Sister Hollins and Sister Lewis and the Pakenham Infant Welfare Centre

In 2012 a  new Childrens Centre opened in Pakenham, called the Hollins Children Centre.  It has two kindergarten rooms, a toy Library, a meeting room and rooms for the Infant Health nurse.  When Councils and developers are looking for appropriate names for new buildings, parks, streets or other infrastructure, they sometimes contact Local History Societies or me, when I was the  Local History Librarian at Casey Cardinia Libraries, for ideas. At times, they decide that the  name we suggest is a suitable name and this was the case with the Hollins Children Centre. I was reading through the Souvenir Booklet from the Back to Pakenham celebrations held in March 1951 which has the history of various institutions in Pakenham, including the Infant Welfare Centre. The article mentioned that Sister Hollins and Sister Lewis were the first nurses involved with infant welfare in the area, so I suggested  that the new Centre could honour the nurses and in the end it was decided to call  the centre after Sister Hollins. I was very excited and thrilled that the Cardinia Shire Council selected one of 'my names' and I attended the official opening on November 20, 2012.

I first wrote this post in December 2012, for my work blog, Casey Cardinia Links to our Past, and this is an updated and expanded version of my original post.

This is the information from the Souvenir Booklet -
Infant Welfare Centre
Infant welfare work was unknown in the Pakenham district till Sister Hollins(who was in charge of the Pakenham Bush Nursing Hospital) took upon herself the task of trying to get mothers interested in this work. Using one of the single bed wards in the hospital, Sister Hollins started her task in 1934 by persuading mothers as they left the hospital after their babies were born to come back regularly to have their infants weighed and measured and to ask for any advice they might need. Although this was not an easy job, trying to persuade the mothers to come (their mothers managed without health centres, etc), they soon realised what a help the Health Centre was to them, as they could follow their babies' progress week by week. This necessitated moving out of the hospital to a separate room, which was made available adjoining the nurses' sleeping quarters. This room was officially opened at the end of 1935 by Dr. Scantlebury-Brown, accompanied by Sister Muriel Peck. Sister Lewis was then officially appointed Infant Welfare sister for the district, which later extended through the Berwick Shire. In these days there was no modern equipment, and apart from the scales (which were owned by Sister Lewis) the rest of the very limited equipment was made and got together by both Sisters Hollins and Lewis. Sister Lewis carried on in her cramped quarters till she thought the mothers should have a more up-to-date centre in which to have their babies attended to. So at a public meeting convened by Sister Lewis on May 11, 1945, a committee was formed for the object of raising money to build this so badly needed modern centre. So much interest was shown that by February, 1949, this building in the main street was ready to be used. It was officially opened in March, 1949, by Dr Barbara Meredith, Director of Infant Welfare and Maternal Hygiene. It is a pleasure to visit the centre each week with its modern equipment and heating arrangements, and we have much to thank Sister Hollins and Sister Lewis for, for their tireless work and the interest they created throughout this district in infant welfare work. (1)

The only information I had initially on Sister Hollins and Sister Lewis were their surnames but I found out their full names from the Electoral Rolls (2) -   Lillian Ada Hollins was in 1936 Electoral rolls at the Pakenham Bush Nursing Hospital and Muriel Mary Lewis in the 1937 Electoral rolls also at the Hospital. We'll look at the life of Sister Lewis and then Sister Hollins. 

Pakenham Bush Nursing Hospital. The Hospital officially opened February 11, 1928.

