Agnes Macready facts for kids
Agnes Macready (1855–1935) was an amazing Australian nurse and a brave journalist. Many people believe she was Australia's very first female war reporter.
Contents
Agnes Macready: Australia's First Female War Reporter
Early Life and Nursing Career
Agnes Macready was born in 1855 in Rathfriland, Ireland. She was the oldest of five children. When she was 12 years old, her family moved to New South Wales, Australia.
At age 25, Agnes began training to be a nurse. She studied at the Royal Prince Alfred Hospital in Sydney. Later, she continued her training in Melbourne. This extra training helped her become a special kind of nurse who assists with operations, called a surgical nurse.
In 1894, Agnes became the Matron, or head nurse, at the Berrima District Cottage Hospital. This hospital was in the Southern Highlands of New South Wales. She worked there until December 1898.
Reporting from the Battlefield
In 1898, Agnes started writing for a Sydney newspaper called The Catholic Press. She wrote articles and poems, and she also created drawings. She used a special writing name, called a pen name, which was Arrah Luen. Some of her work was even printed in newspapers in America and Ireland.
In October 1899, the Boer War began in South Africa. Agnes wanted to help the wounded soldiers. She bought her own ticket for a steamship and left Sydney for Durban. She arrived before the first Australian soldiers did.
At first, the British War Office told her they did not need any nurses. They even suggested she leave the country. But Agnes was advised to try applying to hospitals in smaller towns. She did, and she got a job at Fort Napier Military Hospital in Pietermaritzburg.
Agnes continued to nurse soldiers in several places. She worked in Ladysmith during and after a long battle there. She also nursed in Wyburg and Pretoria. Later, she worked in a camp for Boer prisoners in Simon's Town.
Before she left Sydney, The Catholic Press newspaper asked Agnes to be a special reporter. She sent them updates from South Africa about her experiences. Her writing often showed her thoughts. She was sometimes critical of the British and felt sympathy for the Boers.
Returning Home and Later Work
In September 1901, Agnes Macready returned to Sydney. She came back on a hospital ship, helping to care for wounded soldiers. After that, she became the Matron of Wyalong Hospital. In 1904, she moved to Kurri Kurri Hospital. Agnes continued to write for The Catholic Press newspaper for many years. She passed away in 1935.
