The Royal District Nursing Society of South Australia was founded by
Bishop Kennion on 12 July 1894 as the District Trained Nursing Society (D.T.N.S.), following 12 months work by a trained nurse, named McLellan, in the Adelaide suburb of
Bowden. This experiment, which was supported by the Anglican Church and financed by the philanthropic
Barr Smith and Elder families, convinced founders, Dr
Allan Campbell, Rev. B. C. Stephenson and Nightingale nurse Matron
Edith Noble, of the local demand for a district nursing service. Meanwhile, the financial viability of such a venture was being demonstrated by the Pirie Street Nursing Sisters' Association, which was organised by the inner-city
Pirie Street Wesleyan Methodist Church but supported by public donations. Founder Rev. Joseph Berry was on the inaugural committee of the D.T.N.S., although his Pirie Street Nursing Sisters' Association remained independent until 1898. The second nurse appointed was
Dora Sweetapple. In her first full year she was paid £30 with £55 for expenses. She took care of over 150 patients making 1612 visits to see them, taking advantage of free bus rides, a bicycle and a ferry crossing. In 1912
Boer War hero
Martha Sarah Bidmead RRC became the service's superintendent. Subsequently, in 1937, the D.T.N.S. was renamed the District and Bush Nursing Society of S.A. Inc.; in 1965 the 'Royal' prefix was granted and in 1973 'Bush' was removed from the title. In 1993 its name changed to Royal District Nursing Service of SA. In September 2011, RDNS merged with the Silver Chain Nursing Association of
Western Australia. Due to the strong history of RDNS within South Australia, the RDNS name and branding continues to be used within that State. ;Presidents • 1894–1899 Dr
Allan Campbell • 1899–1934 Dr
Alfred Austin Lendon ( – 1935) • 1934– S. C. Forgan (aka Mrs S. B. Forgan) ==Locations==