A BOOK chronicling the trials, tribulations and achievements of Orange’s medical fraternity is about to be launched.
In Sickness and in Health tells the story of the of how medicine shaped the history of Orange.
Beginning in the earliest days, the story stretches through to the construction of the new Orange Base Hospital.
After three-and-a-half years of meticulous research the book will be launched to the public later this month.
“Orange City Council instigated it, they thought that with the opening of the new hospital it was time to record some of the previous medical history of Orange,” said author Elisabeth Edwards.
It recounts fascinating episodes in Orange’s history including the smallpox outbreak of 1913 and the Spanish influenza outbreak of 1919.
The book also tells the story of the personalities who have worked to advance medicine in Orange, including Sir Neville Howse.
“Any history is about the people who made it,” Ms Edwards said.
Sir Howse was a brilliant doctor who became the mayor of Orange, a federal parliamentarian and was awarded the Victoria Cross during the Boer War.
Ms Edwards said another interesting aspect of the book was the way Orange medical staff have encouraged and supported others to bring their skills to the city.
“One of the best themes is the proactive involvement of the medical fraternity in getting others to come here and stay here.”
She said it was also the story of overwhelming support from the public.
“In the early days it didn’t get much in the way of government funding.”
Ms Edwards said that saw many groups like the Women’s Auxiliary had done incredible work to raise money to keep medical services going.
The 352 page work is written by Ms Edwards, a former Central Western Daily journalist.
She is also the author of a number of works on the history of Orange including Weapons to Whitegoods: Celebrating Email’s Fifty Years in Orange and Half a World Away: Post-war Migration to the Orange District 1948-1965.
In Sickness and in Health will be launched at the Orange Civic Centre Forum on March 31.
Copies can be obtained through the Orange library.
Source:
No comments:
Post a Comment