Miss Dillon was born in 1906, christened Alice Nora but generally known as Nora. Growing up she lived in the small town of Lithgow and in Sydney.
She trained as a missionary in Melbourne and sailed for China in September 1930.
In late 1937 she was transferred from south China to the staff of All Saints Chinese Church in Kowloon to work with refugees from Canton. In September 1938 she was moved to St Stephen's College in Stanley, where she worked as acting House Matron. About a year later she was appointed temporary Matron at Heep Yun ('United Grace') Anglican School in Kowloon. In September 1941 Bishop Ronald Hall appointed her temporary Superintendent of Taipo orphanage.
Source: Linda and Robert Banks, Through the Valley of the Shadow: Australian Women in War-Torn China - chapter 'Nora Dillon'
A press photo shows Admiral Harcourt and General Festing chatting with two Norwegian boys at the Taipo Orphanage.
Caption reads: The party called at the Taipo Orphanage and met Miss M. A. Jennings, the principal, who is a New Zealander. In 1941 Miss Nora Dillon came from Australia to Taipo on a six weeks visit to Miss jennings but she was overtaken by events of the Japanese invasion and had to stay.
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Ms Dillon was not interned…
Ms Dillon was not interned during WW2. Instead she continued looking after the orphans at the Taipo Rural Home and Orphanage.
Some biographical details
Miss Dillon was born in 1906, christened Alice Nora but generally known as Nora. Growing up she lived in the small town of Lithgow and in Sydney.
She trained as a missionary in Melbourne and sailed for China in September 1930.
In late 1937 she was transferred from south China to the staff of All Saints Chinese Church in Kowloon to work with refugees from Canton. In September 1938 she was moved to St Stephen's College in Stanley, where she worked as acting House Matron. About a year later she was appointed temporary Matron at Heep Yun ('United Grace') Anglican School in Kowloon. In September 1941 Bishop Ronald Hall appointed her temporary Superintendent of Taipo orphanage.
Source: Linda and Robert Banks, Through the Valley of the Shadow: Australian Women in War-Torn China - chapter 'Nora Dillon'
19 September 1945 Visit to Taipo Orphanage
A press photo shows Admiral Harcourt and General Festing chatting with two Norwegian boys at the Taipo Orphanage.
Caption reads: The party called at the Taipo Orphanage and met Miss M. A. Jennings, the principal, who is a New Zealander. In 1941 Miss Nora Dillon came from Australia to Taipo on a six weeks visit to Miss jennings but she was overtaken by events of the Japanese invasion and had to stay.