NEWS FROM THE PAST
NEWS FROM THE PAST
I thought that I would intriduce a new segment on which I personally found Interesting and thought others with a similar Interest in WCC & RDH would also. Every week I will be uploading old News Articles from TROVE www.trove.nla.gov.au regarding the Hospital. So make sure you check them out under the WCC & RDH info section.
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#1
Lachlan Park Additions NEW OFFICES FOR STAFF READY
MERCURY- MONDAY APRIL 22 1940
http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/25798805
Opened Today
Budding Improvement plan at Lachlan Park Hospital, New Norfolk -a modern administrative block will be opened today by the Premier (Mr. Cosgrove). The new building includes a recreation hall and chapel, spacious office accommodation for the medical and clerical staff, and self-contained mess rooms for attendants and nurses. It’s the most modern of Its kind In the Commonwealth.
The building is of brick, and fronts on to the main hospital avenue. On each side of the main entrance lobby are reception rooms for visitors and patients. One wing on the lower floor will be taken up by members of the clerical staff, and on the corresponding; wing on the opposite side is for the medical staff.
There are three spacious rooms for the medical officers, and situated in a convenient group are the dispensary, laboratory, examination and X-ray room, and lobbies. Apart from the main clerical department are offices for the secretary, staff supervisor, and female clerk, and leading out of the main office arc strong; rooms.
All the rooms are uniformly heated by means of ceiling electric radiators, and a special feature has been made of the panel work in the door and office fittings. Offices In the medical and clerical wings have wide angle windows overlooking the main avenue.
The entrance to the recreation hall is from the southern side. There is seating accommodation for 400 in the hall, and the capacity is estimated at more than 5OO.
Spacious and comfortable dressing rooms for men and women open from the hall foyer, and there are dressing rooms on each side of the hall stage. At the other end of the hall there is a chapel. Seats are fitted with reversible backs, which permit of their use for entertainment and church services without being moved. A talking, picture outfit has been installed for patients, and the floor has been prepared, for dancing.
The upper story is utilized for staff kitchens and dining-rooms. Separate rooms have been provided for nurses and attendants, and a feature in each room is the buffet self serve unit, in stainless steel. Electric stoves and a variety of modern appliances have been provided for the kitchen, which is connected with the mess rooms. Attendants and nurses may enter the dining rooms from separate entrances outside the building, and there is a main staircase in the centre of the block.
Overhead electrical radiators are provided in all parts of the upper story, and a dining room has been added for the matron and sisters.
The building cost more than £16,000, and the contractor was Mr. A. E. Wright, New Town.
The opening will take place at 3.15 p.m., and afterwards the Minister for Health (Dr. J. F. Gaha) will unveil a memorial photograph of the late Premier (Mr. A. G. Ogilvie, ICC). In the evening there will be a picture entertainment for the patients.
The first public function in the new hall will be held tomorrow evening, when the Derwent Valley Sub-Branch of the Returned Sailors and Soldiers League will conduct a ball.
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#2
HOSPITAL TRAGEDY- At New Norfolk
MERCURY Thursday 24th Feburary 1938
http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/29192492?searchTerm=lachlan%20park%20death&searchLimits=
A finding of suicide while of a disturbed mind was given by the Coroner (Mr. G. Matheson) at an inquest held at, the Lachlan Park Hospital, New Norfolk, yesterday, on the death of an Inmate aged 30 years, who was found dead In his room at the hospital on Monday, Sergeant E. H. Anthony represented the police.
The evidence disclosed that the body was found hanging by a piece of sheeting from a wire netting window guard at the end of a room. The sheeting, it was stated had been torn from a bed sheet, and twisted about the man’s neck. The window was 9ft. 6In. from the floor, and the bed, which was against the wall below the window at 6.55 p.m., was out of position when the body was found at 7.10 p.m. According to the medical evidence, death was caused by strangulation and shock.
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#3
** This article is available to the public on the internet. I apologise if this upsets anyone. If someone would like the names removed please contact me directly.
