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Reflections & Resilience

The Peak Downs area was discovered by Ludwig Leichhardt in 1845, but wasn't settled until Jeremiah Rolfe, the Archer Brothers and Hoods & Manning migrated there in the late 1850s. The land was used predominantly for sheep farming, until 1861 when four shepherds struck gold in a gully adjacent to a long lagoon. The height of gold fever saw thousands migrate to the banks of what was soon known as 'Diggings Lagoon', a township appearing as if overnight. Life on the goldfields was a harsh and severe existence. Alcoholism was rife in the area, sicknesses like influenza and pneumonia were rampant, while many children suffered from scarlet fever and diphtheria. Scurvy was common, dysentery and typhoid plagued the area when the supply of water was low in the dry months. Mosquito and flea bites were inescapable, many suffered with infections as a result. Working in damp conditions also meant that many diggers suffered with painful knee and hip joints, many going untreated. It was clear, Clermont needed a hospital.

The discovery of coal in 1864 paved the way for the establishment of several collieries just a few miles north of Clermont, in a place that would come to be known as Blair Athol. In the late 1910s, the best emergency medical assistance that could be achieved in Blair Athol was a ticket aboard the scheduled train to Clermont. Which albeit, was neither efficient or suitable. Still regardless of the inconvenience and further pain it caused, it was the only way to get to the Clermont Hospital to receive medical attention. It is recorded that this unfortunately caused many unnecessary deaths and issues. Children's diseases such as measles and whooping cough were prevalent in the area and in most cases life threatening. It was clear, Blair Athol needed a hospital.

The Peak Downs Hospital, built in 1865, was the first hospital in the district and the only hospital within over 100 miles. The original Italian gothic style building was located on Lime Street, facing Hood's Lagoon, its ground extending south to Mimosa Street and east to the Telegraph office on Capella Street. It was governed by a hospital committee, as many country hospitals were in those days, continuing this tradition on into the 20th century. The committee was made up of upstanding community members, their goal, to afford medical aid to indoor and outdoor patients. Similarly, the Blair Athol Hospital, opened in 1921, was also governed by a committee, its main source of income being annual subscribers and a small government endowment. The hospital provided a regular source of paid work for the girls in town, all domestic staff were employed locally. The Blair Athol community often donated supplies, eggs, milk, poultry, cakes and produce. Fundraising efforts were continually in swing, the committee ran many functions and dances to keep the hospital alive Reflections of Resilience is an exhibition honouring the fortitude and resilience of Medical Pioneers of the district and of the community members that rallied behind our hospitals.

Reflections of Resilience is currently on display at the Clermont Historical Centre from March 24th, 2021. Come and explore our history and discover our stories.

The Clermont Historical Centre is located on the Gregory Highway and is open Wednesdays to Saturdays from 9am to 3pm. Admission prices are $6 for adults, $4 for pensioners, $3 children under 12 years and $15 per family with two or more children. The exhibition illustrates a brief history of the establishment of the districts historical racing clubs It focus on the evolution of local racing clubs and narrate stories of the characters, horse and jockeys that have dwelt in the clubs.

 

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The Mavis Leahy Collection

Mavis Margaret Catherine Leahy was born on May 29th, 1915 on Daintree Street in Clermont, to parents Michael John & Elizabeth Tyra Leahy. Mavis completed her four years of nursing training at Rockhampton Hospital Training School for Nurses in either 1936 or 1937. She joined the Army Nursing Service in 1943. This included active service in Australia for 1581 days and overseas for 161 days. She was first posted in Heidelberg, Melbourne, Victoria. She was then sent to Horn Island to relieve the original group of 9 nurses posted at the 1st Australian Camp Hospital. She enjoyed her time on Horn Island and visiting Thursday Island. Especially the picnic races at Jacky Jacky. She was also posted at the Cowra Hospital nursing the Japanese Prisoners of War that were held there. She often spoke of how she was afraid at times while she was there. Cowra is famed for the attempted Prisoner of War breakout on August 5, 1944. 1100 Japanese men attempted to escape, 359 of them made it out, 231 were shot dead in the following days. It is unclear whether Leahy was present at this time. She was discharged in 1950 and continued working as a nurse in Sydney at the Concord Hospital.

This personal collection of Mavis Leahy includes a WWII Nurses Uniform and coat, certificates and photographs.

The collection has been donated by Karen Oughtred.

 

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The Kathleen Eite Collection

"I was 17 when I started my training as a nurse in Mackay, Queensland, the year was 1946. My training started off straight off in the wards, one of the senior nurses told you what to do. See in those days, patients stayed in bed and a lot of them had to have complete rest in bed which means you had to bath them in bed and everything. You'd make their beds with them in it, it took two of you to do it. One would hold the patient while they rolled over and you tidied that side of the bed then you'd change sides. It was hard yakka. I did a lot in the female ward, they had a female medical and a female surgical. Each ward had 12 beds in it, but then it got overcrowded and beds were put out on the verandah. No such thing as air conditioning. You were lucky if you could get a fan. But they were all doors you could open and let the breeze in ... and the mosquitos ... and the flies." - Kathleen Eite, 2019.

This personal collection of Kathleen Eite includes a certificates and photographs.

This collection has been donated by Kathleen Eite and the Clancy Family.

 

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The William Mullaney Collection

William Patrick Mullaney, known as Bill, first came to Clermont in 1928 as the relieving Superintendent for the Clermont Branch of the Queensland Ambulance Transport Brigade. He was soon appointed the permanent position of Superintendent, a title he held for the next 45 years until his untimely death in 1959.

This personal collection of William Mullaney includes a service badges and photographs.

This collection has been donated by Bernice Mullaney.