Bicknell, Jessie (1871–1956)

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Bicknell, Jessie (1871–1956)

New Zealand nurse and hospital matron. Born Mar 27, 1871, in Oamaru, New Zealand; died Oct 13, 1956, in Auckland, New Zealand; dau. of Frederick Bicknell (postmaster) and Elizabeth (Armstrong) Bicknell.

Trained as nurse at Nelson Hospital, qualifying in 1903; named assistant inspector in Department of Hospital and Charitable Aid (1907); appointed deputy matron in chief of New Zealand Army Nursing Service (1915); made associate of Royal Red Cross and was active in New Zealand Overseas Women War Workers' Association during WWI; became 1st New Zealand-born director of nursing in Department of Health (1923); helped establish post-graduate course in nursing at University of New Zealand (1928); active in New Zealand Trained Nurses' Association.

See also Dictionary of New Zealand Biography (Vol. 3).