Image right: Matron Clara Shumack (left) and Matron Kearey, Principal Matron of NSW on the Manunda, 9 August 1940. Courtesy Australian War Memorial
March is Women’s History Month.
The inspirational Major Clara Jane Shumack (SERN: NX70204) was born in Bathurst in 1899, the eighth of eleven children, and trained as a nurse at St George and the Coast (Prince Henry) Hospitals. She was appointed the first matron of an Australian hospital ship during World War II. The occasion was photographed on 9 August 1940 when the Principal Matron of NSW, Matron Kearey, also visited the Manunda.
Hospital Ship Manunda 14 July 1940. The ship was requisitioned in May 1940. Courtesy Australian War Memorial.
Nursing sisters awaiting inspection by Governor of NSW, Lord and Lady Wakehurst on board Manunda in Sydney 9 August 1940.
Courtesy Australian War Memorial.
Matron Shumack served on the Manunda for three and a half years, mostly in the Middle East and New Guinea. However, during a visit to Darwin, the ship was bombed by the Japanese on 19 February 1942 when one sister was killed and another was badly wounded. In total 12 people on the Manunda were killed with 18 seriously injured. Despite being badly damaged herself, the Manunda continued to take on board those injured from other ships. Official records note that:
‘Many survivors from the raid were picked up from the water, and although the ship was badly damaged the patients were brought back safely to Fremantle. It was especially during this period that Matron Shumack displayed very great calmness and exceptional devotion to duty, and her quiet and confident manner was an inspiration to all her fellow workers.’ [1]
Arrival of Manunda in Melbourne with wounded soldiers, 15 September 1941. Courtesy Australian War Memorial
On 6 September 1941 while in Milne Bay, Papua, Japanese war ships entered the harbour, firing over the ship while patients were being ferried to the hospital ship in small boats. In all, Matron Shumack and the Manunda made almost 30 trips to Papua and New Guinea bringing injured service personnel home.
Damage to the Manunda after Japanese attack in Darwin, February 1942.
Nurses on board Manunda, 1942. Images courtesy Australian War Memorial.
Manunda Hospital Ship at Port Moresby, August 1942 being loaded with wounded soldiers to be transferred to Australia. Courtesy Australian War Memorial
She was appointed major in March 1943 and in April 1944 she was transferred to the 128th Australian General Hospital in Port Moresby. In January 1945 the hospital was moved to Redbank, Queensland. In the same year she was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel and received the Royal Red Cross (1st Class) for her service. After the war she became matron at the 113th Australian General Hospital in Concord with responsibility for 185 nursing sisters and the care of returning prisoners of war. During August 1946 she escorted the Duchess of Gloucester as she inspected army nurses at Victoria Barracks and was photographed for the newspaper.
She was later matron of Lithgow District Hospital and the Lucy Gullett Convalescent Home in Bexley.
Clara Shumack retired to Strathfield where she lived at 34/18 Margaret Street. She died in Strathfield in 1974. A plaque remembering her extraordinary service stands in the rose garden of the Kokoda Track Memorial Walkway at Concord West.
By J.J. MacRitchie
Local Studies Advisor
References
[1] National Archives of Australia. Service Record of Clara Jane Shumack NX70204 https://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/SearchNRetrieve/Interface/ViewImage.aspx?B=4615463
Read more: