Gatton's Gloria days

So said Sister Gloria Collins – who turned 101 on 25 July – of her time as UQ Gatton matron from 1957 until 1982. Except it wasn’t UQ Gatton back then. And ‘those boys’ are now grown men.

But she still has fond memories of her 25 years at Gatton College and recently came back to relive those glory days at the 125th anniversary celebrations held in July 2022.

The infrastructure

Initially, Sister Collins lived in a two-bedroom unit within the hospital and went home – either to her parents or extended family – on her days off. She was later joined by female students, five or six of whom were billeted at the hospital.

“The place became a lot noisier when girls arrived!” she said.

On a personal note, Sister Collins – a passionate bridge player to this day – enjoyed bringing Gatton’s Bridge Club to the hospital verandah when rents in town became too high, and she also enrolled as an external student at the University of New England to study human biology and arts. 

“I didn’t finish though because I didn’t have any help – no tutors or books – and it became too hard.”

Back at work, Sister Collins was responsible for every aspect of running the hospital, including ordering medicine and penicillin from Brisbane, and overseeing the cleaners.

“Hygiene was extremely important in the era before antibiotics,” she said.

Today, the original hospital is no more, the building itself having been moved to the Gatton township in 1972, where it now serves as the local table tennis centre. What this meant for Sister Collins at the time was a move to the old Principal’s residence, where a new health services centre was established.

The present accommodation is very satisfactory and ideally suited to the purpose. Constructed as one of the original College buildings in 1897 and since maintained in excellent repair, the retention of this building will also provide for an historical interest, preserving a good example of the architecture of that period.
^{1973 QAC Council Annual Report, page 8}

The former hospital site became the location of the current JK Murray Library.

The relationships

Working at QAC was the culmination of Sister Collins’s diverse career experiences.

Born in Pialba in 1921, Gloria Collins was the sixth of seven children to hotel and farm manager Timothy and his wife, Elizabeth. After finishing school at Toowoomba’s St Saviour’s College, at age 16 she moved to Brisbane and began work at McWhirters Department Store, while also being companion for an elderly relative, Annie Mulvihill – from whom she learnt the fine art of rent-collecting and betting at the races.

Because of her first-aid and home-nursing experience, when World War II broke out, she immediately signed up to the Women’s Australian Auxiliary Air Force (WAAAF) and trained as a nurse. Aircraftwoman (ACW) Gloria Collins later became one of just 33 WAAAFs to receive Good Service Cards for her ‘exceptionally valuable service’.

“I received the commendation at a special parade at RAAF Amberley, having helped nurse back to good health the first prisoners of war returning to Queensland,” she said.

After the war, ACW Collins retrained at Brisbane’s Mater Hospital, before taking up posts at hospitals in rural Queensland, Tasmania, Sydney, London and Canada. Her desire to be closer to extended family in the Darling Downs region saw her move back to Australia in the early 1950s, later accepting the position at QAC.

As one of the few women in regular contact with the QAHS&C boys, Sister Collins commanded their respect with her caring nature and wicked sense of humour, but also through shared interests in horse-racing, golf and bridge. She continued similar strong relationships with all patients and colleagues throughout her working life.

Sister Gloria Collins arrived as Matron-in-Charge of Health Services in 1957 and consequently was mother in absentia to many young boys. Gradually the Health Clinic's use diminished and Sister Collins was left to carry the full burden on her own, which she did with the care and sympathy she had shown throughout her life at Queensland Agricultural College.
^{1981 QAC Council Annual Report, pages 14–15}

“I’ve always liked meeting people; you need to mix with others, and learn different perspectives,” she said.

And it would seem the feeling is reciprocated. Sister Collins was met with much acclaim at the Gatton anniversary celebration and cemented many of the relationships begun more than six decades before.