Catherine COFFEY

Born 1881 in Belfast, Victoria, Australia ^[241]
Daughter of John COFFEY and Annie LYNCH ^[241]
Matron of the Government Hospital in Wagin, Western Australia 1917-1919 ^{[50] [419: 27-Jul-1918, 4-Jan-1919, 22-Feb-1919]}
Matron of the Toodyay Hospital in Toodyay, Western Australia in 1919 ^{[355: 14-Jun-1919, 27-Sep-1919]}
Nurse in Three Springs, Western Australia 1928-1936 ^{[5] [19]}
Pioneered the Cottage Hospital on Charles C. MALEY's Parakalia Farm in Three Springs ^{[5: 25-May-1934] [P2]}
Upon its opening in 1929 she was Matron and ran the North Midlands District Hospital in Three Springs ^{[5: 25-May-1934]}
Donated £1/1/- to the Three Springs Saint Patrick's Day Committee in 1928 ^[124]
Attended the Ball after the Three Springs Races on Thursday 11 April 1929 in a dress of black lace and ninon ^{[4: 20-Apr-1929]}
Donor at the Gift Evening held for the North Midlands District Hospital in Three Springs on Wednesday 1 May 1929 ^{[4: 25-May-1929]}
Foundation Member of the Three Springs branch of the Country Women's Association in 1929 ^[206]
In December 1929 extended a request for gifts or donations to provide Christmas cheer for the inmates at the Hospital  ^{[4: 14-Dec-1929]}
Foundation Committee Member of the Three Springs Golf Club in 1930 ^{[4: 14-Jun-1930]}
She was the owner an unusual cactus called Queen of the Night, which only flowered at night ^{[4: 4-Mar-1933]}
Her cactus only gave three blooms in 1933 compared with five the previous year - said to have been a result of the depression! ^[4]
Attended the Bridge and Euchre Party at the Dominican Convent in Three Springs on Monday 21 August 1933 ^{[5: 25-Aug-1933]}
Member of the Three Springs Tennis Club - was Secretary in 1933-34 and Vice President in 1935-36 ^{[5: 6-Oct-1933, 20-Sep-1935]}
Departed Three Springs on Thursday 16 November 1933 to spent a fortnights holiday in Perth ^{[5: 17-Nov-1933]}
Attended the Carnamah Church of England's New Year Ball held at the Carnamah Hall on Saturday 30 December 1933 ^{[5: 5-Jan-1934]}
Returned to Three Springs on Tuesday 27 March 1934; during her absence Acting Matron BRUTON had run the hospital ^{[5: 30-Mar-1934]}
In May 1934 took extended leave of six months, during which time she visited the Centenary Celebrations in Melbourne ^{[5: 4-May-1934]}
Prior to her departure she was bid a Farewell at Three Springs Hall on Thursday 24 May 1934, to which about 200 people attended ^[5]
At her farewell she was presented with a cheque from the residents of Three Springs and thanked for her good work ^{[5: 25-May-1934]}
Returned to Three Springs and resumed her duties at the hospital on Friday 14 December 1934 ^{[5: 14-Dec-1934]}
Her sisters, the Misses COFFEY, returned to Perth on 23 January 1934 after visiting her in Three Springs ^{[5: 25-Jan-1935]}
On Wednesday 15 May 1935 her sisters, Misses COFFEY, arrived in Three Springs by car on another visit ^{[5: 17-May-1935]}
Judge of the Baby Competition at the Anglican Church's Fair held at the Three Springs Hall on Thursday 16 May 1935 ^{[5: 24-May-1935]}
Won 2nd prize for Geraniums in the Flower section of the Three Springs Agricultural Show held on 19 September 1935 ^{[5: 27-Sep-1935]}
She was absent from Three Springs for four weeks vacation in early 1936, returning on Friday 31 January 1936 ^{[5: 10-Jan-1936, 7-Feb-1936]}
Resigned from her position as Matron of the North Midlands District Hospital in Three Springs in early March 1936 ^{[5: 13-Mar-1936]}
She was tendered a farewell party by 20 of her friends at Peter and Annie VANDELEUR's home on 11 March 1936 ^{[5: 20-Mar-1936]}
On Thursday 12 March 1936 handed over control of the North Midlands District Hospital to Matron V. HOWSON ^{[5: 13-Mar-1936]}
She was again farewelled at a party held at Mrs Sara T. MALEY's home on Parakalia Farm on Friday 13 March 1936 ^{[5: 20-Mar-1936]}
Left Three Springs by the midnight train on Friday 13 March 1936 to take up a position in Kondinin ^{[5: 13 & 20-Mar-1936]}
Matron of the hospital in Kondinin in 1936 ^[50]
After relieving at the Morawa Hospital for a number of weeks she holidayed with friends in Three Springs in April 1937 ^{[5: 2-Apr-1937]}
Matron of the Eastern Districts Memorial Hospital in Kellerberrin 1937-1939 ^{[50] [120: 21-Sep-1939]}
     The staff of the hospital in Kellerberrin consisted of herself, four nursing sisters, two probationers and five domestic staff ^[120]
She was working as a nurse and living with her sister Anne at 31 Mary Street in North Perth in 1943, 1949 and 1954 ^[50]
Died 1958 ^[243]


From The Western Mail newspaper, Thursday 26 December 1929:
Country Towns and Districts - Three Springs and Mingenew - Cereal and Pastoral Wealth - People and Properties
"The popular but extremely busy matron of the North Midlands District Hospital is Matron Coffey, who has been in Three Springs for two and a half years, previously being in charge of the temporary hospital. Matron Coffey trained in Melbourne, and is a life member of the Royal Victorian Nurses' Association and of the Australian Trained Nurses' Association."

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