A most unusual gift The Drakensberg Trust and the University of Melbourne Juliet Flesch

The University of Melbourne has (WEHI) publicly recorded its The Rotary Club of Horsham, the been the recipient of numerous gifts gratitude for the trust’s support of Victorian town in which Brownstein and benefactions, many described its building extension in 2008.2 This worked as a general surgeon for and celebrated in these pages. Those involvement was shared for 14 years many years, recorded another from the Drakensberg Trust are with Eddie’s second wife, Beverley. typical, practical instance of Eddie’s different because they are not rare After Eddie’s death, Professor David non-financial support for his local books, objets d’art, manuscripts or Vaux acknowledged Eddie’s personal community when the club described paintings: in fact the most significant involvement with WEHI over many the ‘fatigue zones’ established on the are in microform. An earlier paper years. He had also served on its Western Highway after Eddie had outlined some of the history of the human research ethics committee for compiled statistics on deaths and trust and its effect on the University over a decade.3 recommended action. These were Library.1 The recent death of its Between 2011 and 2013 subsequently set up by the Country founder, however, has led to a greater the Burnet Institute, Amnesty Roads Board throughout Victoria.5 appreciation of its importance to the International and Médecins sans This interest in practical solutions university as a whole and provides an Frontières all expressed their gratitude to problems is exemplified in the opportunity to record it. for Eddie’s years of personal interest support provided by the Drakensberg The Drakensberg Trust was and substantial financial support for Trust to the university. This support established in 1978 in Australia their work in the field. In 2013 Eddie has been exceptional in its duration, by Edward George Brownstein Brownstein was recognised for his the amounts of money involved and (1933–2014) as an incorporated 50 years of defending human rights especially in what the funding has charitable trust registered in the around the world, for campaigning to enabled. This article will provide State of Victoria. Its capital base free prisoners of conscience, and for some personal information on was part of an inheritance from his speaking out on behalf of individuals Eddie Brownstein, what motivated father, Marcus Louis Brownstein, a at risk, when he received the first his benefactions and how these leading member of the Johannesburg Amnesty International Australia expanded the university’s research stock exchange for 40 years. The Freedom Award. He had joined collections and furthered its scholarly philosophy of the trust (named the Victorian branch of Amnesty mission. after the mountains of its founder’s shortly after arriving in Australia, Edward George Brownstein was homeland), is grounded in a firm and in 1964 established its Horsham born in South Africa in 1933 and adherence to Judaeo-Christian branch.4 lived there until the age of 23. His religious ideals and the primary Making a difference ‘at the mother died when he was only three concepts of trust and benevolence. coalface’, as Eddie put it, was always years old. He took his Bachelor Many charitable organisations a strong priority. The Benalla and of Medicine from the University have benefited from the support District Memorial Hospital greatly of Witwatersrand (long a site of of the Drakensberg Trust. The benefited from the trust’s support of opposition to apartheid) in 1956. In Walter and Eliza Hall Institute the district palliative care services. a 2003 interview with his grandson

46 University of Melbourne Collections, issue 16, June 2015 Eddie Brownstein with one of his grandchildren, James. Photograph courtesy the Brownstein family.

