Evelyn Conyers

Evelyn Conyers
Born	(1870-03-01)1 March 1870 Invercargill, New Zealand
Died	6 September 1944(1944-09-06) (aged 74) Richmond, Victoria, Australia
Buried	Boroondara Cemetery, Kew, Victoria
Allegiance	Australia
Service / branch	Australian Army
Years of service	1903–1920
Rank	Matron
Commands	Australian Army Nursing Service (1916–20)
Battles / wars	First World War
Awards	Commander of the Order of the British Empire Royal Red Cross & Bar Mentioned in Despatches Florence Nightingale Medal

Evelyn Augusta Conyers, CBE, RRC & Bar (1 March 1870 – 6 September 1944) was a New Zealand-born Australian matron-in-chief of the Australian Army Nursing Service during the First World War. She was its first member to be awarded the Florence Nightingale Medal, the highest award for nursing service.^[1][2]

Early life and training

Conyers was born at Invercargill, New Zealand, on 1 March 1870 to William and Fanny (née Mainprize).^[3][4]

After completing her secondary education in New Zealand, Conyers migrated to Victoria where she trained as a nurse at the Melbourne Children's Hospital until 1894 and then the Melbourne Hospital from which she graduated in 1896.^[1]

Nursing career

In 1901 Conyers was appointed matron of a private hospital in Melbourne.^[1] A year later she applied for register a patent for "an improved supporting frame to be used with slipper bed-pan".^[5]

Conyers was one of the original members of the Australian Army Nursing Service which was formed in 1903.^[6][7]

First World War

Conyers enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force on 11 October 1914. In January 1916 she was appointed Matron-in-chief of the 1st Australian General Hospital. Conyers was mentioned in a despatch of General Sir John Maxwell "in connection with services rendered in Egypt". In September 1916 she was awarded the Royal Red Cross "for conspicuous services rendered" and later a Bar "in recognition of her valuable nursing service". On 1 January 1919 King George V appointed Conyers a Commander of the Order of the British Empire. In 1921 she was awarded the Florence Nightingale Medal with diploma.^[8]

Her war service complete, Conyers left London for Australia in December 1919 per Orvieto and was discharged on 7 March 1920.^[8]

Death

Conyers died on 6 September 1944 in Epworth Private Hospital, Richmond and was buried at Boroondara Cemetery.^[9]

• 
  Conyers (centre) and four nurses on board Troopship Orvieto on voyage home to Australia
• 
  Conyers laying a wreath on the Edith Cavell Memorial in Melbourne, Anzac Day 1942

References

1. Alafaci, Annette. "Conyers, Evelyn Augusta (1870–1944)". Encyclopedia of Australian Science. Retrieved 25 April 2018.
2. "Women to Talk About". The Register News-pictorial. Vol. XCIV, no. 27, 428. South Australia. 12 July 1929. p. 35. Retrieved 25 April 2018 – via National Library of Australia.
3. "Death Certificate – Conyers, Evelyn Augusta". Births, Deaths & Marriages Victoria. Retrieved 25 April 2018.
4. Heywood, Anne. "Conyers, Evelyn Augusta (1870–1944)". The Australian Women's Register. The National Foundation for Australia Women (NFAW). Retrieved 25 April 2018.
5. "Application for registration of patent by Evelyn Augusta Conyers titled – An improved supporting frame to be used with a slipper bed-pan". National Archives of Australia. Retrieved 25 April 2018.
6. "Women Ready to Aid and Offer Services". The Herald. No. 12, 088. Victoria, Australia. 3 August 1914. p. 12. Retrieved 25 April 2018 – via National Library of Australia.
7. "Commonwealth Military Forces". Commonwealth Of Australia Gazette. No. 65. Australia. 21 November 1903. p. 865. Retrieved 25 April 2018 – via National Library of Australia.
8. "Attestation Paper of Evelyn Augusta Conyers". National Archives of Australia. Retrieved 25 April 2018.
9. Reid, John. "Conyers, Evelyn Augusta (1870–1944)". Australian Dictionary of Biography. Canberra: National Centre of Biography, Australian National University. ISBN 978-0-522-84459-7. ISSN 1833-7538. OCLC 70677943. Retrieved 25 April 2018.