Sister Bernadette McCarthy

Sister Bernadette McCarthy

Sister Bernadette McCarthy was a rarity on the hostel ship Wanganella, which housed workers during the construction of the Manapouri power scheme. She was the only woman among 280 single men.

McCarthy had been a district nurse in Greymouth before accepting the position of chief assistant to the medical officer onboard. She described herself as "rather ordinary and plain", and claimed that she has "more or less been put on a pedestal" by the men.

Other women followed Sister McCarthy on board. Sister Mavis Carswell started work on the Wanganella as a nurse in 1966. She was surprised at the number of "patients": "Every man who scratched his finger came to the first aid room for the first few days. I held my head up high, and was very distant and reserved."

This photograph is one of a series of portraits of Wanganella workers produced by Hazledine's Photographic Studios of Invercargill.

Permission of the National Library of New Zealand Te Puna Mātauranga o Aotearoa must be obtained before any reuse of this image

Find Out More