Stories From The Perth Children's Hospital (1930 - 1950).

Stories From The Perth Children's Hospital (1930 - 1950).

The Perth Children's Hospital was built in 1909 on the corner of Hay and Thomas Street, Subiaco after many years of fundraising and lobbying by the Western Australian government and community. The original facilities included 40 beds, an operating theatre and outpatient department. Over the years the work at the hospital was made possible by a range of devoted staff including nurses, sisters, doctors, specialists and volunteers. 

The children and young people who were admitted were in various stages of illness or accidents and convalescence. Each child and young person had their own story. Some of those stories can be found in the pages of Trove, the database at the National Library of Australia. The newspapers share inspiring stories about children and young people with terrible illnesses and accidents, some close to dying. Many children and young people spent a considerable amount of time in the hospital, sometimes years. Many made remarkable recoveries with the aid of their self-determination, the staff at the hospital and their families and the community.

Trove shares many stories of children and young people close to death who received life saving surgery and specialised extended care and survived. In 1933, a four year boy was admitted with diphtheria and was close to dying. A surgeon perform a tracheotomy and inserted a silver tube in his throat. The operation saved his life and his ability to speak slowly returned (Western Mail, 20 July 1933).





In 1936, Charles a 12 year old boy was admitted to the hospital after breaking his neck while diving. "Completely paralysed Charles remained in this critical state for a fortnight. Then he was given some manipulative surgical treatment. Within a few days there was definite improvement, he began to use his hands and feet. The treatment was repeated, and today with a plaster cage over his neck and shoulders he is able to walk about...the case illustrates the remarkable feats possible in manipulative surgery..." (Daily News, 28 February 1936).

Charles

In 1937 Violet who was 5 1/2 was in the Children's Hospital because of infantile paralysis and unable to move. After being a patient there for several months she took her first steps on the lawn outside (Daily News, 24 April 1937).

Violet

Many children and young people were in the hospital for extended periods of time, sometimes years receiving specialised care after an illness or accident. They spend time away from their families, friends and school confined to hospital beds. Despite their confinement children and young people continued to achieve success beyond what was expected. 

In 1948 a young person Walter, aged 12 who had grown up and confined to a frame because of a tubular hip since he was 3 years old. He was now able to sit up for the first time in seven years. "Walter told how his excitement had been growing since the time he was put into the plaster, when he knew that his long term of 'imprisonment' was nearing its end. He was operated on, X rayed, then last week was taken off the frame and put into a bed free of apparatus and things. Walter has been one of the star pupils of the hospital school and recently has been doing seventh standard correspondence work. He hopes to sit for his Junior in two years time..." (Daily News, 8 September 1948).




Walter

In 1946, Leslie a patient in the hospital for three years sat his Junior Examination lying on his back (lying on back with his legs in splints) in a hospital ward. Leslie wanted to be an accountant. In January 1947, the Daily News reported that Leslie had passed all his subjects in the Junior Examination and was allowed to go home the following week (Daily News,18 January 1947). There were other unusual entrants in the Junior Examination Certificate in 1946 who were in hospitals or at home. A young person had applied to take the Junior Examination including one in the Aboriginal hospital at Port Hedland and another who was disabled and was sitting their exam at home (Daily News, 13 September 1946). 

Leslie

All children regardless of their cultural backgrounds were admitted and received specialised treatment. In 1946 two Indigenous Australian children, June aged 9 and Donald aged 4 from Forrest River Mission who had pneumonia travelled south by ship to recuperate. The Indigenous Australian children admitted faced many challenges such language as they were only able speak in their own dialect. The article describes how they were able to make friends with the other children in the ward. The Department of Native Affairs praised the hospital for the care provided to all the Indigenous Australian children admitted, and covered the cost and provided outpatient care (Daily News, 14 June 1946).




June and Donald

The Power Of The Column In Early Subiaco (Trove Post).

The Power Of The Column In Early Subiaco (Trove Post).

Recently I was invited to write about my research on Subiaco for Trove, the database at the National Library of Australia. The post was published on their Community Pages. Here is the link for those interested trove.nla.gov.au/blog/2023/07/05/stories-subiaco

Researching and writing this blog post and being published on the Trove Community Pages was a dream come true. I would like to thank all the staff at the National Library of Australia for their feedback, editing and final presentation of the post. It was a wonderful process. 

Stories from Subiaco

For those readers of Trove who don't live in Perth, Subiaco is one of the oldest suburbs that lies just west of the city centre. The land on which the city was created belongs to the Whadjuk Noongar people. For the past couple of years, I have used Trove to research the stories of women and children from Subiaco, my local community, and more widely Perth and Western Australia. Much of that knowledge can be found in daily gossip and children.

