Sister Catherine (Kitty) Evans

Catherine (Kitty) Evans trained at Ipswich Hospital from October 1930 until July 1934 and joined the staff in August 1934. In 1936 she left to study obstetrics and returned in April 1937.

Sr Evans was much respected as the Sister-in-Charge of Male Surgical and for a time was Deputy Matron. In 1939 Matron Wilcox described her as “honest, conscientious and trust-worthy and in every way a capable nurse. Her work has always been carried out with care, skill and thoroughness. She is relieving Theatre Sister during the holiday periods and during emergencies, and is a thoroughly capable Theatre Sister”. Dr Trumpy described her as “one of the most magnificent, thorough, and conscientious surgical nurses with whom I have come in contact… Her work was outstanding”.

Sr Evans dealt with a lot of mining injuries and was well-respected in the mining community.

She died from leukaemia in February 1955. She had been a prominent member of the Ipswich Hospital Trained Nurses’ Association and on her death the group decided to honour her memory, endorsed by the hospital board. From the Sister Kitty Evans Memorial Fund, an annual Catherine Evans Memorial Prize was awarded to a graduate nurse completing her four years general training—given for general conduct, character, popularity, ward reports, practical nursing ability and examination results. Selectors were the Medical Superintendent, Matron, Deputy Matron, Tutor Sister and the Hospital Board Chairman and the prize was a badge with the hospital crest and the words Catherine Evans Memorial.

The first prize was awarded in 1956 to Joy McElwaine. The last recipient was Maria Van De Weyer in 1992. The prize has been presented 38 times.