Woodman Point Quarantine Station

Welcome to the "Friends of Woodman Point Recreation Camp" Newsletter for 2011/12

This newsletter is to inform all our members and keep them up to date with projects, activities or items of interest concerning the Friends Group, and will be posted on a quarterly basis to members who do not have access to a computer.

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The “ Pratique “ newsletter is also be available online by way of visiting the
Friends website at www.woodmanpointquarantinestation.com
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Friends monthly meetings are held on the 2nd Tuesday of each month and commence at 5.15PM and normally last for two hours. New members always welcome.

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President's Report:

2011 can only be described as an exciting year for our Friends group, everything from the commencement of our own Heritage and Historical Tours, through to Interpretation Projects, and nominations for Heritage and Volunteer Awards. A special thank you to my committee and members for all their assistance and dedication throughout 2011, and especially our supporters who have kindly donated towards numerous Friends projects. Bring on 2012
Best wishes for a prosperous New Year, Andrea Lyndon James

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Friends News:

The outcome of a Power Point Presentation conducted by Earle Seubert in April 2010 at the WA Historical Society headquarters in Nedlands, resulted in an article on the history of the Woodman Point Quarantine Station being published in the Journal for the W.A. Historical Society , The Early Days. 2010.

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Resulting from a recent Heritage Tour, contact was made with the family of a past doctor who was significantly involved in certain chapters of Woodman Point quarantine history. Doctor William Hall Young was involved with the quarantine station from the early 1950s through to the early 1960s, and especially the “Strathaird case” in 1954 and a tour was conducted for the late doctor’s wife and family. Photographs and a DVD showing glimpses of the Quarantine Station in the late 50’s early 60’s, has been given to the Friends group, and also details of Dr Young’s medical history, enabling a page on our website to be constructed and entitled “ A Profile: Dr. William Hall Young”. Special thanks must be given to all the members of the Young, Syms and Durack families for their kind donation.

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Mr Jim Wade has kindly built and donated a lectern to the Friends of Woodman Point Recreation Camp. The project started by Jim in early 2010, has finally come to fruition, and depicts a nautical theme. “Friends” feel it would be appropriate if the lectern was now dedicated to the passing of his mother and who was a member of the “Friends” group. Well done Jim and thanks.

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Bereavement:

It is with regret that we announce the sad passing of “Friends” member Mrs. Pat Wade on the 24th October 2011. The Friends of Woodman Point Recreation Camp wish to pass on and express their sincere condolences to John and Jim, and all the other members of the Wade and Deane Families.

Our thoughts are with them.

Current Friends Projects:

Progress continues with Friends and the Department of Environment and Conservation on the Interpretation and Restoration Project involving the former Woodman Point Explosive Magazine situated in the Woodman Point Regional Park. and a quotation has now been prepared that includes base mapping and specific site feature surveys for the Woodman Point Nature and Recreation Reserves. Individual site feature surveys are contained within the A Class flora and fauna Reserve. This quotation will allow for interpretation of vegetation, railways, historic sites, developments and will provide a base for master planning of works and will be useful for ongoing applications for funding etc..

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The Anchor Memorial outside the Isolation Hospital in dedication to the vessels, HMAT Boonah and HMAT Wyreema in 1918, and the SS Suva in 1943 is virtually complete, apart from the blessing service, at a date yet to be confirmed. The service is to be conducted by the Chaplin of the Mission To Seamen, the Reverend Dennis Claughton.

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Memorial plaques dedicated to the Officers In Charge ( Caretakers ) and their wives at Woodman Point Quarantine Station have been installed at the base of the shade trees that surround the Isolation Hospital, but confirmation of the plaque design is yet to be finalised. Many thanks to Gary Marsh for installing the bases for the plaques.

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What's on the Horizon for Heritage / Historical Tour bookings:

The last of the Friends Heritage and Historical Tours for 2011 was conducted in early December and Tours will recommence late January early February.
Details of the tours continue to be advertised on Curtin Radio 100.1 FM, and these promotional advertisements have proved very successful, and have generated quite a lot of public interest, so much so, that we now have a total of 15 bookings so far next year, and takes us through to July 2012,
Many thanks to Evelynne and Gary, for their generous help and assistance.

