This DVD of the development of the Tawonga and Mount Beauty General Hospital covers the time period 1949 to 1996. It was a period of intense evolution of both the expansion in population and the increase in the medical facilities provided by a once slightly remote rural hospital to that of one of a regional and alpine advanced hospital. The population expansion of the region during this period was due to the greater growth of local (Kiewa Hydro Scheme) and tourism population provided the need of advancement in the modus operandi of hospital treatments.This DVD details the medical evolution in rural areas and the greater availability of medical professionals to rural areas. The relative isolation of the Kiewa Valley before transport and communications were greatly advanced in the mid to late 1900's resulted in not only increases in population but also the tourism trade. These two important factors required the degree of professionalism for the hospital and with an increasing aged population the diversity into aged care.This DVD has a coloured photograph of the Tawonga District Hospital as a background drop. Printed in black on the front 'An Historical Record / Tawonga District General Hospital / 1949 - 1996.'On the DVD label "An Historical record" below this "Tawonga District General Hospital" below this "1946-1996"hospital dvd, tawonga, mount beauty hospital, specialised treatments

This manual telephone exchange console is an important piece of equipment which provided the most efficient method of long distance communications in the 1950's to the 1980's. Communications were critical, not only for the regional Hospital, but also for large construction sites i.e. the Kiewa Hydro Scheme, especially if they are in dense rugged mountainous regions. The degree of Occupation Health and Welfare on industrial sites were at a bare minimum compared to the work scene after the 1980's.This telephone exchange console is highly significant to both the Kiewa Valley and Mount Beauty region because it was so important in the communications field relating to operational safety and work related controls. The success of any large undertaken relies heavily upon good communications. In the hospital this method of communications is still used i.e. patient to ward station. This flag system link a patient's room to the controlling nursing station. Identification of the patient needing help is crucial for swift action from the available medical staff. Similarly in large construction sites such as the Kiewa Hydro Scheme, successful instant communications was also essential. This switchboard required a 50 volt supply to successfully operate and was in use when both telecommunications and postal were under the one Federal Government carrier i.e. The Post Master General. A benefit with a line communication system (such as the one that fed this console was that interference from atmospheric conditions did not impede the connection.This console telephone switchboard (manual) unit has a shutter operation (precursor to the light indicator) to identify the caller to the telephone switchboard operator. This switchboard has a ten point indication shutter system allowing the operator to clearly identify where the caller is located. The console has a 44 connection point holes with their configurations in a triangular shape. The shutters are held closed by a small lever at the top which is opened by a small electrical charge from the incoming call. The operator uses a wind up handle to power a magneto connector(handle on the console's right side). The telephone hand set is located on the left side of the console. sec vic kiewa hydro scheme, alternate energy supplies, alpine population growth and communications