Newsletter April 2011

President’s Report and the evening programs. The most important item to bring to members’ In 2010, ACHHA was successful in obtaining a attention is the information about this year’s grant from the National Library of to International Nurses Day celebrations , which allow for a significance assessment to be done are to be held on Thursday the 12th May, at the on the Museum as a whole, and on identified Heritage Village Shearing Shed. specific collections such as the uniform collec- Afternoon and evening programs have been tion which dates back to late eighteen hun- organised. The afternoon program is aimed at dreds. Our archivist Yvonne has a significant nurses in the work force, with attendance lead- part to play in preparing for the assessment ing to points towards their annual registration which will be undertaken by the Central requirements. ACHHA Members are welcome Queensland Museums Development Officer to attend, but there is a registration fee of $50. Bronwyn Roper. The assessment itself will The evening program is free (donations appre- commence in May. ciated), and would be of interest to all mem- A recent donation to the museum is in the bers of the health profession and others. The form of a complete and new skeleton given in evening program will see a power point appreciation by a movie company for ACHHA presentation of what was as to what is now, assistance in loaning various items from our and following the success of the great debate collection for the making of a documentary. last year there is to be another debate, the While the newness of the skeleton does not title being “Generalist nurses - who needs meet our collection acceptance criteria, it will them?”. be an item of interest, and be a reference A light meal sponsored by Hillcrest Hospital point for researchers. A suitable display area will be available at the Hospital Museum from is yet to be identified. 4.45 pm prior to the evening session. For ca- The Hospital Museum is a popular stop for tering purposes advice as to intentions to school children visiting the Village. Already attend would be appreciated. The Hospital two tours have taken place this year and one Museum will also be open for tours. The even- tour from Emerald school was aborted due to ing program in the Shearing Shed commences the wet weather. Since the new building at 6pm. opened almost 1000 students, teachers and The IND planning committee has representa- parents have visited the building on organised tives from the Rockhampton Hospital, Qld tours which are led by our Members. Health, Hillcrest Hospital, Mater Hospital, The Museum is manned on Market Days, and CQUniversity and the TAFE College, with members have noted a steady increase in num- Yvonne and myself representing ACHHA, bers visiting, and it is expected these numbers Yvonne as Secretary and myself as Chairman. will continue to increase with more activity A copy of the program is enclosed with this occurring in our area of the Village. Many com- newsletter. Be sure to read both sides of the pliments are received. The book we provide to sheet to see the details of both the afternoon

