A to Z Challenge - G is for Getting employment as a new arrival

Snippets from the life of Martha Sarah Ellis.

There appears to be no problem for girls wanting work, “demand for female servants is very active in the colony, and when parties have been sent out on previous occasions every girl has found employment on the day of landing”, according to Mrs. Joyce, of Winchester, the head of the United British Emigration Society.[1]

1894 'NEWS OF THE WEEK.', Western Mail (Perth, WA : 1885 - 1954), 3 March, p. 34. , viewed 08 Apr 2017, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article33100314 

We know that in May 1890 Martha was working as a domestic and was described as one of two “young domestic servants of respectable appearance” when she appeared in court accused of assault with some of her friends.[2] (click here for more details).  It is quite possible that after being found guilty that she lost her position, but for whatever reason, by the end of 1890 she was working at the Colonial Hospital in Perth, a position from which she was discharged from sometime after the 21^st December possibly early in 1891.[3]

Not long after this Martha moved to Victoria.

Staff of the Colonial Hospital, Perth, 1895, 231311PD: Staff of the Colonial Hospital, Perth, 1895. Back row (left to right): unknown, A. Rewell, E. McKenzie, Dr Elgee, unknown; Front row: K. Chisholm, Dr Waylen, E.M. Andrew (Matron), J. Hurnall. State Library of Western Australia < slwa_b3031141_1 > http://purl.slwa.wa.gov.au/slwa_b3031141_1  

The above photograph was taken a few years after Martha had left the hospital, but looking at it I wonder if Martha had worn white and a small white cap to hide her very unruly and curly hair.

To Read more about Martha's life for articles previously posted for the A to Z Challenges click the Letters below:-

A  B  C  D  E  F  G  H  I  J  K  L  M  N  O  P  Q  R  S  T  U  V  W  X  Y  Z

Sources

---

[i]  Anon,  'NEWS OF THE WEEK.', Western Mail, 3 March 1894, p. 34. , viewed 16 Mar 2017, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article33100314

[ii] 1890 'NEWS AND NOTES.', The West Australian (Perth, WA : 1879 - 1954), 20 May, p. 3. , viewed 16 Mar 2017, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article3134319

[iii] Anon, CHARGES AGAINST THE LATE MATRON OF THE COLONIAL HOSPITAL. 3 March 1891, The West Australian, p. 4. Retrieved January 26, 2016, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article3140947