Image: courtesy of David Bourke

Sister Muriel May Lewis

Muriel May Lewis was born in 1901 in North Carlton, to Thomas and Hannah Eliza (nee Dinning) Lewis; a sister Beatrice Isabella was born in Beechworth in 1904. (3)

We can get a sense of Muriel's early life from her father's obituary, who died in October 1928 -
Mr Thomas Lewis - It is with genuine regret that we have to record the death, at his residence, Camberwell, on Wednesday night, of Mr. Thomas Lewis, retired inspector of police, at the age of 60½  years. The deceased, who left the force about six months since, had been in good health till about a month ago, when he contracted a cold which developed into pneumonia, and though carefully nursed, he eventually succumbed to the attack. Very few members of the Victorian police had as fine a record as Mr. Lewis has, though he did not unduly harass the public, he succeeded in maintaining law and order wherever stationed, gaining the appreciation of the public and the warm commendation of his superiors. It is some 15 years since he was attached to the force at Beechworth, subsequently removing to Benalla where he was occupied by clerical duties in the Superintendent's office. Promotion to the rank of sergeant was followed by duty at Kerang, whence he was transferred to Ascot Vale where, after two years, he passed on to Russell Street, ranking as inspector. Here he was, as in his previous positions, highly respected. Reaching the age of 60 in the early part of this year, he retired, and having made a comfortable home, earned a well deserved rest. Sympathy from all who knew Mr. Lewis goes out to his wife and two daughters. On Friday his remains were laid to rest in the Wangaratta cemetery beside those of his parents. (4)

Muriel Lewis first appeared in the Electoral rolls in 1922 and 1924 when she was a trainee nurse at the Royal Children's Hospital and she successfully passed the  Royal Victorian Trained Nurses' Association’s examination in May 1924.

Muriel Lewis - one of the successful candidates.

Ballarat Star, June 24, 1924  http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article214259835 

In the 1925 and 1927 Electoral Rolls, after she was qualified, she was living at 37 St Leonards Avenue, Ascot Vale with her parents. The 1931 rolls show Muriel and Hannah living at 99 Highfield Road, Camberwell. I believe it was in 1934 that Muriel began employment at the Pakenham Bush Nursing Hospital where she was also the Infant Welfare Sister for the Pakenham District. (5)  In March 1945 she was appointed the full-time Baby Health Sister for the entire Berwick Shire, a position which she held until around October 1948 when Muriel became the Matron of the Koo Wee Rup Memorial Hospital. (6) However it appears that Infant Welfare work was her true calling and in May 1951, she returned to the Shire of Berwick as the Infant Welfare Centre Sister. (7)

Sister Lewis returns to Infant Welfare work

Dandenong Journal, May 9 1951 https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/222352204

Some statistics provided by Sister Lewis in 1952.

Dandenong Journal, January 23, 1952 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article222356832

Sister Muriel Lewis on the left with the women of the Berwick Infant Welfare Committee.

Weekly Times August 25, 1954 https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/224445390

I believe Sister Lewis held that position at the Berwick Shire until late 1954. In the 1954 and 1963 Electoral Rolls, Muriel was back at 99 Highfield Road with Hannah, and in 1968 in 33 Abercrombie Street, Deepdene, which is where she was living when she passed away on March 23, 1970. She is buried at Springvale Cemetery. Hannah passed away in 1963, aged 91 (8). 

Death notice of Sister Lewis

The Age, March 24, 1970 page 23 from newspapers.com

Sister Lillian Ada Clarissa Hollins
Lillian Ada Clarissa Hollins was born in 1899, in Bath, England to Percival and Ada (nee Hounsell) Weare. She was married on March 15, 1919 in Bath to Australian soldier, Lieutenant Roy Digby Hollins, who was about 28 at the time. The couple arrived in Australia in December 1919 and lived in Williamstown, then Dalyston and in March 1921 he took up a block of land at Red Cliffs. Lillian lived with Roy on occasions and in 1926/1927 returned to England for ten months to visit her father. On her return she lived with Roy for some months, then moved to Mildura to work at a private hospital. Lilian wrote to Roy in April 1928 saying she would not be returning to Red Cliffs and she moved to Melbourne to train as a nurse at the Alfred Hospital. We know all this because in October 1930 Roy filed for a divorce on the grounds of her desertion, and the information formed part of his affidavit.  He also noted in his affidavit that the cause of the trouble between the respondent and myself was that the respondent was addicted to unnatural sexual practices with other women, of which she knew I was aware. Shortly before the respondent left me I spoke to her about this matter. At such conversation the respondent evinced no inclination to desist from such practices and indicated a determination to leave me. The divorce was finalised on June 3, 1931.(9)