‘Dedicated to preserving the health service history of Central Queensland’ ACHHA Newsletter April 2011 Page 2 From the Archives enable people to comment on the displays makes Near Disaster at the Rockhampton Children’s interesting reading and tells us that there are a Hospital significant number of international visitors. A storm in Rockhampton on 21st February The committee has identified ongoing needs in the 2011 in which one of the crosses on a Range form of a wish list, such as signage to identify the Convent dormitory building was struck by light- museum, filing cabinets to better care for archive ning, blowing a hole in the lower roof area material, employing someone to catalogue the li- brings to mind a similar event which occurred brary, and many more items, and with a view to at the Rockhampton Children’s Hospital on the future research, a wireless broadband mo- Monday 2nd March 1897. dem. Without successful grant applications the overall management of the Hospital Museum and One of the books in our ACHHA library is “Scarlet Pillows” written by Mrs Arthur H. its progress into being a significant research centre , becomes delayed. Grant applications themselves Garnsey in 1950. The use of her husband’s are a time consuming exercise. name instead of her own is a practice which some will remember, but which has now well My continued appreciation goes to all Members and truly disappeared from our culture. The of the committee for their dedication in achieving author’s “real name” is Ann Stafford Bird. the ACHHA goals. “Scarlet Pillows” tells the story of her life as a Norma West nurse in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. President We learn from the book that Ann was a daugh- ————— ter of the Hon. B.S. Bird, C.M.G., M.H.A., who held several ministerial portfolios in . Comments on this Newsletter Her family moved from to Flight’s Bay on the Huon River in the 1880’s and was in- Since we have no social events to report on, I have volved in the early development of the apple decided to devote this Newsletter to reporting on and pear industry there and on several events, individuals and buildings which tell where she and her sister managed the proper- us something about country hospital life in Rock- ty for a time after the death of their father. hampton over the 50 years 1895 to 1945. I hope The pair then travelled to the mainland. that readers will find the “snippets” of information interesting for what they tell us about life in the She tells the story of leaving Tasmania for Syd- city and its hospitals in this period. It is interesting ney on a small ship the “Tambo” on 17 October that many matters which are regarded in great 1893. She attributes her departure and the confidence these days were widely reported in the departure of many others from Tasmania to newspapers of the day with no attempt to disguise the collapse of a number of banks, notably the the names of individuals involved. Bank of Van Diemen’s Land which collapsed on 03 August 1891. The trip to Sydney was a diffi- If anyone would like to read the story of the Chil- cult one. They ran into a very bad storm during dren’s Hospital in greater detail, there is a chapter which the ship’s propeller shaft broke and the by Dr Peter Roper in a book entitled Characters propeller went to the bottom of the ocean. and Caritas which was published in 1992. The Fortunately, they were spotted by chance by book (77 pp.) was edited by Dr Hilary Mercer, Ms another small boat which was passing and they Peggy Carter and Professor John Pearn and also were towed to Eden. includes chapters about the Mater Hospital by Deborah Friel, about Andy - a legendary theatre She then came to Rockhampton where she sister at Tannachy written by Rhylla Webb, and trained as a nurse at the Children’s Hospital. about the late Dr Charlie Whitchurch written by One chapter in her book which she has called Daniel Manahan. The book is available in the “Steamy Rockhampton” tells of her experienc- Rockhampton Regional Library. es among the humidity, the insects, the snakes and other wildlife including the prolific koala Errol Payne population around the Children’s Hospital Newsletter Editor which was located on the western side of Ag-

‘‘Dedicated to preserving the health service history of Central Queensland’ ACHHA Newsletter April 2011 Page 3 nes Street over from the Girls’ Grammar Important notices School. Ann speaks of being a “new chum” from Tasmania when she came to Rockhamp- International Nurses’ Day ton around 1894. In another chapter of the Thursday 12 May 2011 book, she writes about visiting Longreach and Professional Development Workshop Dingo by train in 1896. She certainly must 12:30 pm to 16:30 pm have been an adventurous young person. At Evening program—The Great Debate the end of “Steamy Rockhampton” she says 16:30 pm to 20:45 pm that she decided to go to the Western Aus- tralian Goldfields. From her stories about this part of her life we ascertain that she was in Forthcoming 2011 Rockhampton Heritage Coolgardie by January 1898. Village Events Before proceeding with the story of the light- Sunday 08 May 2011 ning strike and subsequent fire, we present Mothers’ Day Markets two images from our archives. The first is a Sunday 05 June 2011 sketch made in 1888 of the planned first Multicultural Day building on the new Children’s Hospital site. Sunday 10 July 2011 The second shows the site in 1922. in 1897, Markets development would have been at a relatively early stage. The hospital was closed and the Sunday 11 September 2011 buildings relocated or demolished in 1929 Markets (see later story). Sunday 27 November 2011 Christmas Markets

Association Membership The Association welcomes your support for our activities. The Association operates on a normal financial year, so that subscriptions are now due for the 2009/2010 year.. If you wish to join the Association, please contact the secretary, Errol Payne, by phone on 4922 3314, by email at: [email protected] or post payments to ACHHA Inc, Box 4035, Rockhampton Qld 4700. Of course any member of our manage- ment committee outlined on the final page will be pleased to assist you to join. Membership Fees Annual Individual $20.00 Couple $30.00 Life Individual $200.00 Couple $300.00 Please make cheques payable to: Australian Country Hospital Heritage Association Inc. This is the text of Ann Stafford Bird’s first- Newsletter hand account of the lightning strike on 2nd March 1897 and the aftermath. If you have ideas for the newsletter, please contact me by phone or mail at the address above or by email to [email protected].

