Elizabeth Mary Hudson (28 April 1875 – 7 May 1961) was an early nurse in

Hokitika Hokitika is a town in the West Coast region of New Zealand's South Island, south of Greymouth, and close to the mouth of the Hokitika River. It is the seat and largest town in the Westland District. The town's estimated population is as of . ...

on the

West Coast West Coast or west coast may refer to: Geography Australia * Western Australia *Regions of South Australia#Weather forecasting, West Coast of South Australia * West Coast, Tasmania **West Coast Range, mountain range in the region Canada * Britis ...

of the

South Island The South Island, also officially named , is the larger of the two major islands of New Zealand in surface area, the other being the smaller but more populous North Island. It is bordered to the north by Cook Strait, to the west by the Tasman ...

of New Zealand.

Early life and family

Hudson was born in Hokitika on 28 April 1875, the second daughter of Mary Hudson (née Higgins) and John Robert Hudson. Her father opened the first store in Hokitika, in 1864.

Career

Hudson spent her whole life in Hokitika. She began nursing in 1900, against her parents' wishes, in a private hospital. Hudson worked for Dr

Ebenezer Teichelmann Ebenezer Teichelmann (23 March 1859 – 20 December 1938), known as 'the little Doctor' to his friends, was an Australian-born surgeon, mountaineer, explorer, conservationist and photographer in New Zealand. He was a survivor of the sinking of ...

(1859–1938), who was also the superintendent of Hokitika Hospital, and so she did relieving shifts there. Her pay at starting was five shillings per week. Hudson worked long hours, on call from 6am until midnight, but commented, "I was always there, whenever I was wanted". As Teichelmann was the only doctor in Hokitika for many years, Hudson would take charge of his surgery when he was unavailable, but require patients return to see the doctor later. She was also required to assist in many procedures in rural areas around the town, when the patient was too unwell to be moved, and was familiar with tonsil removal, lancing of abscesses and amputation of fingers. On one occasion, doctor and nurse used a railway jigger to attend a patient down the line during the night. As an unofficial

district nurse District Nurses work manage care within the community and lead teams of community nurses and support workers. The role requires registered nurses to take a NMC approved specialist practitioner course. Duties generally include visiting house-bound ...

, Hudson mostly travelled by buggy, and became proficient at wound dressing. Hudson took on private nursing before retiring. She was a keen and active member of the congregation of

All Saints' Church All Saints Church, or All Saints' Church or variations on the name may refer to: Albania *All Saints' Church, Himarë Australia *All Saints Church, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory * All Saints Anglican Church, Henley Brook, Western Austr ...

Death

Hudson died at Westland Hospital on 7 May 1961, aged 86, and was buried with her parents at

Hokitika Cemetery Hokitika Cemetery, also known as Seaview Cemetery, is the cemetery for Hokitika in New Zealand. The cemetery is located on Hospital Hill Road in the suburb of Seaview on an elevated site north-east of the town, giving a good outlook over the set ...

. Her death was considered to sever one of the last remaining links to the earliest days of Hokitika.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Hudson, Bess 1875 births 1961 deaths New Zealand nurses People from Hokitika Burials at Hokitika Cemetery