Scarlet fever, the disease, historically depicted in literature and film, caused widespread fear and hardship, significantly impacting dairy farming communities. Numerous works illustrate its societal ramifications and personal tragedies. Notable figures who contracted scarlet fever included Thomas Edison and members of the Darwin family. Scarlet fever emerged in Camden in the late 1890s, prompting the establishment of a cottage hospital due to its severe impact on dairy farmers.
Category: Medical history
Camden’s First Hospital: A Historical Insight
Camden historian Dr. Ian Willis will present a paper on the origins of Camden Cottage Hospital at the 2025 Australian Historical Association Annual Conference. His paper, focusing on the hospital's role in rural health from 1899-1902, highlights community resilience and offers insights into local history and heritage in New South Wales.
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Camden Cottage Hospital, from accidents to amputations and early patient experiences
The Camden Cottage Hospital, opened in April 1899, initially struggled with low patient admissions due to community reluctance. Early cases included accidents and serious conditions, leading to treatments and surgeries like amputations. By early 1900, there was increasing community trust and the permanent facility opened in May 1902.
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Camden Cottage Hospital – foundation and early days
By the 1890s, Camden's economy depended on dairy, but health concerns arose due to contaminated water and infectious diseases like scarlet fever. In response, the community pushed for a cottage hospital, leading to its opening in 1899. Local efforts highlighted the crucial link between health and the dairy industry's sustainability.
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Australia Day 1918, Red Cross Fundraising Activities in Camden
Australia Day fundraisers in 1918 played a crucial role in supporting the war effort, with various activities such as selling badges, public subscriptions, prayer services, lectures, and door-knocks. The Camden Red Cross raised a significant amount, as did Menangle and Narellan branches. The total effort amounted to £748, a substantial sum for the time.
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Camden Red Cross 110 Years Display: Objects and Ephemera Exhibition 2024
The Camden Red Cross exhibition at Camden Library in August 2024 showcased the historical contributions of local women to the Red Cross during World Wars I and II. Women from the Camden district played a pivotal role in supporting soldiers and shaping the narrative of the Australian Red Cross, creating over 20,300 articles in 40,000 volunteer hours during WWI.
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Ministering Angels, Myth and the Red Cross on the Australian Wartime Homefront
The paper presented at the 33rd Annual Conference of the Australian Historical Association at the University of Queensland in 2014 explored the role of Australian country women in supporting the Red Cross during the First World War. The paper focused on the Camden District Red Cross, emphasizing the conservative women’s empowerment in embracing the Red Cross, serving as ministering angels, and upholding patriotic values. Total words: 78
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‘Guardian Angels’, the Red Cross on the wartime homefront
During the First World War, Australian women independently joined the Red Cross to support the war effort. The Red Cross provided a space for women to express agency and contribute to the war through practical activities and fundraising. The organization's local branches established a sense of community and played a significant role in the homefront war effort.
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‘Angels Of Mercy’, The Red Cross On the Homefront During the First World War
During World War I, the Australian Red Cross mobilized women as 'Angels of Mercy' and 'ministering angels' to provide aid with strong moral overtone. The organization used motherhood imagery to rally support, portraying itself as the 'Greatest Mother in the World'. This approach effectively garnered community backing and positioned Red Cross workers as soldiers' guardian angels.
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Red Cross humanitarianism and female volunteers in Australia
The Australian Red Cross has a long history of female volunteers providing aid to disaster victims. These women, often undervalued, found opportunities for social and political agency within the organization. Through fundraising and volunteering, they significantly contributed to the welfare of soldiers during the First and Second World Wars, yet their achievements have often been overlooked.