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Brochures giving booking information and describing details of the Historical Tours are available from the website.

www.woodmanpointquarantinestation.com

Please visit our website
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Out Of The Past:

The story of Water Police Constable Richard Hughes.

When the R.M.S. Ormuz arrived at Fremantle from Colombo on Thursday, 16th May, 1901, the Quarantine Doctor (Dr. Hope) boarded the vessel in Gage Roads to check the health of the Passengers. There were several hundred people on board and after checking with the ship’s doctor, the vessel was granted pratique.
Also boarding the vessel were several Detectives and a Water Police Constable who were looking for anarchists. Water Police Constable Richard Hughes was required to remain on board until the ship sailed for Adelaide at 10pm, 16th May.
On Friday, 31st May, Constable Hughes became unwell and his condition gradually became so bad that on Sunday morning he had to go off duty. On Sunday June 2nd, he complained that he had a severe headache and that he was very feverish and Dr. Hope was called for. On Monday night Dr. Hope again visited Hughes, and by that time the patient had developed a slight rash. He questioned Hughes as to where he had been and he told him that he was on board the R.M.S. Ormuz during the whole of that vessel's visit. The doctor became suspicious with regard to the matter and, in consequence, he placed the house and its occupants in quarantine. On Tuesday he visited to Hughes again and after an examination he was fully convinced that he had small-pox.
The condition of Hughes was much worse next morning and Dr. Hope regarded the case as a very serious one. The disease was still developing; the rash was chiefly confined to the face. At 10 o'clock on Wednesday 5th June, W.P.C. Hughes, and the four 'contacts' were moved in a bus to Woodman's Point Quarantine Station. Hughes and his wife were placed in two adjoining rooms in the Isolation hospital.
On Sunday 9th June, Hughes’s condition was somewhat serious. Eruptions had taken place all over his face and body, and his delirium had increased. The nurse who had been engaged to attend to the case found that she could not manage her patient and arranged for an extra nurse to assist her.
On 12th June Dr. Hope reported that Hughes was going through the worst part of his illness. At 4 o'clock on Saturday morning, 15th June, Constable Richard Hughes, died at the Woodman's Point Quarantine Station. The body of the deceased was cremated in the afternoon.
Mrs. Hughes was detained at the station for 21 days from the time that she was removed from her husband's room. At the request of Mrs. Hughes, the ashes of the deceased were preserved by the quarantine authorities and they were available for internment when Mrs. Hughes was released from quarantine. Water Police Constable Richard Hughes Funeral was held on the 14th July, 1901
Article supplied by Gary Marsh

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December Diary Long Ago:

The West Australian December 7, 1918
PNEUMONIC INFLUENZA. NINETY CASES ON VESSEL FOR FREMANTLE. In answer to inquiries last night Dr. F. E. Cox (Chief Quarantine Officer) said that it was officially stated that a vessel laden with troops which had called in at South Africa was due at Fremantle next week. There were ninety cases of Spanish influenza aboard and the local quarantine authorities were making arrangements to isolate all the patients at Woodman Point. What would be done with the rest of the contacts and the vessel was yet to be determined.
PERTH, Wednesday December 11, 1918.-
The transport “Boonah” reached Fremantle this morning from South Africa. The vessel has on board 1020 men and of this number approximately 300 have been stricken down during the voyage with Pneumonic Influenza. There was only one death, that of Sergeant A. C. Thwaites, who died on December 9th.

The West Australian Thursday December 12, 1918
Guards at Woodman Point. A strong military ward has been stationed on the boundary at Woodman Point Quarantine Station to prevent contacts breaking away and coming into the town. Dr. Cox stated last night that every precaution was being taken to prevent local infection.

The West Australian Monday December 23, 1918
The following patients suffering from pneumonic influenza have been landed at the quarantine station, Woodman Point, from the Boonah: Dangerously ill.-- O'Connell, Sprigg, Ding, Wilson. Fuller , Nilson, Hoolan. There were three deaths at the Woodman Point Hospital on Saturday, but none yesterday. No fresh cases among the soldiers have been recorded, but another of the staff nurses showed symptoms of the disease in a mild form on Saturday. One of the three patients who died on Saturday was Sister R. O'Kane, of Charters Towers, and she was buried with full military honours in the quarantine station military cemetery.