James, he recalled becoming which obliged them to carry reference Eddie was made a Life Governor intensely aware of the repercussions books containing their personal of the Wimmera Health Care of government policy that he had details at all times. The police shot Group, a distinction bestowed opposed as a student: at random: 69 people were killed and on people whose actions or 180 were injured. contributions have changed the I worked in the hospitals in The Brownsteins realised the organisation. He became a Fellow South Africa for two and a half situation in South Africa was unlikely of the Royal Australasian College years and there could see the to change in the near future and, of Surgeons in 1965. Professor Vaux difference in treatment between although they felt strongly that they had been impressed, while working black and white and see the should stay to work to improve it, with Brownstein and Bennett the horrible results of apartheid. they were persuaded by a family priest year before, by Eddie’s knowledge It was dreadful to see in the in Edinburgh to take their children of transgenic mice, oncogenes and hospital system … and at that to a more stable and peaceful place. their activation by chromosomal time the violence was beginning In Australia Eddie soon discovered translocations.9 to grow opposing apartheid.6 that ‘it was impossible to get work The Brownsteins had another as a general surgeon in Melbourne, five children, eventually moving It was at Witwatersrand that because everyone specialises’.7 He to a 40-acre hobby farm, where Eddie met Anne-Hazleton Mills, established himself for the next 25 Eddie could indulge his fondness known as Kitty. After their marriage years at the Wimmera Base Hospital for building and gardening. They in the Anglican Church they both in Horsham, where both David Vaux both loved the Wimmera and the converted to Roman Catholicism. and Kate Leslie recall his talented Grampians, as the flat plains and He undertook his surgical studies at partnership with the anaesthetist Rex mountains in the distance reminded the University of Edinburgh and their Bennett. Professor Leslie noted: them of Transvaal. As we have seen, second son was born in Lancashire. Eddie was also deeply involved in Eddie became a Fellow of the Royal I remember my internship at the local community. His son John College of Surgeons of Edinburgh Horsham Base Hospital with recalled at his funeral: in 1960 and the family returned to great fondness. It was my first South Africa. rotation (in 1986) and the day Dad left his mark on a lot of On 21 March 1961, what I arrived was very hot and dry … people’s lives. We continue to became known as the Sharpeville As soon as we got down to work encounter grateful patients Massacre occurred. It proved a with Rex and Eddie Brownstein and family members. While defining moment in the fight everything turned out okay. Rex working [at] Swan Hill a man against apartheid. About 300 armed was a very gifted teacher and an told me his story of Dad saving policemen faced a crowd of 5,000 expert and calm anaesthetist, and the life of a lady who had her Black men, women and children I know that Eddie and the other legs crushed against the front protesting against the ‘pass law’, surgeons trusted him implicitly.8 of Poon Ming’s grocery store

Juliet Flesch, ‘A most unusual gift’ 47 by a car. Dad had also operated In 1986, when their children the university in May 1992. The on this man and encouraged him had all left home, the Brownsteins proceedings were published as The into the teaching profession. moved to Melbourne to be closer dynamics of change in southern Africa. Dad delivered first aid lessons to to them and Eddie began studying The book contains edited papers from his students.10 for the BA that he took from the the conference and two additional University of Melbourne in 1990. In contributions and attempted an An event that did not involve 1999 he took his Master of Bioethics up-to-date survey of political and funding provides another illustration from Monash University with a economic trends in southern Africa.12 of the practical form of assistance thesis on pain relief and causation The proceedings of a 1994 conference that Eddie Brownstein favoured, of death in the context of palliative were published as Reaction and and is recorded in the Surgical News care. Kitty died in 2000. renewal in South Africa.13 Paul Rich of the Royal Australasian College It was in 1987, when he was also published State power and Black of Surgeons.11 He had been given a enrolled in arts, that Eddie politics in South Africa, 1912–51 and set of surgical instruments in 1981 Brownstein became aware that the several journal articles as a result of by Thomas Walpole, a doctor who University Library’s collections research enabled by the Drakensberg had served in the New Guinea of materials in political science Trust.14 campaign of World War II and had generally, and South African history In 1991, the trust made another been involved in setting up field and politics specifically, were far-reaching pledge to the university. hospitals. Having decided that these woefully inadequate to support even The Centre for Philosophy and instruments, unused for over 30 undergraduate work. He made the Public Issues (CPPI) had been set up years, should not be incorporated library an exceptionally generous in 1989 under Professor Tony Coady. into those of the Wimmera Base offer. Initially intended as a five- It was entirely dependent on outside Hospital, Eddie took them home year project, funding from the funds and voluntary support. Money and stored them. In 2004 a fellow Drakensberg Trust, at the rate of came from business and professional surgeon, David Price, mentioned $15,000 a year, eventually reached ethics workshops that the centre that he was taking a voluntary locum $195,000 over 13 years. In 1990, conducted with government agencies appointment at the Baucau Hospital additional money was made available and businesses, outside sources in East Timor and was concerned to pay the salary for a three-year both private and public (especially about the appropriateness of the position of senior research fellow the Australian Research Council), surgical instruments he would find in South African politics, together and the then vice-chancellor, David there. Those that Eddie had stored with a further $15,000 annually Penington. The contribution from were still in exceptionally good for library materials to support the the Drakensberg Trust amounted to condition, and were duly delivered appointee’s teaching and research. $30,000 a year for three years and was to the Baucau Hospital and put to Dr Paul Rich (b. 1950) took up put towards staff salaries. The centre immediate use for an extraordinary the appointment and organised a ran until 2000, when it was absorbed variety of procedures. major international conference at into the ARC Special Research

