Biography: Donley, Joan Elsa

Joan Donley and some of the children she 'caught'

More than 150 people gathered to celebrate Joan Donley’s 80th birthday in 1996, including some of the 750 children she 'caught' (delivered) during her career as a midwife.

Using this item

New Zealand Herald

Reference: 240396NZHJoanDonley013

Permission of the New Zealand Herald must be obtained before any re-use of this image.

How to cite this page

Linda Bryder. 'Donley, Joan Elsa', Dictionary of New Zealand Biography, first published in 2018. Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/photograph/47051/joan-donley-and-some-of-the-children-she-caught (accessed 4 June 2026).