Hooper, Kate Challis (1894–1982)

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Hooper, Kate Challis (1894–1982)

New Zealand nurse, nursing administrator, community worker, and feminist. Name variations: Challis Hooper. Born Kate Challis Excelsa Hooper, June 25, 1894, at Davenport, Auckland, New Zealand; died Nov 29, 1982, at Lower Hutt, New Zealand; dau. of Richard Henry Hooper (farmer and journalist) and Sophia Francis (Hould) Hooper.

Served as general nurse in Wellington (c. 1921); became involved in Plunket Society and was assistant matron of Karitane Hospital in Wanganui (1932); appointed matron of Wellington Clinic and Training School for Dental Nurses in Wellington (1937); active in New Zealand Trained Nurses' Association and council member of Wellington branch of New Zealand Registered Nurses' Association; contributed significantly to New Zealand Federation of Business and Professional Women's Clubs and served as president of Council for Equal Pay and Opportunity (1957); member of New Zealand National Commission for UNESCO (1954–56); founding member of Joint Committee on Women and Employment (1964–68). Awarded OBE (1969).

See also Dictionary of New Zealand Biography.