48 University of Melbourne Collections, issue 16, June 2015 Eddie Brownstein in his preferred country gear. Photograph courtesy the Brownstein family.

Centre for Applied Philosophy which has a longstanding interest and Public Ethics (CAPPE), run in South Africa. Perhaps the most in partnership with Charles Sturt important came from Ravan Press, University. Coady noted that ‘The a steadfast opponent of apartheid, achievements of the small CPPI notable for publishing novels such as operation were a big factor in our J.M. Coetzee’s first book,Dusklands , successful application’.15 rejected by other South African and This initial funding supported international publishers, as well as research that resulted in several political and historical material. publications, notably by Coady’s By far the most significant former PhD student, foundation acquisitions funded by the professor of philosophy at Charles Drakensberg Trust, however, were Sturt University and professorial large microform sets of documents, research fellow of the CAPPE, many from recently opened archives. Seumas Miller. Scholars in the Some were described in the earlier Department of Political Science such paper, and warrant recording again. as David Tucker published work on The papers of Z.K. Matthews South Africa’s Constitutional Court cover the career of an extraordinary and David Philips in the Department of back runs of journals that were man.18 The son of a mineworker, of History published on the end of otherwise unavailable in Australia. Zachariah Keodirelang Matthews apartheid.16 Several theses have also Titles such as Medicine and War, (1901–1968) taught with Albert been made possible through the South African Review, Social Luthuli and took his LLB from the resources provided by Drakensberg Epistemology, Summary of World University of South Africa. He was Trust funding, beginning, during the Broadcasts and The National Interest, admitted as an attorney and practised early years, with work on the nexus all now accessible online, were for a short time in Alice. In 1933 he between feminism and nationalism available to University of Melbourne was invited to study at Yale, where he in South Africa and a PhD on staff and students at the time only took his MA, subsequently spending democratic transition theory and through the generosity of the a year at the London School of democratic consolidation there.17 Drakensberg Trust. Economics, reading anthropology It is, however, in enabling the As well as enabling the library—as under Malinowski. Appointed purchase of library materials, in journal subscription prices rose and lecturer in social anthropology and all formats then available, that the most libraries were reducing their native law and administration at Drakensberg Trust brought the number—to place new orders and buy the University of Fort Hare, he was greatest benefit to the university. In back issues, the trust funded hundreds promoted to professor in 1944 and these days of digital availability, it is of books, including publications from became head of the Department of hard to make clear the importance the UN and the University of Leeds, African Studies.