‘Dedicated to preserving the health service history of Central Queensland’ ACHHA Newsletter April 2011 Page 4 “The position of the hospitals right up on the Now we had time to breathe, and found range meant that the water pressure was some candles, and groped round settling the very poor. The Children's Hospital, which patients, who, naturally, were very upset. was a weatherboard building on twelve feet At last we were able to get coats to cover high piles, depended largely on its rainwater our own flimsy, soaking attire. The hot night tanks. So when, one hot night about mid- saved us from getting bad chills. Hot coffee night, in a wild tropical thunderstorm, our and bed for those not on duty was the next front hall was struck and burst into flames, order. The matron praised us greatly. She we had a most alarming time and great said we had really been tried by fire, and difficulty in putting it out. The lightning had proved that we had the sterling quali- blew out the telephone and cut through the ties which nurses should have- self-control leaden gaspipe which was near it, so we had and tranquillity in danger. We must have first to rush and turn off the blazing gas at been hiding our feelings pretty well, for we the meter. Then we had no light to work by, were all decidedly unstrung and longing for but only the flames and the lightning flash- daylight. We have often since laughed mer- es. The hall was as dry as match-wood, and rily at the remembrance of all that hap- in a minute was all ablaze. pened that night. When the alarm was sounded in the nurses' "Wild" is a mild term for these storms, which quarters, the matron and nurses came flying are really terrifying. At first one is warned along almost as they were - some had one by the dull thunder in the distance. Nearer slipper and carried the other, and I remem- and nearer it comes, and louder and louder ber the matron just had one stocking half- are those agonising groans of the heavens. way on. It would have been a funny sight if Then sparks begin to fly, and lightning flash- it had not been so alarming. We rushed es and thunder crashes in all directions. The about in the darkness, bumping into each air is so charged with electricity that one other as we ran to get stepladders and buck- quivers at every flash, as though touched by ets of water. The tallest of us stood on the an electric battery. And, of course, after ladders, while others handed up dippers of every flash come the most awful, roaring, water, which we threw wildly in all direc- clapping bangs of thunder, and through all tions. Some of this fell back on us, scalding this the deluge - not rain, but sheets of wa- hot, and the flames just licked up the rest. ter. One cannot describe all this in writing. At times it seemed hopeless. It has to be felt, to be lived through, to know Meanwhile some of the nurses were carry- what it is really like.” ing near-by patients into safety, and one As you might expect, such an alarming event nurse had braved the storm to run down the was reported in The Morning Bulletin the next hill to "break" the fire alarm. She found it day (and more briefly in The Courier Mail). This already broken - it would not work - so she is the way the newspaper saw the story which rushed to a neighbour's house and begged was part of a longer report on how uncomfort- the man who opened the door just a crack able the weather had been. to come and help us. But he said he couldn't “The Rockhampton Children's Hospital had a leave his wife, who was very frightened by narrow escape from destruction while the the lightning. She was under the bed and storm was at its height on Monday evening. would not come out. The nurse then tried a The lightning evidently struck the telephone second house with much the same result, so wire that connects the institution with the came running back, boiling with scorn for residence of the medical officer (Dr. Brown); men who thought more of their wives' and, running along the wire, the fluid came nerves than of a blazing children's hospital. in contact with the gas piping and melted it. However, at last, our efforts, helped by the The inmates of the institution, like the in- terrifically heavy downpour, succeeded, and mates almost of every house in the town, we put out the fire. were startled by the storm; but it was not

‘‘Dedicated to preserving the health service history of Central Queensland’ ACHHA Newsletter April 2011 Page 5

