The CWA Emergency Hospital
In 1926, the CWA were requesting the assistance of a Bush Nurse for the district, and by 1932, two hundred & fifty pounds had been donated towards a Hospital. Mr John Slack-Smith and Mr Collins donated two blocks of land in Houlahan St for that purpose. The necessary money was raised & when the building was completed, it was opened by Mrs Matt Sawyer, the State President, on 25th October 1932. It was called the CWA Emergency Hospital & was administered by a committee consisting of Mesdames Gordon, Slack-Smith, Herring, Killen, Colless & Miss Enid MacKenzie.
3 pounds 30 per week was charged to patients, & 1 pound 10 for the use of the theatre. The first Doctor appointed to the Hospital was Dr Delamotte & Miss Gilling was the first Nurse. By 1933, Sister Glassford was in charge of the hospital. It is said that Richard Garvey was born there, as well as Murray Holcombe & Margaret Holcombe (nee Slack-Smith). It is remembered in the 1930’s that babies were often weighed on the scales at George Collins’s store opposite the hospital in Houlahan St., and that Willy Gum was the first patient
Sister Glassford resigned in 1935 & by 1936, Dr. & Mrs Ritchie were at the hospital.
By 1937, Nurse Fulton was assisting at the hospital & the CWA members protested to the Government regarding the subsidy for the Doctor. In 1938, the medical committee made the decision to make the hospital a public hospital & Matron Green was appointed.
The hospital continued to experience problems & was temporarily closed in 1939. By 1940, it was permanently closed & rented privately by Dr Haenanann for use as a consultation room for a period of time. After the war, the hospital was put up for Sale.
From Vision of the Plains
A history of Burren Junction & district
By Judy Field
From the History of the CWA
1932:
President: Mrs Couch Secretary: Valerie Holcombe Treasurer: Mrs Williams
250 pounds was donated for a house to be converted into a hospital. Mesdames Gordon, Slacksmith, Herring, Killen, Colless, and Miss Mackenzie formed the hospital committee. It seems two blocks of land were donated for the cottage hospital, one by Mr John Slacksmith and one by Mr Collins. The committee was to take the necessary actions to raise money, and the hospital was to be called “The CWA Emergency Hospital” The Hospital was opened by the State President of CWA of NSW, Mrs Matt Sawyer, on 25th October 1932. 3 pounds per week was charged to patients, and 1 pound for the use of the theatre. Miss Gilling was the first nurse, and Dr Delamotte the first doctor. Requests were received from the hospital for pots, irons, an ice box, a primus stove and a Coleman Quick-Lite. The hospital was registered as a two-bed hospital and had almost continuous occupancy. Doctors came and went, but the nurses remained.
1933:
President: Mrs Couch Secretary: Valerie Holcombe Treasurer: Mrs Williams
Sister Glassford was now at the hospital, and a tea pot was purchased for the School of Arts.
1935:
President: Edith Gordon Secretary: Valerie Holcombe Treasurer: Mrs Williams
Sister Glassford resigned, and a special meeting was called to work out the necessary support for the hospital committee. The district was recovering from the great depression. The wards spilled out onto the verandahs and in one year alone there were 88 patients as well as 13 babies born. (Some of the babies born throughout the 1930’s included Richard Garvey, Murray Holcombe, Beverley Webber, Margaret Slack-Smith, Peter Chapman as well as Les, Brian and Neville Stevens). The upkeep had risen to 10 pounds a week. An appeal was made through the journal to finance much needed expansion and the little hospital raised the funds to fill the growing need.
1936:
President: Edith Gordon Secretary: Mrs Constable Treasurer: Mrs Williams
Dr and Mrs Ritchie were now at the hospital and a garden party was held at Windella to raise funds for the hospital.
1937:
President: Edith Gordon Secretary: Enid MacKenzie Treasurer: Ivy Hearn
The branch protested to the government of the day regarding a subsidy for the doctor. The CWA younger set was formed, and the branch donated money to the Wee Waa Clock Tower Fund.
1938:
President: Edith Gordon Secretary: Enid MacKenzie Treasurer: Ivy Hearn
The committee wished to make the hospital a public hospital, and Matron Green was appointed.
1941:
President: Edith Gordon Secretary: Enid MacKenzie Treasurer: Ivy Hearn
The hospital building was now rented to Mrs Munro for 1 pound 1 shilling per week, and a room engaged at the hotel for the Far West Clinic Sister. Hedge plants were ordered for the hospital fence.
1945:
President: Edith Gordon Secretary: Enid MacKenzie Treasurer: Mrs D McDonald
Dr Heauman rented the hospital surgery until the final decision was made regarding the hospital.
1946:
President: Edith Gordon Secretary: Enid MacKenzie Treasurer: Pearl Treweeke
The hospital building was put up for sale valued at 1,200 pounds.
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