Based on the district nursing service originally founded in England by William Rathbone and Florence Nightingale, Lady Dudley had already established a similar scheme in Ireland to serve rural farming communities.

By the mid 1950s the bush nursing centres (BNA's) were located in every corner of the state. The first BNA Centre was established at Jindabyne in June 1911.

Therefore when the residents of the Upper Macleay began their plans to employ a bush nurse and establish a centre in 1914 the service was very much in its infancy.

This was a difficult year also as families were saying goodbye to sons, husbands and fathers as the war in Europe began.

The BNA was a private organisation and had no government funding. The BNA in Sydney supplied the trained nurse, but the local community had to raise the funds to pay the nurses' salary, provide her accommodation, pay for any drugs or medicines and for transport.

In these early years it was often the case that the nurse would be accommodated in a local hotel or, when possible, the community would build or supply a rough and ready building to use as a BNA Centre.

In the case of nurse Slade, who arrived to take up her duties on August 14, 1914 there is no information about a centre being provided, so it is likely she was billeted with a family or local hotel.

The BNA Upper Macleay held its first annual meeting at Bellbrook in Mr R Kemp's store in October 1914. The Association reported that funds collected from patients had been in excess of the salary paid to the nurse and it was thought that once a 'good nurse' settled there the BNA would be able to continue very well.

Unfortunately, nurse Slade, who was the first nurse to be employed, tendered her resignation at the meeting. She had been with the association only a short time and it was much regretted that she was leaving.

The meeting held the following year in the School of Arts at Bellbrook in August 1915 reported the BNA was without a nurse for seven weeks before nurse Mary Miller took up her duties.

At the February meeting in 1915 it was hoped that the nurse could visit more out of the way places such as Comara, Five Day Creek, Lower Creek and Georges Creek to allow for better facilities for patients in these places.

The bush nurse on the Upper Macleay did not have a car and the expectation that she could travel longer distances would have added stress and length of her daily tasks.

In February 1915 the Upper Macleay Branch of the BNA held a Grand Athletic Sports day with a grand ball at night.

The branch had 52 members and it was reported there was much enthusiasm for the BNA centre and its progress. There is no doubt the community worked hard to keep the BNA open.

However, it is likely that their difficulty in keeping a nurse was an issue, as there are no reports after 1915.

Article and photos courtesy of Macleay River Historical Society, which runs the Kempsey Museum at 62 Lachlan Street, South Kempsey, open daily from 10am to 4pm.

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