Jane Eleanor Turner was born in Lysterfield on October 27, 1887 to Josiah Stansfeld Milne Turner and his wife and Lucy Ida (nee Billington) (1). Soon after her birth, the family moved to a sheep and cattle farm on Kilcunda Road, at Bena, although the address was sometimes listed as Kongwak. It was here where Jane's six sisters were born - Hester Lucy (1889), Sara Elizabeth 'Bessie' (1894), Bon (1896), Violet May (1898), Ruby Alison (1900) Marjorie Ada (1905) (2).
Jane's birth notice
Jane undertook her nursing training at the Heathcote Hospital and completed her examinations in November 1914, she was then required to serve out her Probationary period until April 1915. Her sister Bon commenced her nursing training at Heathcote in June 1914. It appears that both sisters suffered from Typhoid during early 1915 and were granted leave to recover and they returned home to Bena. It also appears from reports in the papers that they did not want to return to the Hospital. Jane is reported to have asked if it was necessary for her to return and make up the time as her probationary period had nearly expired. Their mother had apparently also told the Hospital Secretary that Bon would not be returning. To either compound the situation or to explain it, in February 1915, their parents wrote to the Hospital Board and complained about the matron's dogs being allowed in the institution, and strongly expressing the opinion that a hospital is no place for same; also drawing attention to the bad state of the tank water, caused by the supply being supplemented by reservoir water. The Matron's response was that the letter was written with a view to creating unpleasantness and also that she was overworked and wished to resign, which she did. (3). Jane and Bon did not return to Heathcote and Bon completed her training in May 1919 at Colac (4). I have no information as to where Jane worked between leaving Heathcote and enlisting to serve overseas.
Jane Eleanor Turner successfully passes her Victorian Trained Nurses' Association examinations.
Jane enlisted in the Australian Army Nursing Service on July 13, 1917 at the age of 29
(5). The
Great Southern Advocate (6) reported that on July 23 -
A very successful farewell social was tendered to Staff-nurse Turner, of Kilcunda Road on Monday night by some of her many Friends, prior to taking her departure for Salonika to fulfil military duties. Mr F. Bunn, on behalf of the residents, on presenting Nurse Turner with a handsomely engraved set of solid silver brushes, mirror and comb and a purse containing a considerable amount of money, said that he was in a position to know that their guest possessed many fine qualities as he had known her from childhood, and he felt very proud of her.
Messrs Tulloch, Hennessy, Timms, Poyser and Miss Timms also expressed their appreciation of the worth of Miss Turner. The evening was occupied with dancing, interspersed with songs and recitations. An excellent supper was supplied by the ladies, and it was midnight when the large gathering wished Nurse Turner "God speed and safe return" and dispersed. (7).
Jane embarked from Sydney on August 31, 1917 and was assigned at the 31st General Hospital at Abbassia, Cairo where she commenced duty on October 5, 1917. Jane left Abbassia on June 13, 1918 and arrived at Salonika, Macedonia nine days later where she was assigned to the 52nd General Hospital and later to the 42nd and 43rd General Hospitals. During this time she was admitted to hospital with Influenza (8).
On March 3 1919, Jane departed Salonika for England. After arriving in London, she was granted leave to attend a Motor Driving course at the Mansions Motor Training Garage. She finally left England on August 9, 1919 to return to Australia, arriving on September 27
(9). As a matter of interest, Sister Muriel Instone also undertook training at Mansions before her return to Australia, so it appears it was a skill that was thought useful for Army Nurses when they returned to civilian life. I have written about Muriel Instone,
here.
Staff-Nurse Turner was welcomed home at a function held at the Bena Mechanics' Institute on Friday October 10. Once again the Great Southern Advocate (10) reported on the function -
Welcome Home to Nurse Turner -
The Bena Mechanics' Institute was crowded to the doors on Friday evening last when a public welcome home was tendered to Staff-Nurse Turner, just recently returned from active service. Nurse Turner has seen two years' service in Egypt, two in Salonica (11). and some time in England, but despite the fact that she has gone through all the many hardships involved in the arduous life of a Red Cross nurse she has returned looking exceedingly strong and well.
The night's proceedings began with a most impressive tableau in which Nurse Turner stood on the platform clasping the hand of Corporal G. Young, who was in uniform, and carried the Australian
flag, whilst Mr Roy Boyd sang "The Rose of No Man's Land." A very fine collection of musical talent had been got together, and the large audience highly appreciated each item. The artists who kindly assisted were Messrs Walker, Pratt, Hungerford, Stowe and Mitchell, of Korumburra; and a local party comprising Messrs Kirk, C. Bunn, Roy Boyd and Miss Blake. Mr Walker fairly "brought the house down" with his humorous recitations, and was repeatedly called back for "more." Fortunately he was possessed of a good quantity of items, and, like his famous namesake, was "still going strong" to the end of the entertainment. The accompaniments were suplied by Miss Morey and Mr Mitchell.
