On The Homefront: Health & Welfare

Field Hospital at Showgrounds
In late 1941, the war was moving closer to Australia and army medical personnel required training for the conflicts to come. The head of the army medical unit Colonel Power required a training area outside Brisbane. After discussions with Ipswich Hospital Superintendent Dr. Trumpy, he selected Ipswich Showground.

In mid-December, a contingent from 6th CCS (Casualty Clearing Station) arrived in Ipswich. Within a short time, the main pavilion was converted into a convalescent ward and the smaller pavilions were used for orderly rooms, pharmacy, store, canteens and recreation room.

The major problem of providing operating facilities was solved by setting up a theatre, X-ray unit and post-operative ward at nearby Sandy Gallop Asylum (now known as the Challinor Centre). A member of the unit Ken Butters said most of the medical work done by the showgrounds unit was minor surgery for recruits stationed at Redbank to allow them to enter the army with A1 fitness. Doctors who worked at the showgrounds included kidney specialist John Power, orthopaedic surgeon John Lahz, surgeon John Lynch, physician Pat Arnold and radiologist J.R. Arden. Matron of the establishment was Matron Burbridge, later well-known at Royal Brisbane Hospital. The work gave the team experience. As the war drew closer in 1942, the unit was split and moved north, leaving a camp hospital behind at the showground.

Doctor Hamilton Stuart Patterson
Son of Mervyn Stuart Patterson, Hamilton was born in Aramac in 1911 and was educated at the Ipswich Grammar School. He trained at the Edinburgh Medical School and the Royal Infirmary and on his return to Queensland he worked at the Brisbane General Hospital and Hospital for Sick Children. In 1940, Hamilton moved to Ipswich and joined his father's practice. Discover the story of Ipswich Hospital's first Paediatrician on the Ipswich Hospital Museum website.