Lions, Agnes Mary (1908 - 1992)

Lions was a member of the Florence Nightingale Memorial Committee (New South Wales), 1947-1951. She was also one of four founders of the New South Wales College of Nursing (12 January 1949); a member of the Provisional Council 12 January 1949 to 31 January 1950; President 31 January 1950 to October 1952 (prime mover in ultimate incorporation June 1952); President July 1953 to January 1954; and a member of Council from September 1959 to March 1962, in which time she was Chairman of the Education Committee. She was recognised as a Founder and invested as Foundation Fellow, 18 September 1952, delivering the Annual Oration on 12 September 1956. In addition she was a member of the Committee of Nursing, National Health and Medical Research Council, from 1954, and in 1950 was a founder member of the Nurses Committee of New South Wales, serving as Honorary Secretary from September 1953 to the time of wind up in July 1956. She was awarded an MBE, New Year's Honours List, 1960, for services to nursing.

Lions practised in all branches of nursing in New South Wales, including operating theatres and management of a 30 bed private hospital, 1931-1941. She worked in industrial nursing, Sydney, New South Wales, 1941-1968, including: John Vicars Woollen Mills, 1941-1942; Captain Cook Graving Dock, 1942-1946; Qantas Empire Airways Health Centre, Mascot, 1946-1947; Eversleigh Railway Workshops, Redfern (Senior Industrial Nursing Sister), 1947-1968.

• 'Lions, Agnes Mary (1908-1992), Biographical Entry', in Australian Women's Archives Project, National Foundation for Australian Women, 2002, http://www.womenaustralia.info/biogs/IMP0108b.htm.