Newsletter March 2019

IHM March 2019 Volume 3, Issue 1. Chairman: M. Parcell IPSWICH HOSPITAL MUSEUM Inc. Committee : Secretary: J. Kingston Treasurer: C. Marre Chairman’s Ambulance Service at Ipswich Chatterings or nearly 40 years after it opened in vehicles. 1860, patients had to get to the F Advances in the last 50 years have Recently we were asked to present on the hospital themselves, often lying on a process of writing a successful funding included increases in staff and plant and mattress on the floor of a spring cart or submission to a museums and galleries improvement in training. By 1991 education day. In preparing for this dray in a slow and uncomfortable journey. Superintendent Malcolm McDonald presentation I had to think deeply about what The jolting over rough roads often caused makes a funding submission successful and how would I share that with others. What I deterioration in the identified is that a key to success is having a patient’s condition. In clear vision and encouraging others to share the city a private cab that vision and to feel part of it. I outlined was used. that for Ipswich Hospital Museum, by mere virtue of our name, people already In June 1898 the understand what we are about so this makes Ipswich Hospital Board our role of gaining people’s understanding relatively easy. Linking what happens at of Management Ipswich Hospital to the community is fairly purchased an simple. Everyone in Ipswich would have some “ambulance wagon” connection with the hospital from being born in the facility, knowing someone who works from the Brisbane in the facility or saying farewell to a loved Brigade. This was kept one at Ipswich hospital. People say there are at the Ipswich railway six degrees of separation. I think there is station. The stretcher probably only two degrees of separation from Ipswich Hospital. The funding submission mounted on detachable that we were successful in was to digitise the buggy wheels and moveable legs was supervised a staff of 50 officers and the early minutes of the hospital. This sounds pushed by hand. The Ipswich subcentre ambulance vehicles were fitted with a wide like such a ‘dry’ topic but in fact it is a rich was at first served by honorary bearers range of modern resuscitation equipment. history of what was happening in the who borrowed the hospital litter. Premises community at the time. The minutes reflect A pre-hospital coronary-care programme the economic pressures, the moral and in Downs Street, North Ipswich were was initiated in 1986 with five modular cultural norms of the day and provides purchased in 1901, and Superintendent ambulances, fitted for emergencies and insights into how decisions were made. My William Tompkins and bearer Jenkins favourite snippet of the minutes reflects the accidents, with cardiac defibrillators and were supported by seven honorary bearers. advertising for a new Matron following the officers trained in their use. In 1988 staff sudden death of Matron Raymond. The The fleet consisted of two Ashford litters from the hospital’s emergency department minutes reflect that the advertisement should (modelled on those used by the Prussians read as follows “Wanted immediately an began attending major accidents where in the 1870 Franco-Prussian War) and a experienced middle aged Lady, as Matron in patients were trapped or seriously injured. the above Institution. The Applicant must be folding stretcher. single or a widow without family”. Then in 1991 the hospital became involved By 1909 Ipswich was a centre in its own with the Ambulance Service in a trial Of course with todays mindset this type of advertisement would be in clear breach of the right. Litters were pulled behind a horse Ambulance intravenous cannulation equal employment opportunities act. (generally white) and sulky, and bearers programme. Recognising where we have come from helps pushed the patient to the hospital. At From 1 July 1991 a coordinated us to enjoy a better future. night a lantern hung from the litter and Queensland Ambulance Service began when nearing the hospital one of the functioning with the former head of the Inside this issue: bearers blew a whistle and a wardsman hospital’s Emergency Department, Dr opened the hospital gates. In 1918, at a Gerry Fitzgerald, as Acting Commissioner. Cribb House 2 new brick building on the corner of Downs Under the new scheme Ipswich became a Dr Terrence Mulhearn 2 and Flint Streets, the fleet included two district centre managing Boonah, motor transport cars, two field wagons and Miss Margaret Macfarlane 2 Rosewood, Laidley, Toogoolawah and a hand litter. In 1943 D. Miller was Why Denmark Hill? 3 Lowood centres. Superintendent, supported by a Deputy Special Visitors 3 Superintendent, six bearers, a mechanic, a Adapted from “The Ipswich Hospital 1860- Interesting Tidbit 4 clerk and eight honorary bearers. The 1991” by Ross Patrick Repair Job 4 transport