Gertrude Wheeler
Hospital Matron and Loving Aunt
Hospital Matron and Loving Aunt
Gertrude was the seventh of the ten children born to Anna and John Wheeler at Titi Farm, Mauku.
Gertrude trained as a nurse and had a long career in medicine, becoming a owner/ matron at Rostrevor Hospital in Gisborne. She was unmarried and was seen by the younger generation as a "deeply religious maiden aunt" (Jean Troughton's words), who had a close and loving involvement with the care and nurture of her nieces and nephews. Gillian Dene records Gertrude was also very kind to her mother Joyce (Harry's daughter) when she went to work for her at her private hospital.
According to a Gisborne Herald obituary notice for Raey Wheeler, Gertrude also encouraged her nephews Ernest (Ernie) and Wilfred and in the cinema business on the East Coast, and invested money in it herself. Her brother Tom's daughters Ethel, Esme and Jean were all sent to her to make sure they "kept out of trouble." Nieces Ethel and Esme both did their training at Cook Hospital in Gisborne under her watchful eye. Jean opted to train at Auckland Hospital but remembers her Aunt Gertrude as a generous woman who for all her rectitude had a good sense of humour.
Gertrude made provisions for several of her family in her will, and her bequests show that for a single woman she did a lot better in life financially than many of her siblings.
Gertrude's dates:
Born: 13 Feb, 1876, at Mauku.
Died: 6 April, 1941, Gisborne.
Gertrude trained as a nurse and had a long career in medicine, becoming a owner/ matron at Rostrevor Hospital in Gisborne. She was unmarried and was seen by the younger generation as a "deeply religious maiden aunt" (Jean Troughton's words), who had a close and loving involvement with the care and nurture of her nieces and nephews. Gillian Dene records Gertrude was also very kind to her mother Joyce (Harry's daughter) when she went to work for her at her private hospital.
According to a Gisborne Herald obituary notice for Raey Wheeler, Gertrude also encouraged her nephews Ernest (Ernie) and Wilfred and in the cinema business on the East Coast, and invested money in it herself. Her brother Tom's daughters Ethel, Esme and Jean were all sent to her to make sure they "kept out of trouble." Nieces Ethel and Esme both did their training at Cook Hospital in Gisborne under her watchful eye. Jean opted to train at Auckland Hospital but remembers her Aunt Gertrude as a generous woman who for all her rectitude had a good sense of humour.
Gertrude made provisions for several of her family in her will, and her bequests show that for a single woman she did a lot better in life financially than many of her siblings.
Gertrude's dates:
Born: 13 Feb, 1876, at Mauku.
Died: 6 April, 1941, Gisborne.