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badge, qualification

human history
  • Other Name

    New Zealand Registered Nurse badge (descriptive name)

    Nurse Nancy Robertson, QAIMNSR, WW1 (owner's name)

  • Description

    New Zealand Registered Nurse qualification badge issued to Nurse Nancy Robertson, Auckland

    enamel and brass; 5-point star with red cross at centre, suspended from blue enamel bar with title initials: 'N Z R N'

    Badge is attached to souvenir tablecloth made during WW1 [1996.23.1.1]

    engraved verso with recipient's details : 1755 / NANCY ROBERTSON / 1915

    stamped makers marks verso: H JENKINS / & SONS LTD / BIRM

  • Place
  • Associated Place
  • Accession Number
    1996.23.1.2
  • Accession Date
    04 Apr 1996
  • Department
badge [1996.23.1.2]

Images and documents

Images

Artefact

  • Credit Line
    Collection of Auckland Museum Tāmaki Paenga Hira, 1996.23.1.2
  • Primary Maker

     Henry Jenkins & Son (Badgemaker)

     New Zealand Registered Nurse (Issued by)

    Mrs Grace Neill (Designer)

  • Place
  • Date
    Pre 1914
  • Associated Notes

    NZ Registered Nurse badge of Nancy Marion Robertson, dated 1914.

    THE BADGE

    The designer of the Five Pointed Star was Mrs Grace Neill, who was appointed assistant inspector of hospitals in New Zealand in 1895. Mrs Neill was successful in having the State Registration for Nurses Act passed in 1901, and was a foundation member of the International Council of Nurses. The badge was first issued in 1901.

    The Five-Pointed Star badge of the New Zealand Registered Nurses was the recognised badge of those connected with Medicine and "originated with the Priests of the Temple of Isis...who had become a powerful body of healing... To secure admission of reliable and worthy men Oaths of Allegiance were sworn upon a representation of a five-point star... Each point of the star was of peculiar import representing volition, fidelity, or intellect and were explained to the candidate for admission as follows:

    1. The Hand. That my hand shall be ever extended to help, comfort and relieve the sick and suffering.

    2. The Foot. That my feet shall not falter, loiter or linger, when journeying to alleviate the suffering of the sick.

    3. The Knee. That my knee shall bow in supplication to Almighty Ra, for aid in my endeavour to succour and relieve the sick and the suffering.

    4. The Breast. That my breast shall be a safe and sacred repository for any secret entrusted to me or divulged during the sickness of delirium, or otherwise obtained.

    5. The Head. That I will constantly pursue the study of the secret arts. That I will exercise my knowledge to the benefit of the suffering mental or bodily distress and that I will disseminate such knowledge among others that my preceptors may authorise and direct."

    From: The Origin of the Five Point Star: Kai Tiaki : the journal of the nurses of New Zealand, Volume IX, Issue 1, January 1916, Page 42

    NANCY MARION ROBERTSON

    Sister Nancy Marion Robertson trained at Auckland Hospital qualifying as a registered nurse in 1915. She left NZ in 1916 and travelled to the UK where she joined the Queen Alexandra Imperial Military Nursing Service Reserve (QAIMNSR). During WW1 Nancy Robertson worked initially as a nursing sister at Lord Derby's Hospital, Wallingford and later was based in France at Casualty Clearing Station No 5.

    Following the war Nancy married Arthur William James Page, of Rosemount, Mt Albert, Auckland. Arthur had served during WW1 with the NZ Army Service Corps.

  • Associated Event
    WW1; 1914-1918
  • Associated Person
  • Associated Place
  • Period
  • Signature/marks

    H JENKINS / & SONS LTD / BIRM

    1755 / NANCY ROBERTSON / 1915

  • Media
  • Subject Category
  • Classification
  • Last Update
    15 May 2023
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