NOT GUILTY OF MURDER ON GROUNDS OF INSANITY
The Mercury Thursday November 13, 1952 (p19)
http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/page/1922844?zoomLevel=1&searchTerm=lachlan%20park%20death&searchLimits=
It took a Launceston Criminal Court jury only five minutes yesterday to declare John James Gilchrist (35), farm labourer, of Thule, Flinders Island, not guilty of murder on the grounds of insanity.
Gilchrist was charged with having murdered his son, Alan Charles Gilchrist (7), on June 29 at Flinders Is.
The jury found that Gilchrist committed the act for which he was charged but was not guilty on the grounds that he was insane at the time and was not responsible according to law.
Mr. Justice Gibson ordered Gilchrist to be kept in strict custody at Lachlan Park Mental “Hospital at Her Majesty’s pleasure. He told Gilchrist: “I hope this will be of great consolation to you. You must not feel badly about this, and try to recover.”
Gilchrist remained calm. His wife spoke to him consolingly as he left the court.
Gilchrist was in the witness box for only 40 minutes yesterday morning. He answered questions slowly, but in a clear voice.
He said he was visited by Det.-Sgt. E. G. Cole and Det. Sen.-Constable J. H. Smith at Lachlan Park on September l0 and made and signed a statement.
Statement Correct
As far as he could remember the statement was correct. His recollection of the events on June 29 was no better now than when he made the statement.
He said he must have killed his son and injured his wife be cause he; his wife, and son were the only ones in the house at the time.
Replying to Mr. D. M. Chambers, who prosecuted, Gilchrist; said he could recall vaguely being in the Flinders Is. Hospital and a doctor’s surgery on June 29.
He had no clear picture of what happened at his cottage He remembered being in the sun room, and seeing a hammer near the sewing machine. He could not remember striking either his wife or son.
No particular event at the time had caused him despondency Constable L. J. Donohue said he ‘had guarded Gilchrist at the Launceston General Hospital on 15 times in eight hour shifts. On August 4 about 12.15 p.m. Gilchrist endeavored to throw himself off the balcony, and he had to drag him back. Gilchrist pleaded with him to let him kill himself, and three-quarters of an hour later, he Charged at the window, striking the woodwork. A few minutes later, he ran across, the ward, and asked a patient to lend him a razor. The guard was doubled after that incident.
Doctor’s Finding
Dr. J. R. V. Foxton, Director of Mental Hygiene, said he was convinced Gilchrist was suffering from melancholia, a mental disease; on June 29.
He believed Gilchrist would understand that he was killing but his judgment would be so disordered by delusions that he would be incapable of forming any proper judgment as to right or wrong.
He considered Gilchrist killed his son by impulse and in certain ways was incapable of controlling his conduct.
He was sure Gilchrist’s was a genuine case of melancholia, and thought it quite impossible for a man to feign madness over a long period.
One delusion Gilchrist was suffering from was that he would have to stop his wife and child learning that he was responsible for the death of has daughter, who was burned to death in Melbourne two years ago.
He also believed he was not doing’ his job satisfactorily and feared he might lose it, and be without money or home for his family. He thought they would be better off dead.
Mr. V. C. Halt appeared for Gilchrist.
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#4
AUDACIOUS ESCAPE Murderer At Large
The Mercury Thursday 25th December 1941 (XMAS) http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/25933517?searchTerm=lachlan%20park%20murder&searchLimits=
Cyril Estcourt, alias Robert Estcourt (26), a convicted murderer, who has been detained at Lachlan Park Hospital, New Norfolk, made a daring escape from the Institution yesterday.
Estcourt, who was last seen in the criminal division exercise yard about 3.15 p.m., was with about 30 other, patients. When they were called to tea, Estcourt apparently ran along a side fence, climbed on the stone wall fronting on the main hospital avenue, and jumped about 10ft to the road. He was not missed until all the patients were counted.
ROBERT ESCOURT
Convicted murderer, who escaped from Lachlan Park Hospital, New Norfolk, yesterday into the main division, and although a search was made immediately no trace of him was found.
New Norfolk police officers and other police in the district had searched a wide area by 10 p.m. and at that hour there was no trace of the escapee. Estcourt is 6ft. 2in. in height, is of slim build, and has a fresh complexion. He has one finger missing on the right hand and the third and fourth fingers missing on the left hand. He has tattoo marks on both arms. The police are anxious to hear from anyone able to give any information about the escaped man. Estcourt was concerned In a murder at Grass Tree Hill, near Risdon, in 1939.
