In 1911, Elizabeth Kenny (Rosalind Russell) returns from nurse school in Brisbane, Australia, to her home in the The bush#Australia of Queensland with the head doctor at the nearest hospital, Dr. McDonnell (Alexander Knox). She informs him that she will be a bush nurse near her home instead of taking up residency at the hospital 50 miles away; her own personal experiences growing up in the bush made her want to help those not able to get to a hospital. Dr. McDonnell is incredulous and says she will not last six months in the bush.