At the conclusion of the musical programme, Mr Whittet called upon Nurse Turner, for the purpose of presenting her with an inscribed gold medal, in honor of her return. Nurse Turner's appearance on the stage was the signal for a most enthusiastic demonstration by the large gathering present, who greeted her with great applause. Mr Whittet spoke at some length on the good work done on active service by Nurse Turner, and all Red Cross nurses, congratulating Nurse Turner on her safe return and good health; and trusted she would live long in the freedom she had helped to gain.
When the medal had been presented Regimental Sergt. Major Wuchatsch, on behalf of the Returned Soldiers' association, presented Nurse Turner with a writing case as a token of appreciation and esteem. Speeches of welcome were also made by Messrs Tulloch, T. Foristal and Chapman. The audience then rose and sang " For She's a Jolly Good Fellow." Nurse Turner responded, thanking all present for their kindness and emphasising her pleasure at being back home with them once more .A most enjoyable supper was then served, after which the floor was cleared for dancing.
The Chairman of the evening (Mr Rogers) left no stone unturned to ensure the function being a success and in this he was ably assisted by Mr Herb. G. Fuller (hon. secretary) and a most energetic committee. Before the evening ended a hearty vote of thanks to the performers who had assisted in its success was carried by acclamation.
We can trace Jane's life after she returned home through her address in the Electoral Rolls (12). In 1921 Jane was living with her parents in Green Street, Ivanhoe. In 1925, she was working at the Warley Hospital in Cowes; in 1926 she was nursing at the Tempy Bush Nursing Hospital. Later that year, Jane was in the Electoral Roll at Koo Wee Rup and working, I assume, in the Hospital. A Bush Nursing Hospital had opened in the town in July 1918 and in May 1923 a new Fallen Soldiers Memorial Hospital was opened in Station Street. Jane was still in Koo Wee Rup in 1927. In in 1928 she was working at the newly opened Murrabit Bush Nursing Hospital (13) and by 1931 she had returned to live in the family home in Green Street, Ivanhoe. Her father, Stansfeld Turner had passed away at Ivanhoe in September 1927 (14) and her mother, Lucy, in November 1937 (15). The next address I can find is in 1943, where Jane is living in Kew. In 1949 she had returned to Heathcote, the town where she had undertaken her nursing training, and was living with her sister, Bon Tranter. In 1954 Jane was at Melvin Street in Frankston and this is where she died on May 28, 1957, aged 69 (16).
Jane's death notice
The Age, May 29, 1957 page 19.
Footnotes(1) Indexes to the Victorian Births, Deaths and Marriages; Birth notice in The
Leader November 5, 1887.
(2) Kilcunda Road, Bena/Kongwak address came from this report of a party at their house in the
Great Southern Advocate, August 8 1895, see
here. Farming activities - advertisement for a sale of one of their Alderney bulls in the
Great Southern Advocate January 16, 1891, see
here and report of sale of their sheep
Weekly Times, March 30 1912, see
here. Indexes to the Victorian Births, Deaths and Marriages.
(3)
McIvor Times, February 4, 1915 see
here;
McIvor Times, March 4, 1915, see
here;
McIvor Times, April 8, 1915, see
here;
McIvor Times, May 6, 1915, see
here;
McIvor Times, August 5, 1915, see
here.
(4) Bon Turner - her successful application to be a Probationer Nurse at Heathcote Hospital is from the
McIvor Times June 4, 1914, see
here. Bon Turner's completion of her nursing exams at Colac comes from
The Age, June 28, 1919, see
here.
(5) First Australian Imperial Force Personnel Dossiers, 1914-1920, see
here.
(6)
Great Southern Advocate, July 26, 1917, see
here.
(7)
Great Southern Advocate July 26, 1917, see
here.
(8) As per Footnote 5.
(9) As per Footnote 5.
(10)
Great Southern Advocate October 16, 1919, see
here.
(11) They have mistakenly reported that she was away for four years - it was two years.
(12) Electoral Roll available on Ancestry.com
(13) Murrabit Bush Nursing Hospital -
The Advocate, February 3, 1927, see
here (14) Stansfeld Turner's death notice was in
The Argus, October 1, 1927, see
here.
(15 Lucy Turner's death notice was in
The Age, November 24, 1937, see
here.
(16) Jane's Death notice was in
The Age May 29, 1957. Jane was cremated at Springvale.
Jane's Probate Legal notice
The Age June 17 1957 p.9
This is a revised and expanded version of a post, which I wrote and researched, that appears on my work blog,
Casey Cardinia Commemorates: Our War Years.
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