She was appointed MBE (Member of the British Empire, (Civil) 8 June 1963 for services to the nursing profession.

Supported by Jessie Street and in partnerships with Iono Nowland (assistant to the registrar of the NRB) Georgina formed the NSW Nurses Association at an emergency meeting 27 March 1931.

[4]She was described in the local press as follows:During her term of service at the hospital Matron Johnstone has won for herself the reputation of a capable and efficient nurse, and a tactful disciplinarian.

Her departure will be keenly regretted not only by the medical and nursing profession and the committee, but by the patients and the numerous friends she has made in the town and district.

[5]McCready was praised in March 1923 when selected as Matron at Maitland Hospital, despite one of the Hospital Committee members, Mr W J Enright, objecting to her appointment He believed that as she was not a 'war nurse' her appointment was contrary to the Returned Soldiers and Sailor's Employment Act which gave preference to nurses who had enlisted and served during the war.

She also wrote to the committee informing them that she had enlisted in the Australian Forces and was located at Randwick Military Hospital for some months in 1914.

George Johnstone moved the family to Glasgow when Georgina was in her early twenties and she worked first at a chartered accountant office.

[1] He had been ill for some time with tuberculosis, occasioning many trips to Sydney for treatment likely with nursing support from Georgina.