Maker: Katie Lee

Panel number: 41

Petition Sheet Number: 32 

Person honouring: A Tombe 

Relationship to makers: My grandmother was a nurse as was Annie Tombe

Anne Tombe was born about 1859 in Ballymena, County Antrim, Ireland - daughter of George Tombe, a clerk, and Ellen. She came to Dunedin with her family about 1883.

Annie trained as a nurse in Dunedin Hospital and founded Prospect House in 1900. It was located in St David Street and was one on the earliest private hospitals in the city; it featured hot and cold running water and incandescent lighting.

Annie ran Prospect House until 1913 when she sold it and went for a trip to England and Ireland. When war broke out she offered her services to the care of serviceman. The New Zealand government had taken over ‘Mount Felix’, a large residence in Walton-on-Thames, as a hospital for wounded troops and Annie became the Matron. Annie left after a year due to her health, and she later became Matron at 'Rest Harrow’ in Sandwich, a rest home for New Zealand overseas nurses, and later again at a home in London for the wives of officers run by Lady Plunket.

On 7 June 1916, at Buckingham Palace, Annie was presented with the Royal Red Cross (first class) by the King, the first New Zealand nurse to receive this honour. 

Annie sailed back to New Zealand in 1932, and she died on 12 August 1934. She is buried in the family grave in the Northern Cemetery. 

Panel materials: Cotton, lycra, grandmother’s embroidery cloth, Mother’s felt. I already had everything.