until they smelt fire that they suspected any- references to the contribution being made by thing was amiss. Then a search was made, the Matron, Miss Grace Bourn, who was ap- and it was discovered the ceiling of the hall pointed from a Sydney Hospital in mid-1896. immediately opposite the main entrance However, after a time the relationship with the was ablaze. Hospital Committee must have deteriorated because the report for the 1889-1900 financial The matron very promptly turned off the year recorded in the Morning Bulletin includes supply of gas, and though that left the build- the following statement: “In July, 1899, the ing and its twenty-two sick little children in Committee deemed it desirable to make a darkness for the time being, it proved the change of Matron”. The new Matron was Mrs one thing that saved the institution. The gas Balfour. Another statement in the report piping had melted, and the gas was escap- which makes a link between Rockhampton of ing and igniting, and the piping would have 1900 and 2011 is this sentence: “The legal ex- continued to melt and the gas to escape and penses incurred at that time entailed no loss to take fire. A call for help was made on Mr. the funds of the Hospital owing to the hand- Kent, the caretaker of the Rockhampton some donation received from the firm of Girls' Grammar School; and Mr. Kent, with Messrs. Rees R. and Sydney Jones.” the help of the nurses and the matron - all of whom worked with right good will- One of the challenges for nurses in this period succeeded eventually in extinguishing the was working in the tropics with the required blaze. uniforms. Ann reports that the “going out” uniform was a navy blue dress and long cloak, Some idea of the difficulty of the task may high Eton collar, and a bonnet with a long veil be gathered from the fact that the Hospital at the back, and white strings tied under the is not connected with the town water ser- chin. The Matron’s response to complaints vice ; that every drop of water which was was “It’s no good wearing what you like; like used had to be carried in buckets from the what you wear”. Ann’s comment on Matron tanks outside ; and that the ceiling was so Bourn was that she was a strict disciplinarian high that they were not able to throw the and sometimes considered too severe. Nurses water on, but were compelled to mop it on were not allowed to scrub on Sundays no with long-handled brooms. Indeed, it was matter how strong the imperative. quite an hour and a-half from the time the fire was discovered until it was quenched. Sources: The damage done to the building was, fortu- 1. Garnsey, Mrs Arthur H. 1950. “Scarlet Pil- nately, very trifling and confined mainly to lows – An Australian Nurse’s Tale of Long Ago” McKellar Press (Melbourne). the ceiling, in which a hole about a yard square was burnt. The matron, the nurses, 2. Garnsey, Mrs Arthur H. 1984. “Scarlet Pil- lows – An Australian Nurse’s Tale of Long and Mr. Kent are deserving of the greatest Ago” Hesperian Press (Perth).(Facsimile edi- praise for their very prompt and energetic tion with additions and introductory pages). action. What might have happened if the 3. 1897 ‘THE WEATHER.’, Morning Bulletin fire had not been discovered very early after (Rockhampton, Qld.:1878-1954), 3 March, its outbreak or had been permitted to make p.5, viewed 20 March 2011, http://nla.gov.au/ headway is too horrible to think of. There nla.news-article52521508 were twenty-two young children, all ill of 4. 1897 'ROCKHAMPTON CHILDREN'S one malady or another, in the institution HOSPITAL.', Morning Bulletin half on one side of the burning hall and half (Rockhampton, Qld. : 1878-1954), 22 July, p. 5, viewed 21 March, 2011, http://nla.gov.au/ on the opposite side.” nla.news-article52526353 It appears that Mr Kent made a stronger im- 5. 1900 'ROCKHAMPTON CHILDREN'S pression on the reporters after the event than HOSPITAL.', Morning Bulletin on the nurses during it! (Rockhampton, Qld. : 1878-1954), 25 July, p. 5, viewed 23 March, 2011, http://nla.gov.au/ Reports of the Children’s Hospital Committee nla.news-article52579554 which met monthly make a number of positive

