24/04/2026
Today, we pause to honour those who served.
The Royal Melbourne Hospital has a long-standing relationship with Australia's defence forces. Sister Jane Bell, who served as matron of Melbourne Hospital from 1910 to 1934, was one of the many medical professionals who answered the call.
When World War I broke out, she was appointed principal matron of the First Australian General Hospital in Egypt. Her work there helped reshape how the Australian Army Medical and Nursing Services were organised.
On her return, she established the hospital's first preliminary nursing training school and spent her career advocating for nurses to be recognised as trained professionals. She called for centralised training, better pay and conditions, and pushed back against proposals that would have reduced nursing to a lesser-skilled role.
Today, several staff from the RMH continue that tradition, serving in the Australian Defence Force alongside their work at the hospital.
Lest we forget.
Read our history here: https://f.mtr.cool/limvjevyuf
