Marianne (Rawson) O'Ferrall RRC (1855 - 1934)

Born 1855 in Avenel, Victoria (Australia)

Wife of John O'Ferrall — married 1903 in Kalgoorlie, Western Australia, Australia

Died 1934 at about age 79 in Caulfield, Victoria, Australia

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Biography

Matron Marianne Rawson RRC was born in 1855 in Avenel, Colony of Victoria (Australia). She was the eldest of eight children of Solomon Rawson and Honora Ryan. ^[1]

Marianne was a Nurse who was a pioneer in wartime nursing

Marianne trained as a nurse in England and at Dublin's Rotund Hospital. On her return to Australia, she was appointed matron at the Womens Hospital, Carlton, Victoria, for two years. In 1895 she went to West Australia, where she established a private hospital. After the hospital burned down, she was appointed matron of the Kalgoorlie Hospital in November 1896.

Marianne (Rawson) O'Ferrall RRC is a Military Veteran.
Served in the Victoria Military Force 1899-1901
awarded the Royal Red Cross during the Second Boer War

Marianne returned to Victoria in 1899, whereupon she was commissioned as the senior nurse (Superintendent / Matron) of the Victorian Contingent and embarked in 1900 for South Africa and the Second Boer War with the Victorian Imperial Bushmen. ^[2] Marianne was awarded the Royal Red Cross (RRC) for her exemplary nursing service. ^[3] She was also Mentioned in Despatches (equivalent to today's Commendation for Gallantry). ^[4] The Governor of Western Australia presented her with her RRC medal in Kalgoorlie in 1903. ^[5]

Then aged 48 years, Marianne married John O'Ferrall in 1903 in Kalgoorlie. ^[6] By 1909, the O'Ferralls had returned to Victoria to live.

Aged 79 years, she passed away at home in Caulfield, Victoria in 1934 ^[7] and was buried in Melbourne General Cemetery, Roman Catholic section. ^[8] She was survived by John, who passed away three years later. They had no children.

Sources

1. ↑ Victoria Birth Index #5181/1855
2. ↑ Australian War Memorial nominal roll: Matron Marianne Rawson; accessed 29 Mar 2020
3. ↑ London Gazette 29 Jul 1902; accessed 29 Mar 2020
4. ↑ Australian War Memorial honours and awards: Marianne Rawson; accessed 29 Mar 2020
5. ↑ Australian Women's Register; accessed 29 Mar 2020
6. ↑ Western Australia Marriage Index #254/1903
7. ↑ Victoria Death Index #6850/1934
8. ↑ Boer War Memorial; accessed 29 Mar 2020