Grannie Glasgow
“…personally delivered more than 700 infants over 37 years…”
From “The Northern Times” newspaper, 1982:
Carnarvon’s celebrated mid-wife, “Grannie Glasgow,” has the rare distinction of having died twice.
At least, this would be the case if one can believe two published death notices announcing her demise: one in 1915, the other in 1944.
Known at the time of her death as Mary Louisa Glasgow, the West Australian identity undertook her initial nursing training as a young woman in a building that later acquired the name of “The Old Dispensary,” in Murray Street, Perth, when aged fifteen.
She is believed to have been orphaned in her 12th year and was unofficially adopted by the staff of the Colonial Hospital (now Royal Perth Hospital).
She was one of the first nurses trained by that establishment.
She married Mounted Police Constable, Edward Walker, travelling with him to several postings, including some in the Gascoyne region.
It was said of the young policeman’s wife: “She travelled many hundreds of miles inland and throughout the North West, and could tell many interesting stories of the wild natives and pioneering days.”
It is claimed Mary Louisa – or Louisa Mary, as she is sometimes confusingly called – was the first white woman to settle in the tiny coastal township of Geraldton.
The Walkers produced six children.
While her policeman husband was away touring the region on horse patrol, the young mother was often left alone to cope with the traumas of isolation.
One account states: “sometimes she would have to chain natives to trees, or hide with her children in creek beds away from native disturbances.”
During one such an incident, at the Thomas River police station, Constable Walker lost his life at a time when her last child was unborn.
Moving from the bush to Carnarvon in 1899, the enterprising widow took up her certificate in midwifery in order to support herself and young family.
An observer noted: “She nursed from Yankee Town (East Carnarvon) where the windmills form a picturesque township along the river. There the sight of her tall, slim figure, snow-white hair and twinkling blue eyes was a welcome comfort to many a worried mother …”
Grannie later married a bachelor contractor, 48-year-old Thomas Glasgow, of Yankee Town, on February 6, 1902, at the local Church of England chapel.
Consequently, in her mid 40s, she became affectionately known as “Grannie Glasgow,” a name that has become entrenched as a permanent part of north-west folklore.
She continued to base herself at Yankee Town, plying her midwifery skills over a 500 mile radius of the Carnarvon township.
Over the years she liked to boast that she had “never lost a mother or child” – not a mean feat considering she was the only qualified midwife in the Gascoyne and personally delivered more than 700 infants over 37 years of service to the women of the region.
In the early 1930s Grannie Glasgow started to lose her sight, but she never lost her cheerful personality or generous nature.
As the dark clouds of World War 11 hovered over Australia, the old lady evacuated to Wagin to live with one of her married daughters.
Where and when she eventually died is contradicted by two newspaper reports.
“The Northern Times” newspaper, on January 16, 1915, claimed: “Carnarvon’s oldest resident passed away at the age of 82. The death took place … of Mrs Elizabeth McGrath (known as ‘Grannie Glasgow’) at the residence of her grand-son, Mr Norman Morgan, Robinson Street, Carnarvon. The deceased lady, who was affectionately known at ‘Grannie’ , had been a resident of Carnarvon for 27 years …”
However, a southern publication announced on July 13, 1944, her death in its obituary column, stating: “The death occurred at the Wagin Hospital on July 4th of Mrs Louisa Mary Glasgow, at the age of 89 years. The late Mrs Glasgow – (or ‘Grannie’ as she was known throughout the North West – leaves a family of five to mourn her passing …”
Among the floral tributes received was one from “Grannie’s hundreds of babies, Carnarvon …”
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