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Emerald Museum & Nobelius Heritage Park
From the collection of Emerald Museum & Nobelius Heritage Park
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Photograph - Mountain District Community Health Service and Cockatoo Instant Welfare Centre 1960s, c. 1964

  • A black and white photograph of a brick building.

    Mountain District and Community Health Service Obverse

  • Reverse of a photograph with handwritten pencil text.

    Mountain District and Community Health Service Reverse

  • A black and white photograph of a brick building.
  • Reverse of a photograph with handwritten pencil text.

Historical information

The Mountain District Community Health Service (MDCHS) was conceived of by Cockatoo local Myrtle Quicke, a well-renowned medical professional and nurse in the early-mid 1900s, as well as a founder of the Australian College of Nursing. After moving to Cockatoo in 1954, she quickly realised the shortage of adequate medical care in the area and organised the establishment of the MDCHS. This involved fundraisers and meetings with both locals and council officials to drum up funding and support against opposition who believed there was no need for such a centre. For many years, money was raised for the MDCHS by an opportunity shop nearby until the centre opened on the 3rd of March, 1964. It operated on a membership service, costing £1/5 a year for a single man or woman with no dependents, and a nurse was in attendance 24-hours a day.

Alongside the development of the MDCHS, the Berwick Shire council (now part of Cardinia Shire) decided to assign an Infant Welfare Nurse to Cockatoo in order to assist with an influx of new babies in the area. An Infant Welfare Centre was attached to the MDCHS, and opened at the same time. Myrtle joked that she would have the Queen open the building, but it was instead opened by the Governor of Victoria, Sir Rohan Delacombe. The day was one of great celebration for all in the town.

Significance

This photograph documents the growth of local healthcare and medicine, as well as one of the many accomplishments of Myrtle Quicke.

Physical description

A black and white photograph of the front of a brick building. The building is enclosed by a low metal fence and two open gates, and sits on an unsealed road. Behind the building are a number of tall trees. On the reverse of the photograph is a handwritten pencil caption.

Inscriptions & markings

In photograph, on freestanding sign: "MOUNTAIN DISTRICT COMMUNITY / HEALTH SERVICE"
In photograph, on sign on brick wall: "COCKATOO / INFANT WELFARE / CENTRE"
Reverse, handwritten in pencil: "'MOUNTAIN DISTRICT COMMUNITY / HEALTH SERVICE' / AND / 'COCKATOO INFANT WELFARE CENTRE 1960's'"

Subjects

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