June Theme: Rotary Fellowship Month.
Lookout Reserve Maintenance Roster: 18/6/2017 – 15/7/2017 Peter Hawthorne.
Report of Meeting: 13/6/2017
Anthony Foster a Rotarian and prime mover in the investigation of child abuse and the establishment of the Royal Commission was remembered.
Visitors: Alan Keyse and Janet Alexander - Prospective Members.
Friend of Rotary – Trevor Brian.
President:
- RI Torquay is hosting an event with Cadell Evans on 12/7/2017 Cost is $100.00
- A move of the summer market to Ingermells Park is being considered.
- RC of Queenscliff took $14,000 from the Leggo bricks show on 10-11th June.
- The change over dinner for the DG will be held at Mt Gambier on 26th June.
- The changeover dinner for RC of Grovedale will be on 21st June at Mercy Rice Village, Marshall.
The changeover dinner for the Lions Club will be held next Tuesday 20th.
- Our Club change over will be on 27th June at the Bowling Club. Please see the invitation sent by Sec. Fred and reply ASAP, as catering requirements are needed.
- An Appeal – Does anyone know the whereabouts of the stands upon which the small banners are displayed? The Collendina Hotel, David Tyrrell and Rod Birrell have been checked.
- Following discussion and recommendation the Board has decided to raise Annual Dues to $210. The dues cover RI subs, District dues, Rotary Downunder subs, Social Club (Bowling Club), and Badges and Regalia.
- Membership fees for partners who are Rotary members will be $105.
Reports:
Secretary: Please hand in Committee reports to Fred ASAP as assembly of the Annual Report is underway.
Publicity: Please let Marg Campbell know if you have any suggestions for speakers at a meeting.
Gill Morgan reminded people to keep in touch in the year ahead with items of interest.
International: Eng Ho reported that the District Grant for Viqueque has been approved.
Fundraising: Volunteers are needed for the manning of the gates at the Geelong and District Finals matches. This is a good fundraiser for the Club. See Peter Cullen for more information.
- There will be a working- bee to assemble the BBQ next week. Contact Coogs if you can help.
Health: Coral Barker and Alison George visited Jan and John Fox in their care facility. Jan’s dementia has progressed with little recognition of anyone, but John looks well and appears to have settled in well. He has a good view of the bay and walks to the surrounding shops and area most days. He sent his greetings to the members.
Social: The Japan tour will be opened to other clubs from 1/6/17.
Membership: see above.
Footy Tipping - Please pay Alex as soon as you can. The winner this week was your editor! However I remain in last place in the rankings.
Guest Speaker: Alison George. “Development of Nursing Education at Alfred Hospital from 1880 to 1920.”
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| Deputy Matron Alison George "Nursing at the Alfred" |
The Alfred was opened as the second major general hospital in the rapidly expanding town of Melbourne in 1871. The concept and development of the hospital was not without a considerable amount of opposition and political dispute from the Melbourne Hospital with 359 beds across the Yarra. There were 66 patients with 9 untrained people to care for them at the new hospital. There was also much argument about the status of the patients as it was a publically funded institution. Patients were classed as convalescents, incurables and those suffering from infectious diseases. Paying patients were only accommodated for a short time. The first trained nurse appointed, as Matron was Haldane Turriff who was a pupil of Florence Nightingale, one of a group of nurses sent to the colonies to teach/train nurses to care for the sick and needy. She was a Scot, proud, intelligent and handsome with a wicked temper. According to accounts she behaved as though she hated every minute of her career and probably to the relief of all she escaped by marrying in 1880. She ensured that the three salaried officers, the secretary, resident medical officer and the matron were accorded equal status in the control of daily affairs, however she failed in a major area of responsibility that was to set up s training school for nurses.
This was left to Mrs. Henrietta Tredgold-Strong who was appointed in 1880. Her nursing experience was only 5 months in country areas but she persisted with setting up the school and Dr. John Blair gave the first lecture on 1st December 1880. She qualified as a trained nurse in 1890. Trainees were divided into two categories – A or Lady nurses who paid for their training and board and lodging and were free to work elsewhere after completion and B trainees or Probationers who did not pay and apart from nursing duties were expected to do the housework of the ward. They could also be hired out by the hospital for sometime after completion.
Conditions and hours of duty were 10 – 12 hours long with one day off per week. Accommodation was very crowded and basic and despite discontent improvement was not favourably regarded by medical or managerial staff. Martha Farquharson was appointed on Mrs. Strong’s retirement in 1890 and during her time training increased from 2 to 3 years in 1895. Rates of pay resulted in her resignation and the appointment of Miss Julia Ayres in 1889. She was trained in England and had good nursing experience. Conditions of employment on all levels gradually improved and State examinations were introduced in 1902. She gave 17 years of devoted service.
Miss Louisa Mann was appointed in 1912. She oversaw many improvements in nursing training including a reduction in working hours, better design of wards, some remuneration and longer time off duty. (Holidays) Miss Mann served until an extended period of leave in in 1928.
The motto adopted by the Hospital in 1880 for the training school, ‘Where there is not a woman, there the sick man groaneth’ (Ubi non est mulier ibi ingemiscit aeger), reflected the Nightingale tradition of selfless dedication to ministering to the sick and following doctors orders. This attitude has no doubt changed over the years but most people who follow the profession of nursing do have a deep sense of service and care for fellow human beings.
Thank you.
AG.