fleet consisted of six motor Page 2 Museum Matters Cribb House The parcel of land opposite Ipswich Hospital on Chelmsford Avenue is now the home of the Renal Dialysis Unit and Cribb House. Cribb House is named after the original owner of the house, Joseph Foote Cribb. Mr Cribb built the house and was the only owner. He was a great supporter and sponsor of Ipswich Hospital and sold the house and adjacent land to Ipswich Hospital for £1550 in 1916. Joseph F. Cribb was born on July 17, 1855 at “Kingsholme” in Brisbane, the second child and eldest son of Clarissa and Benjamin Cribb. He was a gentleman of retiring disposition and a senior Cribb House before renovation partner in the family firm of Cribb and Foote. He died quietly at his home on Denmark Hill, which he built after selling his previous property to Ipswich Hospital, on October 3, 1922, and was found sitting in his armchair when he did not respond to a call to tea. The property was initially purchased from Mr Cribb for the purpose of building an Epidemic Hospital to treat scarlet fever patients. The house was used as quarters for the epidemic hospital staff. Cribb House today Cribb House has had many purposes in the past including being a nurses’ quarters, a staff recreation area and a boardroom, training centre and a staff meeting area. store room. It fell into disrepair but was restored to its Its two largest meeting rooms have been named after and former glory in 2013. dedicated to two long serving Ipswich Hospital staff The building’s renovation received a Silver Award in the members, Dr Terrence Mulhearn and Miss Margaret Ipswich City Council Awards for Excellence in 2015. McFarlane. Cribb House is now used by West Moreton Health as a r Terrence Mulhearn became iss Margaret D senior surgical registrar in M Mcfarlane became 1970 and appointed as medical Matron of Ipswich superintendent in 1971, a position Hospital in 1967, a he held for the next 20 years, position she held for 26 combining surgery with medical years, after being Deputy administration. During this time he was involved Matron since 1961 . She in three major building expansion was the last person to be projects; ensured that Ipswich employed with the title of Hospital was officially recognised Matron. In the early 70s it as an advanced surgical training was changed to Director of hospital; was a clinical senior Nursing. Margaret began lecturer at the University of her training in Ipswich in Queensland; introduced surgical audits in 1980 which continue 1946 and graduated in today; and received two grants for the hospital to assist research into 1950. The following year she gained her midwifery peptic ulcer disease and road trauma. He also helped establish the certificate, and later her certificate in Eye and ENT nursing Breast Screen Unit and was appointed designated breast surgeon. at the Royal Victoria Eye and Ear Hospital in 1959 and her Dr Mulhearn was a principal medical officer and wing commander in Maternal and Child Welfare certificate in 1961-72 in the Reserve Unit of the Royal Australian Air Force, and negotiated Brisbane. She also nursed in Tasmania. Miss Macfarlane with the Amberley Air Force Base to transport seriously ill patients was awarded a Diploma in Nursing Administration and a by helicopter from Ipswich to Brisbane, long before today’s rescue helicopter services. Fellowship from the College of Nursing (Australia). She He was a member of the Queensland Council of the Royal College of retired in 1993 and in 1994 received the Queensland Surgeons and served in the roles of president, secretary and Chapter's Distinguished Nursing Service Award. She has been treasurer of the Ipswich Branch of the AMA. Councillor for Queensland (1965), President (1969-70), In 1991 he became Director of Surgery for 10 years. After ceasing his Secretary (1970-84) and Censor-in-Chief (1978-1979). full-time appointment at Ipswich Hospital, Dr Mulhearn was appointed as a visiting surgeon at both St Andrews and Ipswich Miss Macfarlane was made a Member of Hospitals, until his retirement in 2014. In 2015 he received an the Order of Australia in the 1995 outstanding contribution award for Excellence in Health Care. Australia Day honours for services to nursing. Dr Mulhearn passed away, at the age of 77, on December 12, 2017. Museum Matters Page 3 Why Denmark Hill? Musings of IHM volunteer, Pat Camlin tanding on the open verandah of the beautiful Jubilee but two hospitals, King’s College Hospital and Maudsley S building (and nibbling on a tasty morning tea), looking Psychiatric Hospital. down on Ipswich and across to Limestone Hill, one of our The final word is that the British believe that London’s group of attendees at the On Site Review of Museum Denmark Hill was named in honour of Queen Anne’s Galleries referred to the Ipswich Hospital as being on the slopes of Denmark Hill.

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