by admin | Nov 29, 2014 | General Collection, Paediatric
The decade from 1929-1939 was one of great hardship for many Australians. It was in this challenging environment in 1930 that the decision was made to raise funds for a much-needed new children’s ward at the Ipswich Hospital – by children. In the days before social media, Queensland Times journalist Fred Ware, known to his many young readers as Uncle William, played a pivotal role in unifying and motivating the community behind this cause. The fundraising achievements of the whole community, but especially the children, in these tough depression years, were nothing short of astonishing. As far back as 1919 Uncle William had extolled the virtues of hard work in his Children’s Corner column to approximately 100 “nieces and nephews”. His young readers became members of the Sunshine League which raised funds over the years for much needed items for the Ipswich Hospital. A decade later when the need arose for a new children’s ward, Uncle William encouraged League members to take on this herculean task: “… we have only to think of how it will help a sick child to get better in a fine new building erected by the loving labour of other children, his pals, to know something of the significance and influence that our new Sunshine Ward will shed on our little friends who go there to regain their health.” From the beginning, community support for the new children’s ward was very strong. Those unable to donate in cash did so in kind (for example “a quarter of a mile of eggs” was donated in 1933). In 1931 and 1932 the Sunshine League presented cheques...
by admin | Jul 7, 2013 | Paediatric, Staff - nursing
Sister Edith Graham joined the staff of Ipswich Hospital in 1953. She moved to the Children’s Ward in 1955 and was appointed Sister-in-Charge, a position she held until her retirement in 1972. Sr Graham was fondly referred to as ‘Granny Graham’ by the student nurses, although it is understood that she did not approve of this nickname. Her colleague Sr Stephanie Shannon recalls “to student nurses and young interns Graham sailed a ‘tight ship’…under her long watch she steered all in her care safely and diligently. She set high standards of nursing care and demanded the same from those who worked with her…Her clinical observation skills were highly astute in an era prior to ‘the age of technology’ and this was never so evident as with the very sick child in the ward.” Margaret McFarlane (Director of Nursing) wrote on Sr Graham’s service card that she gave “20 years of enthusiastic service in the area of paediatrics…[she] displayed a deep understanding of sick children’s needs but was impatient with parents’...
by admin | Jul 6, 2013 | Dr David Trumpy, Paediatric, Staff - medical
Whilst being interviewed about his impending retirement by The Queensland Times, Dr Trumpy was asked to comment about some of the most memorable incidents he managed. One incident he recalled was ‘The Goodna Explosion’ at St Patricks Convent School at Goodna in 1943. During this time it was not uncommon to find unexploded shells in the vicinity of the army camps and in this instance two boys came across the shell whilst walking in a paddock and decided to take it to school to show their classmates. At the end of school the boys were showing some friends and unfortunately they dropped it under the school building and it exploded injuring 8 children. Three ambulance cars brought the children to Ipswich Hospital where there was only Dr Trumpy and two resident medical officers, one of whom had contracted mumps. (The treatment of mumps at this time was the application of a hot antiphlogistine poultice to the affected jaw tied in a knot on the top of the head). The resident duly went to work with the poultice in place. Dr Trumpy operated on the children throughout the night and was deeply saddened when one of the children succumbed to their injuries. Memorial plaque at St Francis Xavier School (previously St Patrick’s) at Goodna, to commemorate the schoolboy who died as a result of injuries sustained in the bomb explosion. Photo courtesy of Councillor Paul...
by admin | Jul 4, 2013 | Dr David Trumpy, Paediatric, Staff - medical
A colour photograph of Dr Trumpy, former Medical Superintendent of Ipswich Hospital, holding in his arms a small boy with a stethoscope draped around his neck hangs in the AE Wilcox Museum, Ipswich Hospital. The boy is Peter Merrell, and from the expression of the faces of the doctor and young patient it is evident that there is a fine rapport between them. The photograph was taken in 1960 by Nurse Beth Sneyd, daughter of well-known sports photographer for the Brisbane Telegraph Bill Sneyd, when Peter, as a two-year-old, was a patient in the former Sunshine Children’s Ward, Ipswich Hospital. – taken from The Ipswich Hospital 1860 – 1991 by Ross Patrick,...
by admin | Jun 29, 2013 | General Collection, Paediatric, Uniforms
Nurse Goody Two-Shoes was mascot of the David Trumpy Paediatric Unit from 1979 to the late 2000s. Her uniform is a replica of that worn by nurses at Ipswich Hospital from the late 1960s through to the 1990s. She was loved by the many children who passed through the ward and their families. However, she was the brunt of many a caustic comment from tired and hard-worked paediatric nurses at the end of their day as her appearance remains cool, uncrushed and with determination in her...
