2102 days ago

The Story of Ella Cooke

The Team from Auckland Museum

In the winter of 1914, Ella Cooke was looking forward to a grand adventure. The Auckland-born nurse and her twin sister Lily had just departed New Zealand in a boat bound for Vancouver, New York and finally England. She was looking forward to seeing the sights, and eventually a working holiday in London, or maybe Paris.

The outbreak of war in July 1914 dashed all her plans. Rather than return home, Ella joined the Queen Alexandra’s Imperial Military Nursing Service Reserve. The work was extremely difficult, and Ella described it in her letters as 'frightfully hard'.

The story of Ella Cooke, captured below in our Online Cenotaph, is one of ceaseless dedication to nursing the ill and ailing back to health. Her work is reflected in the remarkable efforts of New Zealand's doctors, nurses and healthcare staff, who are taking every measure to ensure the ongoing safety of New Zealanders. A huge thank you to these essential workers for the incredible job they do.

www.aucklandmuseum.com...

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More messages from your neighbours
10 hours ago

Poll: Do you set New Year’s resolutions?

The Team from Neighbourly.co.nz

🎉 2026 is almost here!

We’re curious ... how do you welcome it?
Do you set resolutions, follow special traditions, or just go with the flow?

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Do you set New Year’s resolutions?
  • 8.8% Yes! New Year, New Me
    8.8% Complete
  • 20.6% Yes - but I rarely stick to them
    20.6% Complete
  • 70.6% Nah - not for me
    70.6% Complete
68 votes
2 hours ago

WOOLWORTHS REWARDS CARD

Estelle from Mount Eden

To the lovely man who kindly let me use his Woolworths rewards card - I was buying brandy snaps etc can you please message me, thank you very much.
You made a comment you'll be asked why you are buying brandy snaps.
Estelle

10 days ago

Poll: 🗑️ Would you be keen to switch to a fortnightly rubbish collection, or do you prefer things as they are?

The Team from Neighbourly.co.nz

Aucklanders, our weekly rubbish collections are staying after councillors voted to scrap a proposed trial of fortnightly pick-ups.

We want to hear from you: would you be keen to switch to a fortnightly rubbish collection, or do you prefer things as they are?

Keen for the details? Read up about the scrapped collection trial here.

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🗑️ Would you be keen to switch to a fortnightly rubbish collection, or do you prefer things as they are?
  • 85.1% Same!
    85.1% Complete
  • 14.9% Would have liked to try something different
    14.9% Complete
530 votes