. In 1960 trained to become a Midwife in Canberra
Aileen I CHAMBERS – graduated in 1951 and went onto work at the Queen Victoria Hospital in 1954
(Middle Row)
Monica KORNHNE
Shirley Rhonda SIMES – graduated in April 1950
Aileen ROBEFRTS
SORRELL
Betty MARTIN – graduated in April 1950
(Front Row)
Helen Courtenay KEMPE – graduated November 1951
K Mary MOODY – graduated in November 1951
Take a look at some other Royal Adelaide Hospital’s sporting achievements In the Swim
Written by Kellie Branson, CALHN Health Museum