Carlo attends the opening of the Dargo Bush Nursing Hospital

Carlo was present at the opening of the Dargo Bush Nursing Hospital, on November 24, 1912. William Edgar, the Minister for Public Work was also in attendance. The Stratford Sentinel reported that Mr Edgar had played a role in Dargo obtaining a Bush Nursing Centre, as after months of agitation by the Dargo community and at the urging of the local member, Mr J. W. McLachlan, M.L.A., William Edgar

paid a visit to the Crooked River Country [where] he expressed the opinion that here was a place where a nurse should be sent, and he promised to use his best endeavors to favorably impress the Bush Nursing Council with the idea. As a result of his influence and sympathy the Executive Committee of the movement were pleased to promise their co-operation, and a meeting of residents of the Dargo district was held to consider whether they could raise enough money to finance the scheme. The salary of the nurse - £135 per annum - was a big proposition for mountain people to tackle, but they had the promise of Government aid, and they evolved a plan which has surmounted the trouble. Each householder in the district has promised to pay 1/ per week to the fund, and this will bring in some£60 per annum. The Hon. William Pearson has most generously promised £20 a year, and the Avon Shire Council have shown their sympathy by giving an annual subsidy of £25. It is expected that £35 per annum will be the amount of the Government aid so that the financial success of the scheme is assured. (1). 

Dargo in 1916, four years after the opening of the Bush Nursing Centre

Museums Victoria https://collections.museumsvictoria.com.au/items/771723

The Gippsland Times reported on the opening of the Dargo Bush Nursing Hospital -

Fine weather favored Her Excellency Lady Fuller (2) on her first trip to Dargo. Bright sunshine prevailed throughout yesterday and to-day and the long journey, over difficult and dangerous roads, was accomplished without any mishap. Four motor cars left Stratford for Dargo at 11 o'clock yesterday. Lady Fuller travelled in the Hon. Wm Pearson's car. Flags were flying above the mountain roadway in honor of Her Ladyships visit and at intervals along the route, the settlers and their families turned out and gave her excellency a hearty welcome.

Many of the dwellers in the remote parts left their homes early on Friday in order to be present at Dargo last night then Her Excellency arrived. The visitors were so numerous that private residences were availed of and tents erected to accommodate them. In addition to Lady Fuller there were travelling in motor cars the Hon. W. H. Edgar, Minister of Public Works, Mr. Catani, Chief Engineer, Dr. Edith Barrett (3), Dr. Janet Greig (4), Miss Michaelis (5) (of the Melbourne Bush Nurses Council), Dr. and Mrs Hagenauer, Sale, Dr and Mrs Hozier of Stratford, Mr. Roy Pearson and Miss Pearson (Kilmany), Rev. Pelletier, of Maffra, other visitors included Mr and Mrs J. Mills, who have taken a great interest in the scheme.

This morning Lady Fuller was present at the Church service conducted by the Rev. E. F. Pelletier. In the afternoon, in the presence of a large gathering, at the Mechanics' Institute, Her Excellency duly installed Nurse Brown  as the first bush nurse in Dargo. Lady Fuller spoke in laudatory terms of Nurse Brown's qualifications for the duties and stated how necessary it was in a district such as this where doctors and nurses were so far away that a nurse having Nurse Brown's skill and ability should be available to help in cases of need. Her Ladyship concluded by pinning a brooch on Nurse Brown's uniform.

Others who spoke were Mr. W. H. Edgar, Rev. Pelletier, Dr. Barrett, Dr Greig, Dr. Hozier, Mr. Roy Pearson (who apologised for his father's absence), Mr King and Mr. M'Lachlan, M.L.A. After the ceremony Mrs W. Rigall entertained Her Excellency and party at tea. Mr. Riggall provided horses for Her Ladyship and some of the visitors and they had a successful ride into the mountains. 

To-night the Hon. W. H. Edgar delivered an address at the local Church. Her Excellency and party will leave early to-morrow morning for Stratford where Lady Fuller will be further welcomed at half-past two o'clock (6).

Interesting that Mr Edgar delivered the address at the Church service, however he was Methodist lay preacher and the brother of the Reverend Alexander Edgar, the Superintendent of the Central Methodist Mission at the Wesley Church, so he was well experienced in this area (7). 

Nurse Brown had been at Dargo for a few weeks before she was officially installed by Lady Fuller and the opinion was that Nurse Brown has already won golden opinions, and seems to be satisfied with her surroundings (8). 

