Sister Mary Chrysostom (Hannah Kissane)...St. John Of God Hospital (1947).
In 1947 Sister Mary Chrysostom (formerly Hannah Kissane), a nun from the Order of St. John of God who worked at the hospital in Subiaco died tragically at North Beach near Trigg Island.
Fredrick Floyd, an estate agent of Mt Lawley also died while trying to save her. His son Don Floyd who was 13 years old watched on. Mr Floyd went to World War One and served in the 10th Light Horse Brigade. There was a monument honouring Federick Floyd's bravery erected at Trigg Beach in 2018.
There was an inquest into the deaths at the Perth Courthouse and St. John of God Hospital Subiaco. The results of the inquest were published in the West Australian on 6 September, 1947.
The articles are from Trove, the national database at the National Library of Australia. No copyright infringement intended.
West Australian, 6 September 1947.
THE LAW COURTS
TRIGG ISLAND TRAGEDY
Story Of Heroic Rescue Attempt '"This is a double tragedy which has deeply shocked the whole community," said the City Coroner (Mr. R. P. Rodriguez) after he had heard the circumstances of the deaths of Frederick Charles Floyd (43), married, estate agent, of North-street, Mt. Lawley, and Hannah Kissane (26), known as Sister Mary Chrysostom, of the Order of St. John of God, which were the subject of an inquest in the Perth Courthouse and at the St. John of God Hospital, Subiaco, yesterday.
The Coroner found that both were drowned in the sea at North Beach near Trigg Island on July 19 and that Floyd lost his life while heroically attempting to give the life of Sister Crysostom in perilous circumstances. He strongly recommended to the Royal Humane Society of Australasia that Floyd's heroic act should be fittingly rewarded by a posthumous award.
He recommended also that the act of Charles Albert Snow in attempting to save Floyd should be recognised by the society. Francis Walpole Leake, solicitor, of Mount-street, Perth, said that he and Floyd left Perth about 10.15 a.m. to fish at Trigg Island. When Floyd saw the sea he said that they would not fish, as heavy rain clouds were coming up. He suggested going to North Beach jetty and as they drove in that direction they saw a young woman in bathers running along the road. "There is a woman in trouble in the water," she said. They went to a spot where they saw in the water a woman who was calling for help.
Floyd, said the witness, got out of the car, stripped to his underclothes, and went to the rescue. He reached the woman, grasped her, and tried to make for the shore. It was an almost superhuman task, and the woman soon slipped from his grasp and disappeared. He could see that Floyd, who was about 60 yards out, was In difficum. We drove the car along the road to get help and picked up Mr. Snow, who went back to the scene with him. Snow discarded his clothes and went Into the water and rescued Floyd, who did not respond to artifical respiration.
Charles Snow of Balatta-road, North Beach, said that when he reached the scene of the drowning, Floyd's son, who was a witness of the tragedy, said: "Dad has just gone under." As witness entered the water the boy guided him to where his father had disappeared. He found the body about 3ft from the surface in about 15ft of water. The Inquest was continued at the St John of God Hospital.
Sister Mary Bernadine, a nursing sister in the hospital, said that she and several other sisters were having a holiday at the rest home maintained by the order near Trigg Island. About 10.30 am. on July 12 they went to the basin to bathe. The sea was rough and after they had been in the water for ten minutes a big wave knocked witness over.
Sister Chrysostom, who was farther away, lost her balance and drifted out. She called out, but as she was in the habit of doing this, the other sisters did not take much notice. When they saw that she was In difficulty one of the sisters ran for assistance and returned with Floyd. The sister was about 60 yards out when Floyd entered the water.
Sister Chrysostom, a poor swimmer, did not make much effort to swim as she was so frightened. Other sisters said that they corroborated Sister Bernadine's testimony. Constable A. F. Gallagher assisted the Coroner, and Mr. J. Dunphy appeared for the Order of St. John of God.
Daily News, 21 July 1947.
Nuns Weep at Grave
SISTERS MOURN FOR THEIR COLLEAGUE
NUNS from St. John of God Hospital, Subiaco, are pictured here at the funeral of Sister Chrysostom, who was drowned on Saturday near Trigg Island. In the front rank one nun weeps into her handkerchief.
Blackrobed nuns, many of them quietly sobbing, gathered at Karrakatta Cemetery today for the funeral of drowned Sister Chrysostom. One young nun, almost overcome with grief, was comforted by several older nuns and a priest. Clergy from throughout the metropolitan area were present. With bowed heads they stood behind the nuns who flanked the graveside. Muffled sobs broke the silence as a white-gowned priest stepped back from the graveside after con-ducting the service. Long before their usual hour, the Sisters of St. John of God Hospital, Subiaco, were going about their hospital duties today so that they could attend the funeral. After Requiem Mass at St. John of God Convent only a skeleton staff was kept on at the hospital. The funeral of Frederick Charles Floyd, the other victim of Saturday's drowning tragedy, took place early this afternoon.
Advocate, 7 April 1949.
Nuns Guard Life-Saving Reel
SISTERS of St. John of God look after a box surf life-saving reel with a 400-yard line, donated by the Surf Life Saving Association, which fits into a recess in a cement stand at Trigg's Island, near Perth, W.A. The stand is a memorial bearing the following: Erected by the Perth Roads Board and St. John of God Hospital, Subiaco, this stand commemorates the memory of Frederick Charles Floyd, a very gallant gentleman, who near this, spot gave his life in an unsuccessful attempt to save from drowning Sister Mary Chrysostom of the St. John of God Hospital, Subiaco, July 19, 1947.
'Greater "love than this no man hath." At its unveiling, according to a correspondent, official representatives included Mr. Abbott, Chairman of the Perth Roads Board; Rev. C. McBride, parish priest of Scarborough; Mr. Beecher, President of the Surf Life Saving Association; Mr. Bradford, representing the 10th Light Horse, and Mr. J. A Ingle, representing the Grand Lodge of Freemasons, of which body the late Mr. Floyd was a grand master. Mr. Abbott paid tribute to the memory of Mr. Floyd, and said by no one was his sacrifice more deeply appreciated than by the Sisters of St. John of God, and indeed, by the whole Catholic community. Father McBride said that this was a unique memorial, as it exemplified the highest ideals of sacrifice and heroism.
Mr. Floyd's death typified an ideal, and as long as they had in Australia men with heroism shown by Frederick Floyd, sacrifice as exemplified in the daily life of Sister Mary Chrysostom, who had left home and family to spend her life in the service of the sick and dying, and devotion to duty shown by members of the Surf Life Saving Association, who year by year, freely and gladly gave up their weekends to make the beaches safe, then, indeed, Australia would be a worthy place to live in. Mr. Bradford, who had been associated with Mr. Floyd for many years in the 10th Light Horse, said he was always "a good soldier and a thoroughly good comrade." Mr. B. F. Floyd, the eldest son of the deceased, unveiled the red ensign that draped the monument and wreaths were laid by the organizations represented at the function.
References
Leaver, Kate (13 0ctober, 2017). 'Monument to commemorate drowning of nuns and rescuer at Trigg' Sunday Times.
Pond, Laura (29 February, 2018). 'Sacrifice Honoured. Memorial Plague Unveiled' Stirling Times.
