From 1931to 1970 if standing on the Mudgee Railway Station you would have noticed both passengers and freight trains, on occasions, having a special rear carriage attached.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
This was a Baby Health Clinic car, which had been set up to give guidance to country mothers by Sisters of the Far West Children’s Health Scheme. The Sisters assisted mothers in the regular and meticulous care particular in weighing and feeding their babies.
The Clinic Car stopped at all railways stations being diverted to the second line near to the platform.
Stops were also made at sidings, fettler and construction camps where mothers and their babies congregated to receive advice and care.
Where necessary the Sisters made referrals to local doctors, and if required arranged for special treatment at the Far West Childrens Health Clinic at Manly. The Sisters also conducted mother craft classes for older girls in local schools.
Each Clinic carriage had a living room at one end for the Clinic Sister with a small kitchen, containing a two ring gas unit, steel sink, built in cupboards and a refrigerator.
There was also a Sister’s bedroom with a tiny bathroom over which in the ceiling there were two drums of water.
The remainder of the car made up the Clinic, with a special corner for breast feeding and a weighing scales.
Also there was a large desk for the Sister and comfortable seating accommodation for mothers and babies, plus a small cabinet of library books. Fortunately the roof was specifically insulated.
In most centres the ladies of the local Far West Health Scheme considered it dangerous for the Clinic Sister to be residing overnight in an area unlit and not protected.
Therefore in some locations the Sisters stayed at a private home or had their hotel expenses paid by a local committee. In Coolah the Clinic Sister generally boarded at the now called “Black Stump” hotel, the manager Frank Johnston personally meeting the cost.
The move for the establishment of Baby Health Centre Trains started early in 1924 in Cobar.
The Methodist Church minister there was Stanley Drummond He travelled extensively across the Western Plains to visit his people. He came into contact with many children on lonely farms who often needed a doctor’s care.
They had little chance of being taken hundred of miles. Some of them needed to go to specialists in Sydney.
Thus was born the Far West Home for children at Manly, where the children could have a holiday, and receive medical attention at the same time.
The suggestion was then made that Health Clinics be set up in the country to help mothers and babies, supplemented by the introduction of mobile rail clinics.
In 1930 with the co-operation of the Department of Railways one of its railway carriages was converted into a Baby Health Clinic with accommodation for the Clinic Sister.
It firstly operated on the Cobar line being shunted off at intervening stations for a few days.
A fourth Clinic car was eventually put into service, covering most country lines in the State.
By the 1960s the number of Clinic cars had decreased, as many of the towns had constructed their own Baby Health Clinics.
Mudgee did not have to rely to any great extent upon stays of the Baby Health Clinic Train for it constructed its own Baby Health Clinic in 1926, added improvements in 1935 and in 1954 provided additional rooms and a flatette for the sister in charge.
In my future releases I anticipated articles relating to the following special trains visiting Dunedoo and Coolah:- The Great White Commercial Train, the Better Farming Train, the Railway Dental Train, the War 11 Recruiting Train and if more information comes available, the Museum Train.