CHAPLIN FAHEY, D.S.O., VOLUNTEERS. One of the victims reported to be attacked by the pneumonic influenza epidemic was the Roman Catholic chaplain, Father Flynn, in whose place Major-Chaplain Fahey, D.S.O., has volunteered to act at very short notice. There have been three new cases since Tuesday and all have been nursing sisters.

GOLDFIELDS INOCULATED NURSES FOR WOODMAN POINT.
Kalgoorlie, Dec. 30. At the Roads-board Hall Kalgoorlie, 198 persons have been inoculated for the first time, and 91 for the second time against influenza. Several nurses passed by Kalgoorlie today from the East to take up duty at the Woodman Point Quarantine Station.
Compiled by Earle Seubert

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Point Of Interest:

Why are the Left and Right Side of a ship called Port and Starboard :
Ancient ships had their rudders, or steering boards, on the right side of the stern of a ship. This gave rise to the Anglo-Saxon word steorbord, which means “steer side”. When ships came into port to load or unload, they were tied up with their left sides closest to the wharf to prevent damage to the rudder. Thus, the left side became known as the port side. Port used to be called larboard, from the middle English ladeborde, which referred to the loading side of the ship.

Question : On a ship, what runs bow to stern on the port side, from stern to bow on the starboard side, and runs port to starboard on the stern. The ship’s name.

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Something to laugh at:

I was having dinner with Garry Kasporov (world chess champion) and there was a check tablecloth. It took him two hours to pass me the salt.

So I said to the doctor. 'People keep taking the Mickey out of me because I keep thinking I'm a cricket ball. 'The doctor said 'Howzat?' I said, don’t you start.

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Be warned:, anecdotes regarding some members are likely to appear in this column from time to time.

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I have been told by a reliable source, that if anyone wants to hide their good sunglasses, just ask the Vice President. Presumably he had been looking everywhere for his expensive brand of sunnies, and was getting quite agitated, whilst retracing his steps, in places he had been that morning, until another member of the Friends group suggested, have you looked on your head lately !!

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Department Of Sport & Recreation:

Removal of all asbestos material from the Fumigation and Shower Blocks has now been completed, and noticeable white ant damage can now be seen in the Shower Block.
A special thank you must go to the Management and Staff at DSR for their assistance during the year, it is always greatly appreciated.

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100 Years ago:

3rd January 1912 Captain Otway Frederick Seymour Cuffe, aged 58, Passenger on the S.S. Seydlitz, died of septic pneumonia syncope at a Private Hospital in South Fremantle. Cremated on 4th January at Woodman Point Quarantine Station. Buried at Fremantle Cemetery on 8th January (Site A3 0840). Cuffe, a Captain of Rifles, was twice Mayor of Kilkenny and a Groom of Privy Chamber. He became ill on board and was sick for nine days before death.

The West Australian August 21st 1912
Tenders for Public Works.-The following was the lowest tender for the under mentioned public work contracts:- Jetty extension at Woodman Point Quarantine Station, Davis, Hankinson and Co. (Perth) £548

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60 Years ago:

The Canberra Times Saturday 26 July 1952
The Italian migrant vessel, Castel Bianco, which is the second ship to call in two days with Italian migrants, reached Fremantle today with 1018 passengers. Of this number 90 disembarked at Fremantle. They were taken to the Quarantine Station at Woodman Point, where they were disinfected as a precaution against introduction of foot and mouth disease into Australia. The 650 assisted migrants aboard are all single men.

The Canberra Times Thursday 7 August 1952
Carrying 851 migrants, mostly Italians the Panamanian migrant ship "Florentia" reached Fremantle today from Naples. The 38 who disembarked were taken to the Quarantine Station at Woodman Point, where they were disinfected as precaution against the introduction of foot and mouth disease into Australia. Three quarters of the migrants are single Italians who have come out under the assisted passage scheme

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"We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give.”

“You can't change the wind, you can however adjust your sails."

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Cheerio for now
the Caretaker