McHugh, Fanny (1861–1943)
McHugh, Fanny (1861–1943)
New Zealand midwife, nurse, shopkeeper, lecturer. Name variations: Fanny Balmer. Born Fanny Balmer, Aug 21, 1861, in Auckland, New Zealand; died on Dec 17, 1943, in Bombay, Auckland; dau. of William Balmer (soldier) and Margaret (McIntosh) Balmer; m. Henry Joseph McHugh (farmer), 1880 (died c. 1904); children: 1 daughter, 5 sons.
Served as midwife and nurse to local residents of Turakina Valley (late 1880s); opened Turakina general store (1893); established maternity home at Manaia (1907); joined New Zealand Volunteer Sisterhood to care for sick soldiers at Trentham and in Egypt (1914); returned to New Zealand after WWI and was appointed to health patrol with Department of Health (1919); also lectured on social hygiene until 1926.
See also Dictionary of New Zealand Biography (Vol. 3).