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HerStory

Rhoda WATKINS

Born: March 1894

Died: 1975

Special Achievements:

Missionary nurse.

Additional Information:

1922 - She was a Church of England missionary nurse in the Church Missionary Societies "Way of Life" Hospital, Kweilin, China.
1924 - Sister Watkins became Matron of the hospital.  During 1925-1928 she was twice held captive due to the Civil War and a bandit raid.
1932 - She took charge of a large clinic in Hunan.  However, in 1933, as robbers passed through Hunan, she had to escape to Kweilin and again became matron of the Kweilin hospital.
1944 - She returned to Australia because of the Japanese attacks on China.
1945 - Sister Watkins returned to Kweilin to find the hospital destroyed.  After it was rebuilt, she continued to work there until August 1950.
1952 - After her return to Australia, she was appointed principal of St. Hilda's Women's Missionary College for a year.
1953 - Miss Watkins went to Malaya as a nurse to work in villages (Ipoh, Kuala Lumpur).  She opened a new medical clinic in Johore.

Resources

  • Image - Rhoda Watkins

    Rhoda Watkins cropped from a photo with Alf Watkins and their grand niece

    Photo provided by Ella McLaren.

  • Link - A LUCINDALE GIRL IN KWEILING, CHINA. Life in a Besieged City.

    Trove: Narracoorte Herald (SA: 1875 - 1954), Tuesday 26 August 1924, page 4

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  • Link - MISSION WORK IN CHINA. Chat with Sister Rhoda Watkins.

    Trove: Register (Adelaide, SA: 1901 - 1929), Wednesday 25 May 1927, page 15

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  • Link - Gathering of Nurses

    Trove: News (Adelaide, SA: 1923 - 1954), Monday 22 August 1927, page 5

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  • Link - A FAREWELL SERVICE.

    Trove: Advertiser (Adelaide, SA: 1889 - 1931), Wednesday 8 August 1928, page 16

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  • Link - FOREIGN MISSIONS Bravery of Women South Australian Efforts

    Trove: Mail (Adelaide, SA: 1912 - 1954), Saturday 19 May 1928, page 18

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  • Link - CAPTURED BY BANDITS South Australian Escapes

    Trove: News (Adelaide, SA: 1923 - 1954), Thursday 1 November 1928, page 5

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  • Link - GALLANT ADELAIDE MISSIONARIES

    Trove: Register News-Pictorial (Adelaide, SA: 1929 - 1931), Tuesday 5 February 1929, page 29

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  • Link - Brigands get away wearing women missionary's winter hats

    Trove: Register News-Pictorial (Adelaide, SA: 1929 - 1931), Wednesday 6 February 1929, page 32

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  • Link - CAPTURED MISSIONARIES

    Trove: Advertiser (Adelaide, SA: 1889 - 1931), Friday 2 November 1928, page 13

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  • Link - FAREWELL TO SISTER WATKINS

    Trove: Register (Adelaide, SA: 1901 - 1929), Thursday 9 August 1928, page 13

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