Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Edna was born on 23 February 1917 at Rose Park, in Adelaide, whilst her father, Rufus Goldney was serving in WWI. She was always known as ‘Jo’ rather than Edna. She grew up with her parents and three younger brothers on the Goldney family farm at Balaklava in the mid-north of South Australia.

Jo attended Balaklava Primary School and in 1929 she came top of the school in her Qualifying Exam. She attended Miss McArthur’s music and dance school, performed in concerts at the Balaklava Institute and attended local dances and social gatherings. Jo also entered flowers and jams in the children’s section of the Balaklava Show.

Jo attended Balaklava High School where she also excelled academically. She gained her Intermediate Certificate in English, History, Geography, arithmetic, maths 1 and 2, and bookkeeping, followed by her Leaving Certificate.

Jo played basketball for Balaklava High School, then the Methodist Girls Comradeship team, and was a leading goal scorer in the local competition.

After finishing school Jo began nursing training at the Balaklava Soldiers Memorial District Hospital. She moved to Adelaide to complete her nursing training at the Adelaide Hospital in 1939. In 1940 she completed her Midwifery examination at the Queen Victoria Maternity Hospital.

Jo enlisted in the Australian Army in Adelaide in September 1941. She was transferred to the active Australian Imperial Forces on 3/11/42 as a commissioned nurse, serving as a Lieutenant (SX 26470) in a number of Australian General and Camp Hospitals.

She was initially in the 101 Australian General Hospital (AGH) in Katherine, Northern Territory, and subsequently transferred to the No. 45 Camp Hospital in Mataranka and Larrimah, south of Katherine between 28/5/43 and 31/8/44.

After further postings with the 128AGH and 2/7th AGH’s she embarked on His Majesty’s Australian Hospital Ship (HMAHS) Wanganella from Sydney on 7/4/45. This ship was a luxury twin engine British liner which was converted to a wartime hospital ship in 1941. It could accommodate 550 patients and carried a medical staff of around 120.

Jo served for 20 months in Lae, New Guinea, with the 2/2 and 2/7th AGH’s. The hospital in Lae had over 1000 beds and cared for sick and injured Australian and New Zealanders including ex-POW’s. Many of its buildings were open wooden structures with thatched roofs. Following the surrender of the Japanese forces she remained at Lae until 14 December 1946 when she boarded the HMAHS Manunda to return to Sydney.

She continued to work in several other Australian General Hospitals until discharge on 12/2/47 when she returned to Balaklava. Her name and other former students who served in WWII were put on an Honour Board at the Balaklava High School.

Jo pursued Nursing for the rest of her working life. She worked briefly at the Memorial Hospital, North Adelaide, and was there when her nephew Robert had his tonsils removed.

In July 1948 she moved to Mildura, Victoria, to be with a former soldier she presumably met during the war. They lived together for a time but did not marry. Jo worked as a Community Nurse at the Mildura Base Hospital before establishing the Child Welfare Centre, which she operated until retirement.

She was well integrated into the Mildura community, and also looked after her elderly mother, Louisa, for several years. After retirement Jo moved back to Adelaide and purchased a unit at Oxley St, Somerton Park, where she lead a quiet life until she died on 22/11/99, aged 82. Her ashes are interred in the Goldney family plot (number 551) at Balaklava Cemetery.