Gossip Columns

Early gossip columns provide an account on what was happening in local suburbs like Subiaco and other suburbs around Perth and country Western Australia. The columns Subiaco Snaps (1907) and Subiaco Skits (1922) provide an interesting look into the lives of women, men, and children. They describe the events of the Subiaco Council, social and sporting events, the establishment of new institutions, and fundraising events for churches and schools. They were well attended by the locals including men and women, politicians, and councilors. The column also advertised upcoming attractions. 

They also give us insight into the businesses run in Subiaco such as the butcher, furniture store, drapers, newsagency, jeweller, fish monger, paint shop, dancing school and tearooms. Mrs Thomlinson ran the tearooms in Hay Street. Not only could customers get afternoon tea, they could also buy a range of fresh produce. "Subiaco ladies can now have afternoon tea at Mrs. Tomlinson's in Hay street and can there procure fresh eggs and butter, supplies of which come in twice daily" (Express, 18 August 1906.).

In 1922 Mrs Young ran a motor garage for juveniles in high school. The High School for juveniles has vacated the motor garage and taken up more prepossessing quarters at the corner of Rokeby and Nicholson roads. "Mrs. Young, who has the administration of this Seminary, is the right party for the job, and we wish her success in her new enterprise" (The Mirror, 14 October 1922).

Women had many interests like shopping, were talented musicians and performers and keen gardeners. They competed in numerous sports such as billiards, croquet, bowls, and rifle shooting. Of particular interest was that women over a hundred years ago wanted to play football. "Some of the local girleens are anxious to start a female football team. They do it over East, why not here chortled one fair maiden. We think it a good idea. If hockey can prosper as a girls game, why not footy? There would be a good captain in, say E - I?" (The Mirror, 1 July 1922).

Recipe and Household Hints Columns

Some of the most interesting columns are the recipe and household hints. Mrs. M. Harding (nee Livingstone) of 220 Barker Road, Subiaco sent in recipes and household hints to the Sunday Times Recipe and Household Hints competition between 1910 and 1931. Miss L. Harding and Miss E. Harding from the same address also sent in entries. The entries won over a hundred prizes and honorable mentions, and were published in the newspaper. Mary's recipes and household hints provide a wonderful insight into the type of meals cooked at the time, and many of the practical household hints are still being used today.





Children's Columns

What was important in their lives can be found throughout the children's columns in the various local newspapers in Trove. The essays, creative work and letters were published in newspapers and prizes were given for what were considered to be the best according to age groups. It is difficult to know how much help, if any, children had from their parents or siblings. In some cases, such as the Catholic papers, the children's competition essays needed to be supported by a teacher's validation that were the student's own work and by the local priest before being submitted and published.

The Daily News newspaper in Western Australia established the Sunshine League through their column in the children pages on 18 May 1907 run by Uncle Tom. The object of the Sunshine League is to train children in acts of kindness and love, believing that such acts bring blessings to themselves and others, Our motto is:— There is nothing greater or more beautiful in all the world than kind deeds, and the humblest child can do them. Any child may become, a member by writing to Auntie Nell. There are no fees of any sort, but those who desire to do so may enclose contributions in the form of stamps, for our Sunshine Cot and in the Children's s Hospital.

After Uncle Tom resigned there were numerous exceptional women journalists who worked at the Daily News newspaper editing the column including Jessie Downie, Margaret Main and Boronia Giles. When World War I broke out Jessie Downie served and trained as a nurse with the Red Cross, studied French and worked as a V. A. D. Assistant in various hospitals around France. While living in Guernsey with her sister she raised funds for Belgium refugees. Margaret Main replaced Jessie Downie who spent 18 years writing letters to the Sunshine League members. She was then replaced by Boronia Giles.

Many of the stories of the children who made contributions to the Sunshine League are able to be traced through Trove. For example, Margery Owen’s name first appears in The Daily News newspaper’s children’s page ‘A Page for Boys and Girls of Western Australia’ on 7 January 1928 in the column ‘Welcome New Sunshiners’. From 1928 to 1932 Margery was actively involved in donating money to the Cot Fund for hospital beds in the Children’s Hospital, writing letters and sharing events in her daily life, completing competitions, writing poetry and short stories, and recruiting new members for the Sunshine League.

By 1932 Margery was a teenager and had changed schools, moving from the St. Joseph’s Convent to Victoria Square and her time was taken up studying. However, she managed to write to both Peg Peggotty who was still referred affectionately by the children as Auntie Nell and Auntie Kitty at The Sunday Times newspaper about her interests that included taking photographs, reading and writing stories, and travels throughout the state. Margery continued to make regular donations to the Cot Fund at the Children’s Hospital. After graduating university in Melbourne as a doctor she returned there to work at the Perth Children's Hospital and lived in Subiaco.