The First 50 Years - Remembering Back

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Remembering back
Following is a collection of memories from former staff members, doctors and board members about
their time at the Woorayl District Memorial hospital:
“Quite a few public meetings were called (in the early 1950s to decide on which site to build the hospital),
the final one chaired by the Shire President at that time, Councilor Arthur Ashendon. As a result of this, a
new committee was formed and this committee, with myself as chairman, was given the job of building
the ‘Woorayl District Memorial Hospital’ on the new site. We were also responsible for running the
existing hospital until the new one was erected and commissioned.
By 1950 we were very busy with fundraising, (particularly through the “Top Town Competition,”) running
the Bush Nursing Hospital and fencing and planting trees on the new site. We were also talking to
Leighton and Irwin about new plans to be approved by the Hospital and Charities Commission.
At this time unfortunately my health broke down and I spent several months in St Vincent’s Hospital,
Melbourne. I was 34 years old with three young children and the youngest member of the committee.
The committee carried on with Councilor Richards from Dumbalk as Chairman and George Sims was
secretary. The new hospital, The Woorayl District Memorial Hospital was finally opened in 1958. The Life
Governor’s certificate which was presented to me, was signed by Peter O’Malley, President and George
Sims, Secretary.
I am now 92 years old and have been gone from Leongatha since 1953 but it will always be my home
wherever I may be or have been.
God bless the administration and staff of the Woorayl District Memorial Hospital, built in memory of all
who took part in the second World War 1939-1945.”
Mr Greg Welsford
(former board member)
March 2008
“When the hospital opened, it was all so new, and we
didn’t have any patients until they were gradually
transferred by ambulance. By the end of the first day
there was about 3 or 4 patients. May Workman
worked night duty. The mother of the first baby born
at the new hospital was presented with a pram.”
“I remember making the beds with brand new
“Physician” pure wool blankets - then a sheet was put
over the blanket, so that when the quilts were taken
off at night, the blanket would be protected.”
“I have wonderful memories of the opening of the
hospital eg my parents were in the Horticultural
Society that planted all the trees and shrubs.”
Dorothy Potter
(former nurse)
May 2008
“Wonderful memories of working there, lots of
fun, wonderful people to work with. I worked at
the old hospital which is now Woorayl Lodge.
Everyone had input into the plans for the new
hospital. When the new hospital opened I can
remember putting covers on all the new
mattresses. Once the Jean MacRae Wing opened
I was in charge there for about 10 years - enjoyed
every minute of it as well, however left before
Koorooman House was built. Uniforms back then
were white, and if they got a mark on them we
had to change them.”
Janet Mansfield
(former nurse)
May 2008
* Mrs Mansfield’s daughter worked at the hospital, followed by her granddaughter
who is still currently working there.

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“In the 1960s the hospital acquired a pathologist. He would perform pregnancy tests by injecting male
European toads (Bufo viridis) with the woman’s urine. A positive test was when sperm appeared in the toad’s
urine. One night the toads escaped and were eventually found in the labour ward.
Dr Alec Bennett did post mortems at the Leongatha Hospital when they were required by the coroner
because this was cheaper than transporting the bodies to Melbourne. The hospital had a very substandard
shed for doing these. Alec recalls doing a post mortem on a hot day with the legally-required policeman in
attendance. The stench and blow-flies were too much for the policeman who started vomiting and had to lie
down on the grass outside. Later post mortems were done in better facilities at Korumburra.
Because of the distance from Melbourne, the doctors sometimes had to do emergency surgery for which
they were not trained. On one occasion a young man with a serious head injury needed holes drilled into his
head to relieve pressure. Dr Bennett drilled the holes while Dr Eagger read to him from a book on what to do.
During the 1960s care of premature babies was primitive and if premature babies were born at Leongatha,
the doctors were advised to do the best they could caring for them, because they wouldn’t receive better
care in Melbourne. On one occasion Dr Eagger was trying to care for a baby born 10 weeks prematurely at
Leongatha. He came up with the innovation of a safety pin through the baby’s chest connected to a string to
provide an upward splint. The baby survived.
On one occasion a patient was being cared for at the hospital during December while she recovered from a
stroke. Her husband was very grateful for the care she was receiving and brought to the hospital several live
white geese as presents for the staff for their Christmas dinners. When he brought them to the hospital they
were stored in the mortuary, and forgotten about. A few nights later the night nurses had to take out to the
mortuary, a deceased patient. This was a scary experience for the junior staff at the best of the times, but
when they opened the mortuary door the hungry geese woke up and started honking. One nurse became
hysterical and the other phoned Dr Bennett to come up to the hospital urgently because, she said “I think
there are angels in the mortuary”.
In the 1960s Dr Eagger established a blood bank at the hospital. At first donated blood was not stored but a
list of potential blood-donors was kept and they were called to the hospital to donate the blood fresh when it
was required.”
Contributed by
Dr Tim Lowe
May 2008
Changing of the times
“I arrived home from Tasmania to find my mother had put our names
(my sister Wilma and I) to work at the Woorayl District Memorial
Hospital, the year was 1960. Without an interview, or references, we
were both on the roster to work without our consent.
I arrived for afternoon shift, without orientation, or even a look at the
hospital lay out. I was closely followed by Miss MacRae. Dr Eagger
rang to do a procedure, on Miss MacRae’s advice I told him “5 o’clock”.
He couldn’t wait to see this new nurse who had the nerve to tell him a
time, by this time I was shaking. Can you imagine being employed with
this arrangement today?
Contributed by
Nurse Faye Smallman
July 2008

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“Firstly I would like to express my gratitude to the Board and Staff of the Hospital in 1974 for accepting my
application to practice General Paediatrics from the hospital and to be the hospital Consultant Paediatrician.
I was received very warmly though I felt unhappy with the fact that another Paediatrician was visiting the
hospital monthly when I was appointed. However Drs Ron Eagger, Mario Croatto and Michael Bourke, who
had referred patients to me in Melbourne for many years, encouraged me to apply for the hospital position. I
had planned to live just fifteen minutes from the hospital as well as taking up afternoon consulting sessions
twice a week. In addition I was available most times seven days per week for emergency consultations with
Medical Group members and to receive the babies at caesarean section.
The Hospital staff in all areas worked so well together. It was a very cohesive unit if ever there was one. The
Domestic staff with Mum Norma ran a very tight, but happy obliging ship. There really was a terrific spirit
around at all levels.
I treated one very special young man who was 2½ years old when I admitted him to the Royal Children’s
Hospital in the early 1970’s. I was still a member of the Hospital’s Senior Medical staff. He was referred to
me by Dr Ron Eagger.
He proved to have Rheumatoid Arthritis, a disease which is cruelly seen from time to time in this age group.
The condition could not have been more severe. The little chap was just curled up in a tight ball with, I
suspect, most joints aching. Over the years I treated him with everything from cortisone to Gold injections.
He was the most courageous young child I ever saw over my 40 years of caring for children. He would
literally just “grin and bear it”, whatever I offered him, injections, the lot!
I was privileged to attend his marriage to a very lovely young woman recently. He never complains in spite of
having a number of joints replaced, at times with complications. Even with his damaged joints he works very
hard physically. He is truly a great achiever.
Cameron Sage my young mate, is an incredible human being.”
Dr Robert Birrell
May 2008
Cameron as a baby
and toddler
Cameron and Nicole Sage
2008