Avoca set to recognise wartime nursing Walker sisters

Published on 18 September 2025

Pyrenees Shire Council has proposed Kathleen Street and Rose Mary Way as the new titles for two currently unnamed Avoca streets.

Kathleen and Rose Mary Walker were born in Avoca in the 1880s and both served in the Australian Army Nursing Service during World War I. The sisters were posted to Convalescent Depot, Harefield Park, London with Rose Mary also serving in Lemnos and Egypt.

Kathleen Street would be located between Homebush Road and Station Street, while Rose Mary Way would be situated between Davy and Camp streets.

The names were put out for public feedback following their initial proposal at the 21 July Ordinary Council Meeting.

The two names will now be forwarded to the Registrar of Geographic Names which oversees the naming of roads and places in Victoria following naming rules based on national standards.

Pyrenees Shire Mayor Tanya Kehoe said the names would be a lovely way to recognize the wartime efforts of the Avoca sisters in their birthplace.

“There is a strict criterion for naming of roads but one of the ways we can choose new titles is by recognizing people of historical significance, and the Walker sisters certainly fit into this category due to their service during World War I,” Cr Kehoe said.

Appropriate naming of roads is essential to identify locations for managing emergencies and delivering goods and services, including mail.