Matron Sadie Canning – people profile

In Sep 2008 Western Australia’s first Aboriginal nurse/Matron died at the age of 78.

Nurse Sadie Canning nee Corner

Sadie Canning was a member of the Stolen Generations was taken away fro her parents at the age of four, she was placed in the Mt Margaret Mission, in the north eastern goldfields where she grew up. At 19 she travelled to Melbourne to study nursing because at the time Aboriginal nurses were not accepted for training in Perth.  Upon returning to Western Australia, she worked at the Leonora District Hospital and became matron in 1958. After attaining the position of matron in 1958, Canning pushed for change and ended the segregation of maternity patients at Leonora District Hospital.

Young Musicians at Mt Margaret Mission 1946 (Sadie front row far right)

Professor Fiona Stanley worked with Mrs Canning as a young doctor and she says she was an inspiration to many. “She has been in every way an outstanding ambassador, what she showed was that an Aboriginal woman could get to the top in a white person’s world,” she said.

“I think we’re all the richer for having had such a wonderful, friendly, lovely laughing person who cared so much about people and cared specifically about Aboriginal people.”

After attaining the position of matron in 1958, Ms Canning pushed for change and ended the segregation of maternity patients at Leonora District Hospital. In 1964, Canning was awarded an MBE for nursing services to Leonora Hospital and received the Queens Silver Jubilee Medal in 1977. She was to serve as Matron for
34 yrs.

Sadie Canning (standing) at the Leonora Hospital

The Member for Murchison-Eyre, John Bowler, says Mrs Canning will be sadly missed.  “She was a most respected person, she was a shining light for her people in the goldfields and showed just what could be achieved and many followed in her foot steps,” he said.
The Shire of leonora have honoured Sadie by naming the road to the Leonora Hospital as ‘Sadie Canning Drive’.

Matron Sadie Canning welcomes the govener to Leonora Hospital, 1964. Left to Right:- Govener Kendrew, Cherry Finlayson, Aide-de-camp, Matron Canning, Syd Wynscombe, Lady Kendrew, Jean Bell, Bill Detez – photo Dr Criena Fitzgerald.

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Moya Sharp

Owner at Outback Family History

My name is Moya Sharp, I live in Kalgoorlie Western Australia and have worked most of my adult life in the history/museum industry. I have been passionate about history for as long as I can remember and in particular the history of my adopted home the Eastern Goldfields of Western Australia. Through my website I am committed to providing as many records and photographs free to any one who is interested in the family and local history of the region.

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