Myra Bennett facts for kids
Myra M. Bennett was a very famous Canadian nurse. She was born in London, England, on April 1, 1890, and passed away in Daniel's Harbour, Newfoundland, Canada, on April 26, 1990. People called her "The Florence Nightingale of Newfoundland" because she helped so many people on the Great Northern Peninsula. She was also known simply as "The Nurse." Myra Bennett received important awards like the Order of Canada (CM) and was made a Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (MBE) for her amazing work.
Her Early Life
Before Myra Bennett became a nurse, she worked as a tailor in London. She then trained to be a nurse at Woolwich during the first World War. After that, she studied midwifery, which is special training to help mothers and babies during childbirth, at the Clapham School of Midwifery.
Myra had planned to travel to Saskatchewan in Canada. However, Lady Harris, whose husband was Sir Alexander Harris, told her that nurses were desperately needed in Newfoundland. Myra changed her plans and decided to go to Daniel's Harbour in May 1921, when she was 31 years old. She stayed there and started her own family.
Her Nursing Career
Myra quickly became very skilled at caring for sick people on the west coast of Newfoundland. In many of these areas, like Parsons Pond, there were no hospitals or doctors nearby. Myra often appeared in the news, where she was called "Nurse Bennett of the Outports." An "outport" is a small, isolated community, usually on the coast.
She was known for being very dedicated and clever in the rural places where she worked. There are many stories about how far Myra Bennett would travel to reach her patients, even in difficult weather. Because she saw how much hospitals were needed, she turned her own house into a small hospital. Her three children and husband helped her a lot with this important work.
Myra's hard work in Newfoundland also helped encourage the building of new hospitals in places like Bonne Bay, Port Saunders, and St. Anthony's. Her home in Daniel's Harbour is now a special heritage site, which means it's protected because of its historical importance.
Awards and Honours
Myra Bennett received many awards for her dedication and service:
- 1935 - King George V Silver Jubilee Medal
- 1937 - King George VI Coronation Medal
- 1946 - Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (MBE)
- 195? - Queen Elizabeth II Coronation Medal
- 1967 - She became an honorary member of the Association for Registered Nurses of Newfoundland.
- 1974 - She was made a Member of the Order of Canada (CM), which is one of Canada's highest honours.
- 1974 - She received an honorary Doctor of Science degree from Memorial University of Newfoundland.
Her Legacy
Myra Bennett's life as a nurse in Newfoundland's outports inspired many people:
- Her story was featured in an article by Reader's Digest.
- A book called Don't Have Your Baby in the Dory by H. Gordon Green was written about her.
- CBC TV made a documentary about her life and also interviewed her.
- She is the main character in a play called Tempting Providence by Robert Chafe.
- She shared her own stories about being a nurse in an article called Nurse Bennett of The Outports by Cyril Robinson for Weekend Magazine.
See also
- List of people of Newfoundland and Labrador
- List of communities in Newfoundland and Labrador
