Nurse Bernadine Melville, 1892-3/12/1918.

There can be no higher tribute to a member of the health profession than that inscribed on the gravestone of Nurse Bernadine Melville.  She "died at her post" - having (as I surmise) gone every day to her nurse's job during the 1918 spanish flu epidemic in the knowledge that death in the line of duty was a serious possibility.

WOMEN'S CORNER

Miss Bernadine F. Melville, whose death occurred at the Blenheim Hospital last week from influenza complications, had been a member of the hospital nursing staff for the past eighteen mouths. She was 26 years of age, and was born in Otago.   -Press, 9/12/1918.

Deaths

MELVILLE. — On December 3, at Blenheim, Nurse Bernadina Florence Alice (Berna), only daughter of William Melville, late of Te Akaterawa; aged 26 years.  -Otago Daily Times, 13/12/1918.

In a letter read at the last meeting of the Waiau Hospital Board (reports the Marlborough Express) the Sisters of Mercy returned a cheque for £18, forwarded to them in recognition of the services they rendered at the hospital during the outbreak of influenza. The payment was made in connection with the system of allowances for epidemic workers. The Sisters thanked the board for its consideration, and, saying that they were pleased to give their services gratuitously, asked the board to apply the money to the benefit of the hospital or some such similar object, as it thought fit. Miss X, Barnett, of Tua Marina, returned a cheque for £5. The board expressed its appreciation of the action of the donors. In recognition of the fine work done by the nursing staff during the influenza epidemic the board voted bonuses of £15 for the matron, and £10 for each nurse. The total amount voted is £185. An extra week's holiday was granted. The members of the board paid warm tributes to the courage and willingness that marked the conduct of the staff during their trying ordeal. The board has also decided to erect a headstone over the grave of Nurse Melville, who fell a victim to the influenza epidemic while she was nursing at the hospital.  -Evening Post, 20/1/1919.

Blenheim Cemetery.