Sutherland, Selina Murray McDonald (1839–1909)

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Sutherland, Selina Murray McDonald (1839–1909)

New Zealand nurse and social worker. Born Dec 26, 1839, at Sutherlandshire, Scotland; died Oct 8, 1909, in Melbourne, Australia; dau. of Baigrie (farm servant) and Jane (McDonald) Sutherland.

Immigrated to New Zealand (1865); provided medical services to Maori and Pakeha communities in central Wairarapa area; established hospital in Masterton by soliciting donations (1879); appointed matron of Wellington Hospital (1879); relocated to Australia and began caring for destitute children, initiating Neglected Children's Aid Society (1881); helped form Victorian Neglected Children's Aid Society (1894); presented to Queen Victoria (1897) and received diamond brooch, which she sold to raise money for charitable activities; formed Sutherland Homes for Orphans, Neglected and Destitute Children (1908).

See also Dictionary of New Zealand Biography (Vol. 2).

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