Sister Edith Yeaman

Sister Edith “Edie” Yeaman was a dedicated nurse who served in WWI and later provided local community care. Born in Elmo, Victoria, in 1884, she grew up in Montrose and trained as a nurse before working at Melbourne Hospital (now the Royal Melbourne Hospital) and later in Tasmania.

In May 1915, Edie enlisted at age 30 in the Australian Army Nursing Service at Montrose Town Hall and embarked shortly after on the RMS Mooltan. She first served on the island of Lemnos, caring for soldiers wounded at Gallipoli, before further postings in Egypt, England, and France. She worked close to the front lines, particularly at Casualty Clearing Stations, and was promoted to Sister in 1917. Edie returned to Australia on 15 May 1919 after four years of continuous overseas service.

After the war, Edie returned home to Montrose, where she helped her mother manage a guesthouse. In the early 1920s, she moved to Sydney and, together with fellow ex-army nurse Eleanor Mann, established Goshen Private Hospital in Hurstville in 1924—a hospital that continues today as Hurstville Private Hospital. Edie remained a respected figure in the community and was honoured for her contributions to nursing upon her retirement in 1935.

Acknowledgement:

This biography has been provided to Her Place Women’s Museum by Yarra Ranges Shire Council.

Photo: Sister Edith Yeaman provided by Yarra Ranges Shire Council.

Commemoration 

In recent years, Edie’s legacy has been formally recognised in her hometown. A bronze statue of Sister Edith Yeaman now stands in the Montrose Nurses Memorial Garden, honouring her service and the often-overlooked role of wartime nurses.