Book Event: Angels of Augustus

Suturing a long knife wound on a Queensland drover's leg was not as easy as Sister Marhorie Wilkinson expected in 1947 when she was called out to help near the Collerina Post Office in the Outback. In a fall from his horse, the drover's knife in his saddle-bag had gashed his leg, but his skin was so leathery that Sister Marj's suture needles broke. Marj boiled up a darning needle belonging to the postmaster's wife, but this sewing needle broke too. The postmaster said he had a big curved upholstery needle so Mary boiled it up. Sure enough, if was large enough to suture the leathery skin together, and through all this, the tough young drover never flinched.
The next day, he was up riding his horses amongst the cattle again.
That was just one of the marvellous true stories we heard from Sister Marjorie Wilkinson Somerville when she and the author spoke at a delightful and successful book event hosted by Possums Books & Coffee in Cooroy on Saturday 11 July 2009.
Sister Marj Wilkinson Somverville is the sole surviving pioneer nurse featured in the popular and intriguing biography, of the Methodist Sisters, titled Angels of Augustus, by Stephanie Somerville. Eighty-eight-year-old Marj spoke of her pioneering nursing days with humor and courage.
She is a delight and inspiration to all, exemplifying the courage and bravery that drover her to be one of Australia's post WW11 pioneer nurses. Her work contributed significantly to the district nursing services we have today in Queensland and New South Wales.
Sister Marj resides in Cooroibah near Tewantin. Sher would be delighted to hear from any clubs or organisations on the Sunshine Coast who would like to hear marj speak about the varied, humorous and sometimes difficult adventures which she and her colleague, the late Sister Ethel Helyar, shared in the 35,000 square miles of outback NSW and QLD which they patrolled in their 3-ton ambulance which they fondly named "Augustus".
Marj Wilkinson Somerville can be contacted through Elk & Ice Books promotions manger Jackie D'Bras on m. 0421-060-919, or through the author, Stephanie Somerville on m.041-397-1945 more information is available on the website: http://www.angelsofaugustus.com.au/
The book "Angels of Augustus" is available for purchase for A$29.95 plus postage through Possums Books & Coffee 3/14 Maple Lane Cooroy 07 5447 7090 or email possumsbooks@bigpond.com.