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Dr H. E. Brown and the Children’s Hospital town house, "Shandon", on Alma Street by The Morning Bulletin article about the fire at 1894-95. During the period 1892 through to the Children’s Hospital refers to the fact that 1897-99, Dr Brown was engaged as the Vis- the telephone line between the hospital and iting Surgeon to the 32-bed Children's Hospi- the residence of the Medical Officer (Dr Brown) tal in Rockhampton. Dr Brown also appears was struck by lightning. We should take this briefly on the Medical Staff of the 114-bed opportunity to find out more about Dr Henry Port Curtis and Leichhardt Hospital (on Can- Brown who was one of a small group of medi- ning Street) approximately 1892-93.” cal practitioners who were prominent citizens We know that Dr Brown actually had a very th th of the city in the late 19 and early 20 Centu- much longer association with the Children’s ries. One of his physical legacies still standing hospital than this. It seems that in many ways today is “Shandon”, the grand home which he it was his life’s work. Newspapers of the day had built for him in Alma Street in 1894-95. reported comprehensively on the work of the Today it serves as the office of Tucker and various hospitals and their committees and on Nakivell Funeral Directors, a company which the work done by doctors. We could report has operated in Rockhampton since 1863. many examples but one will suffice. In the While we could show a present-day photo- 1899-1900 report of the Children’s Hospital graph of the building, this one from our ar- Committee noted already in the article about chives shows it as the backdrop of a Rock- the fire, the following is included: hampton Hospital float participating in the cer- “In March last Dr. Brown asked that further emonies which marked the end of World War 2 room be provided for infectious cases, the in 1945. difficulty of isolating different kinds of such disease, with the then existing accommoda- tion, being too great. After consideration, three tents were obtained, and are now ready for emergency. In closing this short report, the Committee must record their ob- ligation to Dr. Brown and the honorary staff”. It is hard to imagine how the doctors coped with doing their rounds before the invention of the motor car. We see that Dr Brown lived in Alma Street, but his main work was done at the Children’s Hospital in Agnes Street or at the Rockhampton Hospital in Canning Street. It is The unidentified researchers who were respon- not surprising that doctors were among the sible for the inclusion of “Shandon” in the first to embrace motor vehicles. Queensland Heritage Register tell us that In his history of Rockhampton, Mr A. E. Her- Queensland Post Office records: mann reported that: “make the first mention of Dr Henry Brown “The first owner of a horseless carriage in residing and working in Rockhampton as everyday work in Rockhampton was the late part of the community's "Medical Profes- Dr. F. H. V. Voss and its introduction in 1902 sion" in the period 1885-86, though no place aroused great interest, men leaving their of address is evident until 1888. From 1888 work and children breaking away from through to 1893, Dr Brown who is variously school whenever the new wonder was seen. listed as Medical Practitioner and Surgeon, It was a steam vehicle known as the Loco- resided at Campbell Street, Rockhampton. mobile, and was imported for the doctor by Records show that Dr Brown was then able James Trackson of Brisbane. It was claimed to take up residence in his new purpose-built to be the first horseless vehicle in the state.”

‘‘Dedicated to preserving the health service history of Central Queensland’ ACHHA Newsletter April 2011 Page 7

