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1934
17 September 1934
A Noble Work
C.W.A. HOSPITAL AT CASSILIS
Official Opening
AN event which has been worked for and eagerly anticipated took place at Cassilis on Wednesday, September 5, when the C.W.A. Hospital was officially opened. The members of Cassilis branch have every reason to be proud of their achievement.
There was a good attendance of members and visitors, the latter including members of the Muswellbrook and Merriwa branches of the C.W.A.
The approach to the hospital, where the opening took place, was lined with members of the Junior Red Cross, who formed a guard of honor for Mrs. Dangar, Coolah president, who performed the opening. On the platform were the official guests, included in whom were Mrs. A. L. Bowman, Miss Laing (president Muswellbrook branch), Mrs. H. McRae (president Merriwa branch), Sir Frederick and Miss McMaster, Dr. Bray, Sister Limpus and officers of the Cassilis branch.
Proceedings opened in the usual C.W.A. manner with the National Anthem.
Mrs. A. R. Morrow, president of Cassilis branch, presided.
In opening the proceedings Mrs. Morrow said: This afternoon we are celebrating the greatest achievement in the history of the Cassilis branch of the C.W.A. - an achievement which has been the objective of the branch since its inception, and it gives me great pleasure to see so many people present showing such interest in this great undertaking of a small C.W.A. branch like Cassilis. I would like to welcome Mrs. Dangar, our special guest for today, president of the Coolah branch and retiring president of the Mudgee-Coolah group, who later will officially open the cottage: Miss Laing, president of Muswellbrook branch; Sir Frederick McMaster, deputy shire president, the clergy and all other visitors. As president I wish to thank all those who have helped so magnificently to make the building of our cottage possible. To my mind it is a magnificent effort. Being comparatively new to the district. I did not have the honor of belonging to the branch when the greatest amount of the money was raised; still I am confident that in fulfilling this long felt need we will continue to have the big hearted support of the district; and thus make this cottage the success the foundation members wished it to be, and by so doing help those in need and make us as proud of our Cassilis district in the future as we are today. I would like to mention the late Mrs. A. M. Jennings at this stage, as I feel quite sure that only for her the cottage wouldn't have been thought of, as I understand it was in her mind that the idea originated. I believe she met with quite open opposition, but tenaciously, stuck to her guns and worked hard for her cause. This work has been carried on since by the branch under the guidance mainly of our retiring president, Mrs. Bowman, after whom the cottage is to be named as a mark of appreciation from the members. Mrs. Bowman has been president for a long period, and has spared neither time nor trouble in every effort the branch has undertaken. There have been other presidents, but only for short periods, and I think these two ladies have been foremost. We later members have also progressed, and have added considerably to the finances of the branch, but we also have had the pleasure of fulfilling the objective and will still have the responsibility of seeing that the cottage is carried on as an acquisition, to the district by whoever may rent it. The cottage to build has cost us £530, and when we started we had £600 - £30 of which had been given by Sir Frederick McMaster when the idea was first started; for a bed and two blocks of land which Mr. A. L. Bowman presented to us and furniture for one ward from Mrs. A. L. Bowman. We can practically say the cottage is built free of debt. What little there is owing we hope to clear when we hold our sports and dance next Saturday. I would like to mention the architects, Messrs. Morrow and Gordon, who drew the plans and gave them with the specifications free of charge, which also helped us. Also Mr. Bowman and Mr. Morrow, who supervised the building. This necessitated a number of visits, and saved the branch a considerable amount of worry. Our special thanks must be given to the following list of donors: Mr. and Mrs. A. L. Bowman, Sir Frederick McMaster, Mr. E. Lambert and family, the Irwin brothers, Mr. C. T. Hamilton, W. Kellett and Sons, Mr. J. Piper and Mr. A. R. Morrow, members of the Cassilis younger set, also to every member of the community who has cooperated with us in every effort we have had and made them all so successful. May our efforts and objectives always meet with district approval, as we one and all try to live to our motto, ''Honor to God, service to the country," etc.
Cr. H. O. Bensley apologised for the absence of the shire president, who had sent his good wishes and congratulations.
Mr. Bensley said he was very pleased to be able to publicly congratulate the members of the C.W.A. on their splendid achievement. They had every reason to feel proud. The hospital was ideally situated: the outlook was so pleasing it would be a great factor in the treatment of the sick. Past history had shown that it was the work of women to assuage suffering. The efforts of the C.W.A. were at last rewarded. They had worked in spite of discouragements, and have at last attained their objective. The hospital would prove a boon to the town, and there would be many who would bless the day the C.W.A. had built the hospital. On behalf of the Merriwa shire he congratulated the Cassilis C.W.A. on their excellent work.
Sir Frederick McMaster said he considered the efforts of the Cas sills ladies worthy of a far bigger centre. It was no matter of surprise to him to see concrete evidence of those efforts. There was a question at present being raised as to whether the men's voices or women's voices were best suited to radio work. Personally, he hoped the voices of the women would never be silenced, as all men folk looked to women for inspiration. Sir Frederick concluded by hoping the coffers would always be full but the beds empty.
Mrs. H. McRae, president of Merriwa C.W.A., extended greetings and congratulations from her branch, and presented a clock with members' best wishes and concluded by hoping that "as the hands go on and on, so may the success of your achievement so on and on."
