Additional Information
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
Link - MISSION WORK IN CHINA. Chat with Sister Rhoda Watkins.
Trove: Register (Adelaide, SA: 1901 - 1929), Wednesday 25 May 1927, page 15
Link - Gathering of NursesTrove: News (Adelaide, SA: 1923 - 1954), Monday 22 August 1927, page 5
Link - A FAREWELL SERVICE.
Trove: Advertiser (Adelaide, SA: 1889 - 1931), Wednesday 8 August 1928, page 16
Link - FOREIGN MISSIONS Bravery of Women South Australian Efforts
Trove: Mail (Adelaide, SA: 1912 - 1954), Saturday 19 May 1928, page 18
Link - CAPTURED BY BANDITS South Australian Escapes
Trove: News (Adelaide, SA: 1923 - 1954), Thursday 1 November 1928, page 5
Link - GALLANT ADELAIDE MISSIONARIES
Trove: Register News-Pictorial (Adelaide, SA: 1929 - 1931), Tuesday 5 February 1929, page 29
Link - Brigands get away wearing women missionary's winter hats
Trove: Register News-Pictorial (Adelaide, SA: 1929 - 1931), Wednesday 6 February 1929, page 32
Link - CAPTURED MISSIONARIES
Trove: Advertiser (Adelaide, SA: 1889 - 1931), Friday 2 November 1928, page 13
Link - FAREWELL TO SISTER WATKINS
Trove: Register (Adelaide, SA: 1901 - 1929), Thursday 9 August 1928, page 13
