Elizabeth Burchill facts for kids

Dora Elizabeth Burchill (born January 4, 1904 – died December 3, 2003) was an amazing Australian nurse. She was also a kind person who helped others (a philanthropist) and a talented writer. She received a special award called the Order of Australia Medal (OAM) for her great work.

A Life of Care and Adventure

Dora was the youngest child in her family. She grew up in Camberwell, Victoria, Australia.

She trained to be a nurse in Melbourne. After finishing her training, she joined a special nursing service. This service helped people living in remote parts of Australia, far from cities.

In 1930, Dora started working at the Innamincka Nursing Home. Here, she worked with the new Flying Doctor Service. This service used planes to reach sick people in isolated areas. Imagine doctors flying to you in the middle of nowhere!

Dora wanted to learn even more. In 1932, she traveled to London, England, to study further. Later, she joined a British medical team. This team cared for children in Almeria, Spain. These children had been forced to leave their homes because of the Spanish Civil War.

In 1937, Dora joined another mission. This time, she worked with Wilfred Grenfell on the coast of Labrador. This area is in Canada and can be very cold and remote.

When World War II began, Sister Burchill joined the Australian Army Nursing Service. She served as a nurse with the Australian soldiers in Egypt and Palestine.

After the war ended in 1946, Dora worked as an announcer for a radio station. It was called 3SR in Shepparton, Victoria. While there, she started a group called the "Friendship Club."

In 1952, she took charge of the Child Welfare Clinic in Darwin, Northern Territory. This clinic helped look after the health of children. She also worked briefly as a Plunket nurse in New Zealand.

Later, she became the Sister in Charge of the Child Welfare Clinic on Thursday Island. From 1961 to 1963, she worked with the health service in New Guinea.

Her Books and Writings

Dora Elizabeth Burchill was also a talented author. She wrote several books about her amazing experiences as a nurse. These books share her adventures and the people she met.

• Labrador Memories (1947)
• Innamincka (1960)
• New Guinea Nurse (1962)
• Thursday Island Nurse (1972)
• The Paths I've Trod (1981)
• Australian Nurses Since Nightingale 1860–1990 (1992)

Awards and Special Recognition

Dora Burchill received several important awards for her dedication and work.

• On June 8, 1998, she was given the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM). This award recognized her service to nursing. It also honored her work as a historian, author, and someone who helped others.
• She also received the Bread and Cheese Club's Jessie Litchfield Annual Award.
• She won the Veterans' Affairs Writers Award.