Juliet Flesch, ‘A most unusual gift’ 49 Matthews bridged the gap Sophiatown and became involved in of the Nobel Peace Prize, in 1960. between the old guard and the political activities. He was elected He joined the ANC in 1945 and was more militant younger members vice-president of the All-African elected Natal provincial president in of the African National Congress Convention in 1935 and president 1951. In 1952 Chief Luthuli was a (ANC) in the late 1940s and 1950s, of the ANC in 1940. Under his leader of the Defiance Campaign, providing a guiding and moderating leadership, the ANC constitution a non-violent protest against influence on African political history was revised, the organisation became the pass laws. As a result he was at a critical period. Perhaps the most more centralised and the Youth obliged to renounce either his ANC distinguished African intellectual of Group was established. membership or his government- his time, he was arrested in December Xuma worked to unite the groups funded tribal chieftaincy. In a press 1956, and was one of the accused in protesting against apartheid; the statement entitled ‘The road to the Treason Trial (the transcripts of Joint Declaration of Cooperation, freedom is via the Cross’, Luthuli which were purchased through the popularly known as the ‘Doctor’s refused to resign from the ANC: he trust).19 He was released in 1958 and Pact’ of 9 March 1947 and signed lost the chieftaincy. He was elected returned to Fort Hare, resigning in with G.M. Naicker from the Natal president-general of the ANC protest against legislation reducing Indian Congress and Yusuf Dadoo following J.S. Moroka in 1952, the university to an ethnic college for from the Transvaal Indian Congress, with Nelson Mandela becoming his the Xhosa community only. In 1961 established a united front involving deputy. The government responded he moved to Geneva as secretary of Indians and Africans. Described as by banning Luthuli, Mandela the Africa Division of the World moderate and conservative, Xuma and nearly 100 others. Luthuli Council of Churches. Appointed came under increasing pressure died allegedly after being hit by a as Botswana’s ambassador to the from the militant element within train when crossing the line near United States in 1966, he died in the ANC—notably its Youth his house. This explanation was Washington in May 1968. League—which demanded radical dismissed by many of his followers, Alfred Bitini Xuma (1893–1962) action and closer association with who believed more sinister forces studied teaching at the Pieter- the South African Communist Party. were at work. His papers were maritzburg Training Institute and When the National Party won the acquired on microfilm.21 taught in the Eastern Cape before 1948 elections, Xuma was replaced As well as these and several leaving in 1913 to study medicine as ANC president by J.S. Moroka. other collections of personal papers in the USA. After graduation he The Drakensberg Trust funded the such as the letters of Jan Christiaan continued his studies in Britain, acquisition of a microform set of Smuts (1870–1950), general, becoming the first Black South Xuma’s personal papers from 1918 segregationist and prime minister of African to take his PhD from the to 1960.20 South Africa 1919–24 and 1939–48, London School of Tropical Medicine. Albert Luthuli (1898–1967), who the Drakensberg Trust funded He returned to South Africa in taught with Z.K. Matthews at Adams acquisition of microform versions of 1928, practised as a physician in College, was the first African winner extensive collections of documents

