Nurse dies of Pneumonic-Influenza (Spanish flu) after treating quarantined soldiers

Report regarding nurse who dies of the Spanish flu.

Transcript

[Handwritten in top right corner:] M39/792 

[Stamped in red ink 'S.O.I. AND R.S.' [Staff Officer Invalided and Returned Soldiers', '5TH M.D.' [Military District], with reference number '18/8/74' handwritten inside stamp.] 

QUARANTINE STATION, 

WOODMANS POINT. 

4/2/19. 

This is to certify that Staff Nurse O'Kane of 1st, M.D. of Queensland, died at Quarantine Station, Woodmans Point, at 1.45. p.m. on December 21st, 1918. The cause of death being Pneumonic-Influenza. Next of kin, Mother, [word crossed out] Mrs. J.E. O'Kane, Ryan St. Charters Towers, Queensland. 

[Handwritten signature:] J A R Mitchell MB CLM  

R.M.O. Quarantine Station, 

Woodmans Point. 

About this record

Nurse Rosa O’Kane volunteered to care for sick World War I servicemen who, while returning to Australia on board the SS Boonah, were struck down with pneumonic influenza (the Spanish Flu). O’Kane was tending to soldiers at a quarantine station when she too became fatally ill.

Related themes

Theme

A ward for the totally and permanently incapacitated in an Anzac hostel.

First World War

From 1914 to 1918, over 324,000 Australians served overseas in the First World War, with two-thirds becoming casualties. Their experiences had long-lasting effects on them, their families and society.