Marjorie Scoble

A rewarding career

For 40 years Marjorie Scoble retained identity with Bethesda Hospital, where she dedicated her time and talent to this ministry, equipping herself in many fields of nursing, tutorials and administration. She worthily earned the respect of her fellow nurses and the esteem of the medical profession, and served as Matron of Bethesda for her final 13 years before retiring in 1973.

Her rewarding career began as a teacher at Oakleigh Central School from 1928 to 1932. Being called for full-time service as a Salvation Army officer, she entered the Melbourne Training College in 1932 and, upon graduation, was appointed to The Salvation Army's Bethesda Hospital to take up nursing.

As a nursing sister in the Australian Army Nursing Service during World War Two, Captain Scoble had the distinction of being one of the few women to have been awarded both the Africa and Pacific Stars, covering her military service for six years in the war zones of the Middle East and New Guinea.

After the war Marjorie Scoble received a Centaur Memorial Scholarship allowing her to obtain Diploma qualifications, and she attended The Salvation Army's International College for Officers in London in 1956. In 1981 The Salvation Army Nurses Fellowship recognised Lieut-Colonel Scoble's outstanding contribution by presenting her with the ‘Centenary Nurse of Distinction’ award.

Her devotion to The Salvation Army's Christian ministry, of which nursing was but a part, was evident to all who came in contact with her. She was a capable leader and speaker. In retirement she remained active until frailty overtook her.

Lieut-Colonel Marjorie Scoble was promoted to Glory in October 1999.