However, steam power was not particularly hampton, and specialised in diseases of chil- suited to motor vehicles and Dr Voss soon ac- dren. He was the first medical officer of the quired a conventional petrol powered vehicle, Children's Hospital and held the post with an Oldsmobile. Hermann reports that Dr great credit for over 40 years until the hospi- Brown’s first vehicle was a 9 HP Rover and his tal was taken over in 1929 by the Rock- next was a Renault. hampton Hospitals Board under the hospital Members of the former Children’s Hospital amalgamation scheme. Committee, the Mayor and other distinguished lt was a great wrench to Dr. Brown when residents met at James Stewart and Company’s the Children's Hospital ceased to exist. It Café on the morning of 18 June 1929 to cele- was his life's work and the conduct of the brate Dr Brown’s forty year contribution as hospital was favourably commented upon Medical Officer to the Children’s Hospital. The throughout the State. glowing testimonials to an obviously outstand- He devoted considerable time to the study of ing man were reported in The Morning Bulletin public health, and was medical officer of under the headline “Dr H. E. Brown’s Work Eu- health for the City Council and the shires of logised”. One is left with the impression of a Livingstone and Fitzroy. He occupied a man with great medical skill, outstanding com- unique position in this respect- medical passion and the type of personality which can officer for three local authorities. often make the difference between an organi- During his term of office he insisted on the sation doing outstanding work and one which strict observance of sanitary regulations and is dysfunctional. this is reflected in the small number of infec- A number of references were made to the sad- tious cases in Rockhampton and the adjoin- ness felt in the community at the Govern- ing shires. ment’s decision to close an institution such as Of late years he was not actively associated the Children’s Hospital and incorporate its ser- with the public life of Rockhampton, but in vices into the Rockhampton General Hospital. the past he was chairman of the old General The Mayor presented Dr Brown with “a hand- Hospital Committee for a number of years, some gold wristlet watch, suitably inscribed” chairman of the now defunct Technical Col- and Mrs Brown with “a beautiful crystal electric lege Committee, and chairman of trustees of reading lamp”. the Rockhampton School of Arts. He was a Though many of those at the function ex- patron of the Rockhampton Rugby League pressed the hope that Dr and Mrs Brown for many years. would enjoy a long life, he died just over two Dr. Brown was an omnivorous reader, and th years later on Saturday 15 August 1931. As is his comprehensive library bore witness to his often the case, his obituary, published in The culture. He was well versed in French, and th Morning Bulletin on 17 August 1931, provides works by noted French authors occupied a a comprehensive summary of his service to the prominent place in his library. Bookbinding city and its residents. was his chief hobby, and the library shelves “Dr. Henry E. Brown passed away at his resi- contain excellent specimens of his handi- dence "Shandon," Alma street, at an early craft. hour on Saturday morning last, after an ill- The city will regret the passing of a beloved ness extending over several months. doctor and noted citizen. Born in county Cork, Ireland, Dr. Brown was Dr. Brown left a widow and daughter and 73 years old. At a comparatively early age son (Mrs. W. G. Hutchins and Mr. Lal he secured his certificate as an engineer, but Brown). Mrs. T. C. Irving, Misses E. and F. his love was for medicine and he studied at Carr-Boyd, and Mr. W. Carr-Boyd are step Trinity College, Dublin, where he obtained children. The deepest sympathy is extended his M.D. degree. to the bereaved relatives. In 1885 he commenced practice in Rock-

‘‘Dedicated to preserving the health service history of Central Queensland’ ACHHA Newsletter April 2011 Page 8 The funeral yesterday afternoon was for the opening of new, modern quarters in attended by representatives of Local Au- the building which was itself demolished in thorities, public bodies, members of the 2008. medical profession, and a large number of prominent citizens. The pall bearers were the Mayor (Ald. T. J. Lee), Dr. D. P. O'Brien, Messrs. H. A. Kellow, W. F. Richardson, B. M. Lilley, and J. Barry. The burial service at North Rockhampton was read by Canon Frost.” While it is clear that the closure of the Chil- dren’s Hospital was a major blow to Dr Brown, most of the buildings went on to have another life at the Canning Street site. The buildings were removed as quickly as Sources: possible so that the site could be sold to pay down the Hospital Board’s debt. In 1. Hermann, A. E. 2002. “Development of Rockhampton and District”, Central Queens- particular, relocated buildings were used as land Family History Association inc., pp. 171 quarters for the Matron, Sub-Matron and – 172. nurses. The photograph at right shows 2. 1929 'DR. H. E. BROWN.', Morning some of the buildings in their new position Bulletin (Rockhampton, Qld. : 1878- on the Rockhampton Hospital site with the 1954), 19 June, p. 13, viewed 17 April, original Rockhampton Hospital building and 2011, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news- the lift building in the background. Unfor- article54655188 tunately, the whole story does finally end in 3. 1931 'OBITUARY.', Morning Bulletin tears because the buildings in the photo- (Rockhampton, Qld. : 1878-1954), 17 Au- graph were burnt to the ground on 28 Au- gust, p. 6, viewed 23 March, 2011, http:// gust 1945. The staff had to wait until 1954 nla.gov.au/nla.news-article57616860

Association contact details: Australian Country Hospital Heritage Association Inc. PO Box 4035 Rockhampton Qld 4700 [Incorporation Number: IA20217] Website: www.achha.org.au Email: [email protected]

Patron: Dr Con Primmer OAM

Elected Office Bearers Committee Members President: Norma West Lorraine Antonello Secretary: Errol Payne Tom Dewar Treasurer: Kay Smith Del Leitgeb Carol McIver Bill McIver Archivist: Yvonne Kelley Jocelyn Philp Ashley Reid Debra Richards

‘Dedicated to preserving the health service history of Central Queensland’