Mrs. Morrow thanked Mrs. Mc Rae and her members for their very kindly gesture and intimated the hospital did not have a time-piece. Mrs. Morrow presented a beautiful bouquet to Mrs. A. L. Bowman, retiring president, and, owing to Mrs. Bowman being unable to speak, read a message as follows: -
"I am sorry that I cannot speak to you all, but I would like you to know that it is with a deep sense of joy and gratitude that I convey these written words (per medium of my friend) on such a memorable occasion in the history of the Cassilis branch of the C.W. I feel It is a privilege to be here to-day. There have been times when I despaired of seeing our objective (which was undertaken a little more than seven years ago) fulfilled. I would like to express to Mrs. Dangar my personal thanks for coming here today to formally open the cottage for us; it is partly due to Mrs. Dangar that we have such a nice cottage, for on the occasions that she visited our branch, as group president, her encouragement and sympathy in our work was such that we felt inspired to carry on and not fall by the way-side, I have already written to the members of the branch expressing my sincere appreciation of the compliment they have paid me in wishing the cottage named "The Daphne Bowman Cottage, but I would thank them here for the great honor they have done me. I really feel the honor far outweighs anything which I have done for the branch. My thoughts were not of personal aggrandisement; I only had in mind sick and suffering humanity. I have furnished the room as a loving tribute to my highly esteemed friend, the late Mrs. A. M. Jennings, who was the founder of this branch. She counted no self-sacrifice or service for her fellow creatures a waste; it was rather a joy to her, and she tried to serve the generation as best our common humanity is capable of doing. Her influence for good will live long in the memories of the foundation members of the branch. To all the members who stood by me in the years of uphill work I say 'Thank you.' Their cordial co-operation, so unselfishly given, did much to make the office of president, which I held for 5½ years altogether, one of much pleasure, and I am sure they will continue to work with the same spirit. To those members who have worked to have the cottage ready for the nurse to take over, the members will, I am sure, be sincerely grateful there is an amount of work and responsibility entailed, and only those who work behind the scenes know the many small details which must have attention, and our warmest thanks go to those ladies. The branch during the seven years of its life has, I think, a very fair record of achievement. We have not only built this cottage; other deserving causes have received donations from us, principally the far west children's health scheme, necessitous bush, nursing centres, the Bar Beach Home, individual cases, and on one occasion our own School of Arts. An epoch in our history is closing, and one as yet unknown is opening. We will be on a new road, and it is a time for us to look forward. We must strengthen our-selves with courage in our new adventure. Our opportunity is here, let us grasp it, to advance some higher duty, some nobler ideal. All of us who are members must take an active participation in the work of the branch. The contribution we make will be beneficial to ourselves as well as to others. The object for which we are working is big, so let our enthusiasm be big, then we will have deeper interest and broader vision; let us never lose faith in the ultimate victory of our cause and never relax in our efforts to do what in us lies to bring it about. I would like our cottage to be 'A House by the Side of the Road.' Let it be our duty and our great joy to give help and succor to those who need it. Our destiny is in the future. There is something great to live for, and the best is yet to be. Let each one of us in her own little way live up to our motto, then will we prove ourselves worthy to be members of such a grand association as the C.W.A."
On behalf of Cassilis members:- Mrs. Morrow presented an exquisite basket of flowers to Mrs. Dangar and invited her to officially open the hospital.
Mrs. Dangar said she was delighted to be present, as it was a great day for Cassilis. She was honored in being asked to open the hospital. She was sure the support of the people would be forthcoming, and that it would be able to maintain it at its present excellent standard. The attainment of their objective would bring happiness to many, and would ever remain inspiration to members. It would be the greatest comfort and fulfil a long felt want in the town and a blessing to the doctor. The C.W.A. had 12 hospitals in New South Wales, and two were in the Coolah-Mudgee group. That was something of which to feel proud.
Mrs. Dangar gave a brief history of the building, and said the C.W.A. was a cause worthy of the truest loyalty - it calls for highest and best - which means service, which she felt had been given by Cassilis members.
Mrs. Dangar then declared the "Daphne Bowman Hospital" open.
Mrs. W. Cullen, in moving a vote of thanks to Mrs. Dangar, said she was especially proud to do so as Mrs. Dangar had been most helpful to the branch and had given sympathy and encouragement when it had been most needed. She hoped the cottage would be the success Mrs. Dangar predicted.
Mrs. Dangar responded.
Sir Frederick McMaster moved a vote of thanks to the chairwoman, who he said had carried out her duties in a very charming manner.
Apologies included: Mrs Collins, president of the Coolah-Mudgee group; Mrs. J. Davies, O.B.E., president of the Hunter River group; Grattai, Mendooran and Binnaway branches and the clergy.
An inspection of the cottage followed, and then all present were invited to attend the Oddfellows' Hall, where afternoon tea, which further added to the reputation of Cassilis members, as most excellent exponents of the culinary art, was served.
The Rev. Morton Brown, rector, of the Merriwa parish, who, owing to car trouble, missed the opening ceremony, spoke during afternoon tea. He said he was entirely in sympathy with the efforts of the Cassilis C.W.A. The hospital should prove a useful addition to the town. The hospital was something they had felt the lack of. He congratulated the C.W.A. and the community, in having such an organisation in their midst.
Mrs. Morrow said they had come to an important part of their function. Mrs. A. L. Bowman had been their much loved president for a considerable time, but owing to ill-health had to resign her position recently. Members all regretted it had been necessary, and they all hoped Mrs. Bowman would soon be quite well again, and in the meantime she would continue her interest and most helpful service.
Mrs. Smythe, the oldest financial member of the branch, then made a presentation to Mrs. Bowman.
Mrs. Dangar said Mrs. Bowman asked her to say "Thank you all - with a very full heart."
Mrs. Morrow introduced Sister Limpus, and hoped her stay in Cassilis would prove of mutual benefit Cr. Bensley responded on the sister's behalf1
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