Read these realted stroies. Pretty scarey, glad I was not on a Ward with him..
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# 5
…MAN FOR TRIAL ON SERIOUS CHARGE – Woman’s Story In Court
The Mercury Thursday 16 May 1946 http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/26196351?searchTerm=lachlan%20park%20Ward%20&searchLimits=#pstart1876891
COLIN ALAN JOSHUA FERGUSON was committed for trial by Mr Brertingham-Moore, PM, in the New Norfolk Police Court yesterday, on a charge that on April 21 he had unlawful carnal knowledge of a female at Lachlan.
Evidence was given that in a statement Ferguson had said he had absconded from Lachlan Park Hospital. The defendant was represented by Mr J. P. Clark. Insp T. A. Canning prosecuted.
The woman said she was aged 25 years and lived with her husband at Lachlan. She left home at 10 am to visit her sister, who lived a mile away. She heard footsteps behind her, and saw the man was following. She turned off the main road to cross a bridge on a bush- track to her sister’s, saw the man following, and started to run. The man caught up to her; she was too exhausted to run further. He caught hold of her coat, and she fell down. He grabbed her by the throat, and tried to strangle her. Witness, continuing, said the man took one hand away from her throat, started hitting her with his fist. Then he indecently assaulted her.
Ferguson was the man who assaulted her.
Remark To Sister She said to her sister, “There is a man along the track. I don’t know whether he is a ‘patient,’ but he nearly killed me.” Later she was examined by Dr Rowe. Witness said she was 6 1/2 months pregnant at the time.
Dr Cecil Hartley Rowe said the woman was suffering from bruises and abrasions on the right cheek and face, and a severe black eye. There was also bruising over the left side of the neck and bruising and abrasions about the legs.
Evidence as to stains on clothing was given by Dr James Henry Brett Walch, pathologist, of Hobart. Dryden Hammersley Thomas, storekeeper and JP, New Norfolk, said Ferguson made a statement to him at New Norfolk police office.
Mr Clark’s objection to the statement being received was overruled.
Statement Read
According to the statement, which was read, Ferguson said he absconded from “A” Ward at Lachlan Park Hospital on the night of April 20. Next morning he followed the woman into the bush. When she began to run he ran after her, took her by the throat and knocked her down. The statement alleged the woman was a consenting party, and afterwards she said she would say nothing about it According to the statement, Ferguson said that afterwards he went to Lachlan Post Office, and was taken to the hospital in a motorcar between two men, one of whom had a gun.
Tpr Beamish said he saw the woman in a bedroom at the sister’s residence. She was very shocked. Her nose was bleeding slightly, and her left eye swollen and bruised. There were bruise marks on her throat.
On the way to the doctor the woman pointed to a spot on the side of the track leading to the house. There were footmarks and freshly disturbed earth. Insp Canning said defendant was arrested at the gate of Lachlan Park Hospital. No application was made for bail.
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# 6
A.N.M. MAY SUBSIDISE SEWERAGE SCHEME
The Mercury Monday 10 May 1948 http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/26459145?searchTerm=”lachlan%20park”%20%20drain%20sewer&searchLimits=#pstart1890481
THE New Norfolk Council will consider the payment A of a subsidy by Australian Newsprint Mills Pty. Ltd. towards an extension to the sewerage scheme at New Norfolk.
SINCE the original scheme was put into operation, extensions have become necessary because of the big building programme at New Norfolk-North, where about 100 houses have been built for newsprint employees.
Applications also have been made for extensions of the sewerage area to embrace other residential sites outside the town boundary.
Details of the cost involved in the scheme and extensions have been submitted to the company and later a representative will confer with the council to discuss a basis of payment towards the scheme.
At the last council meeting a report was submitted showing that proposed extensions of the sewerage main to serve four houses in the Back River Rd. area would cost £830.
The matter was held over until next meeting.
Lachan Park Hospital now has been connected with the town sewerage main, and the century old drain leading from the hospital to the River Derwent through the main section of the town will be required no longer.
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awesome section – fascinating reading the articles. I hope there are more to follow in the future