Mary McKenzie Finlay

Mary McKenzie Finlay, RRC (28 January 1870 – 21 March 1923) was an Australian army nurse and matron at Melbourne Grammar School.

Early life Mary McKenzie Finlay was born at Kilmore, Victoria, on 28 January 1870. She was the eldest of thirteen children born to station master/land valuer James and Elizabeth (née Hill) Finlay. She and her siblings were educated at home by a governess.

Nursing career Finlay enrolled in nursing at Melbourne Hospital on 16 December 1896 and received her certification on 16 February 1900. She worked at the hospital in surgical ward 22 while completing her training to be a matron. In December 1907 she was appointed matron at Melbourne Grammar School, where she remained until the outbreak of the First World War. On arrival she served briefly in the Egyptian Army Hospital in Cairo before being transferred as assistant matron to No. 1 Australian General Hospital at Heliopolis. In April 1916, she was transferred to Rouen in France as matron at the No. 1 Australian General Hospital. Finlay was transferred to England in February 1918 as matron of No. 2 Australian Auxiliary Hospital, Southall, which specialised in the care for soldiers who had lost limbs.

Finlay died of cancer at Warrandyte, Victoria, on 21 March 1923. Following a funeral service in the school chapel she was buried at St Kilda Cemetery.