Mabel Tennant: Gorey and Wassenberg Family History in Australia

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Mabel Tennant

Mabel Irene Tennant is said to have taken after her father — a quiet, thoughtful person dedicated to her profession.

Although she never married, Mabel had hundreds of friends acquired through her work as a nurse. She excelled at her chosen career and rose to the position of assistant matron at the Royal Melbourne Hospital.

After being educated in Melbourne and Warrnambool, Mabel began nurse training at the Melbourne Hospital on July 4, 1938. She completed her general three-year training certificate in July 1941, fourth year post-basic training in August 1942 and midwifery at the Royal Women's Hospital in October 1943.

Mabel worked as a sister in the midwifery section at St Andrew's Hospital in 1943 and 1944.

After returning to the Royal Melbourne Hospital she was sister in charge of the thoracic surgery ward for three years.

In 1949 she was granted leave of absence for overseas study in this special field of nursing at Brompton Hospital in London.

She was apparently working there when King George VI was admitted for a lung operation. A friend of Mabel's nursed the King and attended him later at Buckingham Palace before his death in 1951.

While in the United Kingdom, Mabel gained the Brompton Hospital thoracic nursing certificate and the British tuberculosis certificate. She returned to the Royal Melbourne Hospital as surgical ward sister in 1951.

In 1953 she was awarded the sixth Centaur War Nurses Memorial Scholarship — an achievement reported in The Argus and the UNA Nursing Journal. The scholarship enabled Mabel to undertake the diploma of nursing administration course at the London College of Nursing followed by a year's experience at St Thomas' Hospital, London.

She resumed duty at the Royal Melbourne Hospital as ward supervising sister on May 18, 1955. She was appointed assistant matron in July 1963 and deputy matron on September 25, 1972.

Mabel was active in professional associations. She served on the Royal Victorian College of Nursing council for six years and the executive council for three years.

She chaired the college's hospitality committee for two years and entertained many overseas guests.

Mabel was on the wages board of the Royal Australian Nursing Federation for four years. This position involved considerable time preparing claims for improvements to the Nurses Award.

She was a member of the panel of examiners, Victorian Nursing Council, for about 10 years.

After Mabel's death from cancer on February 8, 1973, the UNA Nursing Journal wrote that the advancement of the nursing profession had always been high in her priorities.

"Her warm, outgoing personality was activated by a deep concern for the welfare of patients, and many who received assistance will remember the understanding kindness which was offered so spontaneously to try and solve their problems," the Journal published in an obituary.

Friends and colleagues attended a memorial service at St Stephen's Presbyterian Church, Surrey Hills, on February 10, 1973.

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