General News
15 May, 2026
War nurses honoured with special memorial
A SPECIAL plaque now has pride of place at the front of the Port Fairy Hospital, commemorating local nurses who served overseas in World War One.
In front of a large crowd of descendants, friends and staff, the plaque was unveiled on Tuesday morning, giving due recognition to the efforts of eight nurses.
Of those nurses, five were trained at the Port Fairy hospital (but not born in the town), while the remaining three were born in Belfast (Port Fairy) but trained elsewhere.
“Thankfully all eight survived the conflict but until now, five of those had not been recognised locally on any memorials,” historian Richard Patterson said.
The names of those now featured prominently on the plaque in the garden at the entrance to the hospital include Lillian Mary McLellan, Jane Eliza O’Brien, Teresa Fulton, Eleanor Mary Judd, Florence Willans, Marion Theresa Binell, Lena Josephine Lyons, and Eileen Marriott Watson.
“The plaque is an initiative of the Port Fairy Historical Society, with help from a generous grant from the Port Fairy Folk Festival and an anonymous donor who last year deposited a sum of money into the historical society’s bank account,” Mr Patterson said.
“It’s very gratifying that, at long last, these brave women are being recognised.
“They gave up several years of their lives and put themselves in danger for the sake of their country and they deserve to be remembered.”
