First matron

Ellen Raymond can be seen with her brother Thomas on the verandah of her brother, Robert's property in North Ipswich She and her brother are the second couple on the left standing on the verandah.

Ipswich Hospital’s first matron was Miss Ellen (Ellenor) Raymond when it opened on March 3, 1860.

Miss Raymond was born in Riverstown, County Westmeath in Ireland and was baptised on 21st May 1825. She was fifth of eleven children (seven brothers and three sisters) to John and Ellen Raymond. She was educated at Killucan School near her home and commenced employment in domestic service where she worked herself up to being the housekeeper and manager of the home of a wealthy family in Northern Ireland earning £10 per year.

Miss Raymond was invited by her brother, Robert Raymond, who was a prominent Ipswich citizen, to come to Australia and take up the position of Matron of the brand new Ipswich Hospital. She arrived in Queensland on November 25, 1859 on board the Shackamaxon with her brother, James, and sister, Eliza. Three more of her siblings followed these pioneers to Australia at a later date.

Ellen had no previous nursing experience. Nursing training was just in its fledgling years in London at the time. Her responsibilities included the day to day running of the hospital, the recruitment and retention of staff, personnel management, purchasing of consumables and the management of patient care, as well as the hospital garden and farm animals e.g. poultry, cow and pigs. She was responsible for all hospital staff other than the Resident Dispenser and the doctors. She reported to the Ipswich Hospital Committee. She earned £50 per year.

In 1865 she contracted typhoid fever from one of her patients and died 5 days later on December 30, 1865 at the age of 40 years.