New Zealand Registered Nurse badge presented to Georgina Dickson
1911Gilt metal and enamel badge in the form of a five-pointed star suspended from a vertical bar. The bar has the letters 'NZRS' in gold embedded within the royal blue enamel and a brooch attachment on the reverse. A metal loop connects the two parts of the badge.
The centre of the star is a red cross on a white circular background around which there is a star-shaped area of blue enamel and then a border of red enamel. Each area is defined by a thin line of gold.
The reverse is in plain gold metal and features a number, the name of the recipient and the hospital where she trained, all engraved. The lines that the engraver has used to keep the writing straight are visible. The maker's details appear in the lower point of the star.
Georgina Florence Dickson was born in Nelson, New Zealand in 1883. She qualified as a trained nurse in Nelson in 1911. She enlisted, aged 33, as a Staff Nurse in the Australian Army Nursing Service, on 2 September 1916.
She embarked from Sydney, New South Wales, on board RMS Kashgar on 8 December 1916. She served in Egypt and Salonika.
She returned to Australia on 21 May 1919 aboard the HMAT Osterley. She was discharged on 15 August 1919.
According to the Museum of New Zealand, the NZRN badge was designed by Grace Neill (1846-1926) who played a major role in drafting New Zealand’s Nurses Registration Act 1901. She implemented the Act, defined the curriculum and appointed examiners.
The five-pointed star has roots in historical symbolism, particularly related to healing traditions dating back to the ancient Egyptians. Neill chose the five-pointed star because it already carried historical weight related to healing and held symbolic meanings that aligned with the values of the nursing profession.
Historically, the five points had assigned meanings, such as volition, fidelity, and intellect. Since the advent of nursing as a profession, specific nursing actions have also been assigned to the star points such as the hand that is every ready to help.
The white background of the badge stands for the purity expected in the life of a nurse. The blue stands for honour and loyalty; and gold for charity. The badge was designed as a symbol of service in the alleviation of suffering.
Details
Details
On suspension bar:
"NZRN"
On reverse of star:
"963
GEORGINA
DICKSON
Nelson Hosp.
1911"
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