OBITUARY.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVII, Issue 201, 26 July 1937, Page 11

OBITUARY.

MISS J. N. McGHIE. The death, which occurred yesterday, of Miss J. N. McGhie, for close on ten years matron of the Palmerston North Hospital, removes one whose record of service to the sick over a period of 30 years was outstanding in New Zealand. Only a week ago Miss McGhie . was carrying her accustomed burden of responsibility at the Hospital with the same cheerfulness and sympathy as had characterised her whole nursing career, hut she collapsed suddenly and her condition became such that her relatives had to be hurriedly stinnyoned. All that medical skill could do failed, and she passed away at the Hospital, the news casting a gloom over her associates, who regarded her as a most efficient but always considerate leader. Born in Dunedin, Miss McGhie was the daughter of the late Mr, John McGhie, a well-known businessman, and Mr» Mary McGhie, who passed away only about eighteen months ago. Following her education Miss McGhie cliose to take up nursing as her life’s work, and she entered the Naseby Private Hospital in Central Otago. She very early showed that she was possessed of all the necessary personal qualities, and with them .all an infectious smile. These qualities were well known in the Palmerston North Hospital of recent years, and will be much missed. AVith her training completed, Miss

McGhie took charge of the Chalet private hospital in Dunedin, and early in 1917 joined for service overseas during the Great AA’ar, giving signal service as a New Zealand Army nursing, sister in various hospitals, including AValton-on-Thames. After about 12 months away she unfortunately became serf iusly ill and was invalided home, but immediately on her recovery she took up service at the Cambridge Sanatorium, where there were several suffering returned men, and later took charge of the Chalmers AVard of the Christchurch Hospital, where she again cared for sick and wounded soldiers. From there she went to Dunedin, where she was attached to the special hospital for soldiers who had suffered facial injuries, again doing wonderful work. In her war service overseas and at home Miss McGhie had the happy knack of captumig the hearts of the soldiers, who were warm in their praise of her. Miss McGhie later served ns tutor sister at King George V Hospital, Rotorua, and about 10 years ago was appointed matron at Palmerston North—a position which she held with distinction until her death, always upholding the highest traditions of a noble profession.

The demands mado upon her during the recent epidemic told upon Mis? McGhie—children held a very special place in her sympathy. Tn addition to her nursing services, Miss McGhie gave good service to the Registered Nurses’ Association, officiating as president of the Manawatu branch for several terms, and she gave enthusiastic support to the Red Cross Society as lecturer and in general encouragement. She was a staunch member of the Presbyterian Church and was in every sense a living example of Christianity. There are left to mourn their loss three sisters, Mi’s J. F. O’Connor (Timaru), Mrs C. AVright (AVaimate), Miss Nora McGhie (Dunedin), also two brothers, Mr J. G. McGhie (Public Trust Office, AVellington) and Mr AVatson McGhie (chemist, Dunedin). The funeral is to take place at Dunedin.