Post by braided-rug on Apr 24, 2006 17:34:55 GMT 10
About this period Bert Alp, the first citizen of Cookine sold his land to Dr. Jermyn, late of Mt. Gambier, and the Dr. between picking roots, building a home and otherwise developing his farm, attended to the sick and suffering of the District. No matter how hard and long his day of farm work was, the worthy doctor never refused a call at any hour.
What a Rock in a Weary Land he was to the mothers of young children, and the clearers with their dreadful "Barcoo Rot" sores, or nasty gashes with the axe; and nobady was ever tuned away without help - here was a man who took his "Oath" as binding.
One night we were awakened by the dogs' furious barking, about 2 a.m. and a man called out. Mr. Bland arose and went out - there was a horse in a cart, and 2 men wanting to reach Dr. Jermyn as soon as possible. As their horse was weary and the hour late, my husband told them they'd better stay till morning and it would be easier to find the road.
For answer they pointed to a form wrapped in rugs on the floor of the cart - "their father had died suddenly that evening at a clearers' camp and they must reach the doctor as quickly as possible". So he explained as well as he could, and they turned the tired horse around and set off on the track. We never heard anything more of the matter.
And when a small lad from Babkin way had his leg broken by a fallen tree, the weary trail was taken by spring-cart some 16 miles or more to Dr. Jermyn - no hospital - no nursing sisters or matrons - no modern conveniences, yet the job was a complete and amazing success.
The Doctor left his farm and went to the First World War; and I beleive he returned to Mt. Gambier, but to those who needed his assistance and received it during his few years at Shackleton, his name should be something worth remembering. The townsite of Shackleton was surveyed by the Doctor on his own ground; and when I saw the surveyors at work and he explained the project to me I was horrified. I looked at the claypan - the dreadful sticky mud and as I sat on the track I said, "Doctor, generations of housewives wil rise up and call you accurses for making a township in this awful spot. He only laughed, "I shan't be here to hear them!" he said.
What a Rock in a Weary Land he was to the mothers of young children, and the clearers with their dreadful "Barcoo Rot" sores, or nasty gashes with the axe; and nobady was ever tuned away without help - here was a man who took his "Oath" as binding.
One night we were awakened by the dogs' furious barking, about 2 a.m. and a man called out. Mr. Bland arose and went out - there was a horse in a cart, and 2 men wanting to reach Dr. Jermyn as soon as possible. As their horse was weary and the hour late, my husband told them they'd better stay till morning and it would be easier to find the road.
For answer they pointed to a form wrapped in rugs on the floor of the cart - "their father had died suddenly that evening at a clearers' camp and they must reach the doctor as quickly as possible". So he explained as well as he could, and they turned the tired horse around and set off on the track. We never heard anything more of the matter.
And when a small lad from Babkin way had his leg broken by a fallen tree, the weary trail was taken by spring-cart some 16 miles or more to Dr. Jermyn - no hospital - no nursing sisters or matrons - no modern conveniences, yet the job was a complete and amazing success.
The Doctor left his farm and went to the First World War; and I beleive he returned to Mt. Gambier, but to those who needed his assistance and received it during his few years at Shackleton, his name should be something worth remembering. The townsite of Shackleton was surveyed by the Doctor on his own ground; and when I saw the surveyors at work and he explained the project to me I was horrified. I looked at the claypan - the dreadful sticky mud and as I sat on the track I said, "Doctor, generations of housewives wil rise up and call you accurses for making a township in this awful spot. He only laughed, "I shan't be here to hear them!" he said.