Nurse Amy Marguerite Brown was born in Birmingham and trained at the Birmingham Infirmary. Later she was sister in charge at the fever hospital of the Metropolitan Asylums' Board, London. For some time she was a sister at St. George's Infirmary, Fulham road, London. She then joined the staff at the East End Mothers' Home -  this is in the poorest and most squalid part of London. Not only does it shelter penniless and desolate women at maternity time but the sisters in their scarlet print frocks and white aprons hasten to the women in the tenement houses, acting as midwives and providing as much nourishment and fuel as funds permit. Nurse Brown answered an advertisement in the London  newspaper for Bush Nurses and she arrived in Victoria with with her colleague, Rita Sprott, who was assigned to the Welshpool Bush Nursing Hospital - these two nurses have taken sole charge of more than two hundred maternity cases. (9). In 1914, she married farmer, Martin Joseph Hurley,  and they lived in Boisedale and later at Athlone. They had three children and Amy died in 1974, aged 93 years of age. (10).

Dargo Bush Nurse, Amy Brown

The Herald, November 12, 1912 https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/241799487

In a later report we learn more of the role of Mr Edgar on the day - 

The Hon. W. H. Edgar expressed his pleasure at being present that day as a representative of the Government. He was indeed proud to know that Her Ladyship had consented to be with them that day to perform a ceremony which was without doubt, the most important that had ever been performed in Dargo; that of installing a Bush Nurse. In Nurse Brown they had a girl who was peculiarly adapted to fill such a position, and he hoped they would be as kind to her as they possibly could. Although Dargo was one of the oldest towns in the State, it was one of the least known, but the events connected with the present visit would bring it prominently before the eyes of the people of Victoria (11).

There were two interesting reports about this Vice-Regal trip to Dargo - this first one is about the novelty of motor cars in Dargo and the makes of the cars - 

Seven motorcars whizzing down the street at Dargo was a sight never before seen in that pretty township, and is not likely to be again contemplated for many years. What a sensation they created to the inhabitants, and what disgust they caused the horses, the previous Kings of the winding mountain roads ....The cars to make the trip were a Daimler, Ford, Ford, Overland, Buick, Austin, Itala, owned in order by Hon. W. Pearson, Mrs Hagenauer, Dr Hozier, Dr. Hagenauer, Dr Reid, and the latter two were supplied on behalf of the Government by Mesrrs McCarey and Doran of Melbourne, who personally attended. Mrs O'Brien's F.N. car went as far as Bulgoback, and Mr and Mrs J. Mills took their Siddeley Deasey past Stockyard, and from there on travelled per buggy (12).

Then there was this report about the gallant Carlo - 
An old man named Mathieson, was riding along the road on Monday morning at the time of the motors' return journey from Dargo. The steed was not partial to the purring contingent and shied and threw the old man, dislocating one of his fingers and causing abrasions to his hands. Mr Catani acted the Good Samaritan and offered him a seat in the car to his destination, essaying the task of riding the horse himself. However, neddy refused to behave quietly and the popular chief engineer, obedient to orders from hind-quarters, landed forcibly on the road. Although somewhat shaken he was not seriously hurt, and the damage was soon repaired by Dr. Reid (13). 

Trove list - I have created a list of articles on the opening of the Dargo Bush Nursing Hospital, access it here.

Footnotes
(1) Stratford Sentinel, November 29, 1912, see here.

(2) Lady Fuller - born  Norah Jacintha Phipps, the wife of the Governor of Victoria, Sir John Fuller.

(3) Dr Edith Barrett (1872-1939) - Australian Dictionary of Biography entry - https://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/barrett-edith-helen-5143 

(4) Dr Janet Greig (1874-1950) Australian Dictionary of Biography entry - https://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/greig-janet-lindsay-jenny-7047

(5) Alice Michaelis (1873-1963) - Life Governor of the Queen Victoria Hospital and a member of the Victorian Bush Nurses Association committee. Alice was the fourteenth and last child of Moritz and Rahel (nee Gotthelf) Michaelis. Her brother, Frederick David Michaelis, was the chairman of the committee which erected the memorial clocktower to Carlo in 1932, see here.

(6) Gippsland Times, November 25, 1912, see here. 

(7) William Haslam Edgar (1858-1948) - member of the Legislative Council from 1904 to 1913 and from 1917 until 1948. Source: Parliament of Victoria Remember database, see here; Reverend Alexander Edgar (1850-1914) Australian Dictionary of Biography entry  https://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/edgar-alexander-robert-6085   

(8) Stratford Sentinel, November 22, 1912, see here.

(9) The Herald, November 4, 1912, see here 

(10) Indexes to the Victorian Births, Deaths and Marriages; Electoral Rolls on Ancestry; Martin's death notice in The Age, October 23, 1971, p 23 on newspapers.com (below)

(11) Stratford Sentinel, November 29, 1912, see here.

(12) Maffra Spectator, November 28, 1912, see here.

(13) Stratford Sentinel, November 29, 1912, see here.