50 University of Melbourne Collections, issue 16, June 2015 emanating from the CIA, strategic Dr Juliet Flesch was principal librarian (collections) 12 Paul B. Rich (ed.), The dynamics of change in studies institutes and major American in the University of Melbourne Library from 1978 Southern Africa, Houndmills, UK: Macmillan to 1997, then completed her PhD in women’s Press; New York: St. Martin’s Press, 1994. university research institutes, as well studies in 2002. Among her books are several 13 Paul B. Rich (ed.), Reaction and renewal in as the papers of the Rivonia Sabotage university histories, including Minding the Shop South Africa, Houndmills, UK: Macmillan Trial, at which Nelson Mandela (2004), Life’s logic (2012) and Transforming biology Press; New York: St. Martin’s Press, 1996. (2015). 40 Years / 40 Women, published by the 14 Paul B. Rich, State power and Black politics delivered the speech ending with the University Library in 2015, commemorates the in South Africa, 1912–51, Houndmills, UK: words: 40th anniversary of International Women’s Year. Macmillan Press; New York: St. Martin’s Press, 1996. During my lifetime I have 1 Juliet Flesch, ‘The Drakensberg Trust’, 15 Tony Coady, email to Juliet Flesch, 22 July University of Melbourne Library Journal, vol. 1, 2014. dedicated myself to this struggle no. 5, autumn/winter 1995, pp. 32–3. 16 Seumas Miller, ‘Academic freedom in South of the African people. I have 2 ‘The shape of the new century’, Building Africa’, Australian Universities Review, vol. 34, fought against white domination, Medical Science, no. 4, 2008, p. 1. 1991, pp. 33–6; Seumas Miller, ‘Freedom of the press in South Africa’, , vol. 8, and I have fought against black 3 David Vaux, ‘A tribute to Eddie Brownstein’, Comment Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical 1992, pp. 32–7; Seumas Miller, ‘Freedom of domination. I have cherished the Research, 2014, www.wehi.edu.au/about_us/ the press’, Politikon: South African Journal ideal of a democratic and free history/a_tribute_to_eddie_brownstein/, of Political Studies, vol. 22, no. 1, 1995, society in which all persons live accessed 11 September 2014. pp. 24–36; David Tucker, ‘The role of South 4 Amnesty International, ‘Recognising Eddie Africa’s Constitutional Court’, TransAct, 1995, together in harmony and with Brownstein’, 12 November 2013, www. pp. 1–6; David Philips, The end of apartheid: equal opportunities. It is an ideal amnesty.org.au/leader/comments/33302/, South Africa’s first free and democratic election, which I hope to live for and to accessed 11 September 2014. History Department, University of Melbourne, achieve. But if needs be, it is an 5 75 years of service: A history of the Rotary 1994. Club of Horsham, Inc. The Rotary Club of 17 Gabrielle Marcus, ‘“A feminism of our own”: ideal for which I am prepared Horsham, 2003, pp. 7–8. South Africa—past, present and future: The to die.22 6 Edward Brownstein, interviewed by James nexus between feminism and nationalism’, Brownstein, transcript courtesy of Gerard MA thesis, University of Melbourne, 1991; Brownstein. Arthur G. Katsiroubas, ‘Democratic transition The Drakensberg Trust also 7 Edward Brownstein, conversation with Juliet theory and democratic consolidation in South allowed the library to buy the records Flesch, 1 May 1990. Africa: Devising an alternative framework for of the Treason Trial of 1956–61 and 8 Gordon Matthews, ‘Obituary: Rex C. Bennett analysis’, PhD thesis, University of Melbourne, the inquiry into the death of Steve (MBBS 1961) 1937–2011’, Melbourne 2001. Medical School: 150 years of medicine, 18 Z.K. Matthews, Personal papers Z.K. Matthews Biko (1946–1977), the founder of http://medicine150.mdhs.unimelb.edu. [microform], Johannesburg: Microfile, [19—]. the Black Consciousness Movement, au/alumni/1960/obituaries/rex-c-bennett- 19 Treason Trial [microform], Johannesburg: killed in police custody. mbbs-1961, accessed 11 September 2014. Microfile, [19—]. 9 David Vaux, ‘A tribute to Eddie Brownstein’. 20 A.B. Xuma, Personal papers of Dr. A.B. Xuma The generosity and interest of 10 John Brownstein, eulogy at the funeral of [microform], Stanford, Calif.: Hoover Edward George Brownstein, polymath Edward Brownstein, 22 May 2014, text Institution, 1960. and philanthropist, have vastly and courtesy of Gerard Brownstein. 21 A.J. Luthuli, Papers, letters etc., 1948–67 permanently enriched the University 11 Edward Brownstein, ‘From the field hospitals [microform], University of Chicago, [19—]. in the New Guinea campaign to Baucau, 22 Nelson Mandela, quoted in Rivonia Sabotage of Melbourne Library collections and East Timor’, Surgical News, vol. 7, no. 4, Trial: Oct. 1963, Sept. 1964 [microform], research in several domains. May 2006, pp. 36–7. Johannesburg: Microfile, [196–?].

Juliet Flesch, ‘A most unusual gift’ 51