Guide to the Papers of Robin Miller Dicks, 1943-1978
Collection context
Summary
- Collection number:
- MS Acc08.114
- Creator:
- Robin Miller Dicks
- Extent:
- (4 boxes + 3 folio boxes)
- Language:
- English and English
- Preferred citation:
- Items from this collection should be cited as '[Title or description of manuscript item], Papers of Robin Miller Dicks, National Library of Australia, MS Acc08.114, [box number and series and/or file number]'.
- Availability:
- Available
- Access conditions:
- Part available for research; part requires permission for research. Not for loan.
Background
- Content Summary:
-
Cultural Sensitivity Advisory Notice
Aboriginal, Torres Strait Islander and other First Nations people are advised that this collection contains content that may be distressing and/or culturally sensitive, including names of people who have passed away, as well as language, terms and descriptions that could cause offence and may not be considered appropriate. Content Advisory Notice
This collection contains content that may be considered distressing, including graphic descriptions of health conditions and medical procedures. Content Summary
This collection comprises diaries and diary transcripts, photographs, correspondence, a nurse's uniform, awards and diplomas, flight plans and sheets, speeches, published and manuscript biographies, press cuttings, a paediatric handbook (annotated), and a video tribute
- Biographical Note:
-
Born in September 1940, Robin was the second daughter of Mary Durack and Horrie Miller. Educated at Loreto Convent, (where she became head girl), after leaving school she began a nursing course at Royal Perth Hospital, graduating in 1958 with the highest aggregate marks and the State Nurse's Medical Prize.
While completing her triple certificate with a midwifery course, she spent her off-duty hours acquiring her private and commercial pilot's licence and a first class instrument rating.
As a result of a polio epidemic, an immunisation program was then being carried out from Perth to the south west of WA. Seeing an opportunity to combine both her nursing and flying training, in 1966 she approached the State Department of Health with a proposal to deliver the Sabin oral vaccine to northwest and Kimberley districts. To ensure her application was taken seriously, she volunteered to provide her own aircraft for the purpose. Her offer accepted, with her father's assistance she purchased a Cessna 182, later replaced by a Mooney, co-incidentally registered in her initials REM. From May 1967 to October 1969, Robin administered 37,000 doses of vaccine to 450 northern towns and remote communities. In the process she dispensed general medical treatment and assisted the ophthalmologist Professor Ida Mann with a trachoma clinic. Covering over the period a total of 68,000 kilometres, her flight plans record her daily round and distances flown, while her letters convey the more personal details. Because the vaccine was administered via a sugar cube, she became known to Aboriginal children as 'the Sugar Bird Lady,' a name adopted by the wider public and the press.
The program completed, she became a pilot/nurse for the Royal Flying Doctor Service, operating across the state. She undertook numerous mercy flights and consequently saved many lives. Taking temporary leave from her regular work, she acted as co-pilot to ferry new aircraft for the RFDS from the USA to WA, including a flight from Paris to Perth to deliver a single engine Horizon aircraft for a private charter company.
She married Dr H Dicks, Executive Director of the RFDS in 1973 and her companion on her eight overseas ferry trips. She continued in the capacity of a 'Flying Nurse' until her death from cancer in 1975. Shortly before her death she wrote an address for the Royal Aeronautical Society in Canberra - a bright informative talk - given for her as she was not able to attend.
She was during her life and posthumously the recipient of a number of awards, including the Nancy Bird Award as Women pilot of the year. (Robin was an executive officer and WA President of ZONTA, the Women Pilots' Association. In 1970 she was the recipient of an award from WAPA for the most notable Contribution to Aviation by a Woman of Australia.) A plaque to her memory is located at Royal Perth Hospital and a memorial at Jandakot Airport where a replica of her Mooney aircraft is on display.
Robin worked for much of her life in what was then a man's world. She was one of the few women to hold a commercial licence and probably the only one who was prepared to do running repairs and aircraft maintenance. She received considerable publicity during her lifetime - press, magazine and television - attention she accepted reluctantly in order to promote the work of the RFDS.
Hers was an extraordinary life of service to the state. Her untimely death came as a great blow to her family, associates and many admirers. From her diaries, two books gave been extracted - 'Flying Nurse' and a posthumous work - 'Sugar Bird Lady'. The eight original journals retained (and a typed transcript of the years 1971 - 1975 ) cover medical emergencies and her general activities. There are also letters in diary form to the Warrnambool aviator Digger Smith and to her father, HC Miller. Entries in the months October to November 1975 bravely and clinically charts the progress of her illness and death. After her death she received the posthumous awards, Paul Tissandier Diploma by the Federation Aeronautique Internationale (The oldest aviation organisation in the world) and the Brabazon Cup for outstanding services to Aviation from the British Women Pilots' Assoc. These two awards are included in this collection.
Access and use
- Conditions Governing Access:
- Please refer to the collection's catalogue record for the access conditions (http://nla.gov.au/nla.cat-vn4456021).
- Conditions Governing Use:
- Copying and publishing of unpublished manuscript material is subject to copyright restrictions. For such material, written permission to publish must be obtained from the copyright holder(s). Copying of unpublished material for research purposes is permissible 50 years after the death of the creator of the material.
- Preferred citation:
- Items from this collection should be cited as '[Title or description of manuscript item], Papers of Robin Miller Dicks, National Library of Australia, MS Acc08.114, [box number and series and/or file number]'.
- Location of this collection:
-
Parkes PlaceCanberra ACT 2600, Australia
- Contact: