Community & Business
23 January, 2026
Obituary: Kathleen O'Brien 1924-2026
Former nurse Kathleen O’Brien who served as Director of Nursing at the Oakey Hospital for 11 years has died aged 101.
Kathleen Mary O’Brien was born in Warwick on 10th September, 1924 to Patrick and Maria Bonner.
She grew up in Oakey and was educated at St. Monica's, where she later did a Commercial Course.
Her first job was washing dishes in the kitchen of a Greek café in Campbell Street.
When offered a full time job, “I said thanks, but no thanks”, she told the Oakey Champion on the occasion of her 100th birthday in 2024.
“I then did some relief work in a solicitor’s office before joining the office staff at the Oakey Butter Factory.”
Kath’s ambition was always to take up nursing.
In 1944, she commenced her General Training at Royal Brisbane Hospital.
It was an interesting time as old nursing sisters had been brought out of retirement to work because of the war.
A popular pastime for nursing students was to go out dancing at venues such as Cloudland, the Trades Hall, and the Trocadero.
Kathleen graduated in Brisbane with qualifications in Child Welfare, and gained a Midwifery qualification at Toowoomba Mothers Hospital.
After a period of working as a private nurse in Brisbane, Kathleen moved to Thursday Island Hospital, travelling with a medical team through the islands and down to Cape York.
In 1958, she returned to Oakey to care for her mother and joined the staff at Oakey Hospital.
Kathleen worked at the Hospital until her retirement in 1989, serving as the Director of Nursing for the last eleven years there.
She had been a stalwart member and volunteer in many community groups including, but not limited to, Oakey’s QCWA branch and Senior Citizens Association.
When asked by the Oakey Champion in 2024 how the town had changed in her life, she reflected:
“In the early days, the main street (Campbell Street) was unsealed.
“There were very few cars years ago, but horse-drawn sulkies and carts were used by many people.
“After rain, the main street would have deep furrows, making it very rough when it dried out. I can remember electricity being connected.
“There were five hotels plus full bar and refreshment rooms at the Railway Station run by two Miss Doyles.
“Where the (ANZAC) monument and civic centre are now were the local cattle sale yards. Later, a garage and residence was built on the site.
“At the site of Oakey Service Centre and library were private residences.
“There were four banks in the main street and two hospitals - the Indurra Hospital and the CWA Hospital. I worked at the CWA for a few months.”
In lieu of floral tributes, Kathleen has requested that donations be made to the Queensland Institute of Medical Research.
