'Our Lady's Nurses for the Poor was founded by Father Timothy Edward McGrath and Miss Eileen O'Connor on 15th April 1913, at 35 Dudley Street, Coogee and cares for the sick poor in their own homes. Although founded in 1913, Our Lady's Nurses of the Poor were not canonically accepted as a religious order until 1953, nevertheless they lived a religious life.
As they had no formal novitiate, the Sisters spent two weeks (for some three months) of preparation with the Little Company of Mary at Lewisham Hospital. From their early years, the Sisters wore the traditional home nurses uniform, of brown cap and cloak (brown in honour of St. Joseph) and so became popularly known as the Brown Nurses. The Sisters attended their patients, free of charge and still do so today, owing to the great generosity of their many friends. Besides the Coogee house, houses have been established at Brisbane, Newcastle, Minto, Randwick and Kings Cross. The Sisters take the three Vows of Poverty, Chastity and Obedience. The badge has the Cross and M (Mary) on it. The motto of the Sisters is 'to Jesus through Mary', and the Sisters' charism is to nurse and care for the sick poor in their own homes.' Source: http://www.stbedes.melb.catholic.edu.au/home/br/hist/oln.html (Sighted 25/08/2006).