Interesting case - I feel for Roy that his marriage did not turn out to be 'happy ever after' on the other hand, I can see that a farm at Red Cliffs could have been very isolating and stultifying for Lillian, whether or not she was addicted to unnatural sexual practices with other women. Roy married Daisy Brownlaw in 1931 and he died in 1964. (10)  1931 was also the year that Lillian became a qualified nurse, by passing the Royal Victorian Trained Nurses' Association’s examination.

Lilian Hollins - one of the successful candidates.

The Age, December 8, 1931 https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/203718802

In the 1934 Electoral Rolls, Lillian is listed at Dunolly, employed at the District Hospital.  She started at the Bush Nursing Hospital  at Pakenham in November 1934. (11)

In July 1937, the President of the Pakenham Bush Nursing Hospital, Mr J.J. Ahern, who was also the Berwick Shire Secretary, announced that -

It was pleasing also that they might grant a small bonus each to Sister L. Hollins and Sister M. Lewis, of £5, and that was done in graceful recognition of their special services granted freely at all times. (12)

In May 1938 the Sisters took leave of absence and went to England -

Sister Hollins and Sister Lewis,  who have been on the staff of the Pakenham and District Hospital for the past three years, will shortly sail for England, where they intend to stay for 12 months. At a social held in their honor at the Mechanics' Hall on Thursday night, Messrs. R. Giles, H. Dineen and C. Smith supplied excellent music for dancing, and vocal Items were contributed by Mesdames Keable and Hobson, and Mr. H. Gee. (13)

Lillian and Muriel returned to the Hospital after their overseas trip and in January, 1942 it was reported that - 

Secretary of the Pakenham B. N. Hospital for several years past, Sister L. A. Hollins has resigned that position, and Mr S. Banbrook has been appointed in her stead. Appreciative references were made by the committee to her excellent administrative work. (14)

Perhaps it was at a Hospital meeting that Lillian and Sydney fell in love, because on  September 20, 1944 Lillian, then aged 44, married 40-year old Sydney Clifford Banbrook at the Presbyterian Church in Pakenham. On their marriage certificate, Lillian's address was Princes Highway, Pakenham East - the location of the Hospital and Sydney's was Darwin, where he was employed in the Department of Works and Housing. (15)

The Pakenham Gazette of September 29, 1944 reported on the event -

Wedding Bells - Banbrook - Hollins
At Pakenham Presbyterian Church on Wednesday of last week, in the presence of a large number of relatives and friends, Sister Lillian Ada Hollins, matron of Pakenham and District Bush Nursing Hospital, was united in marriage to Mr Sydney C. Banbrook, formerly of Berwick Shire engineer's office staff.
The Church had been beautifully decorated for the occasion by friends of the bride. Spring blossom, Iceland poppies, daffodils, etc., were effectively used in the decorative scheme.
The ceremony was performed by Rev. C. Jones, of Berwick. Mrs H.L. Keys presided at the organ.

The bride, who was given away by an old friend, Mr W. Smellie, looked charming in a frock of Air Force blue, on which was pinned a shoulder spray of blue poppies and fern. She wore a navy blue hat and navy accessories.

The bridesmaid, Sister M. Lewis, wore a blue ensemble, on which was pinned a shoulder spray of pink carnations. Her hat and accessories were grey.

Mr. H.L. Keys acted as best man.

Following the ceremony a number of guests was entertained at the wedding breakfast at Central Hotel, Beaconsfield, at which the usual felicitous toasts were honored.

After the breakfast the happy couple left by for Lakes Entrance, where the honeymoon is being spent.

The bride travelled in an olive green suit, with brown accessories.

Mr. and Mrs. Banbrook will be guest of honour at a social to be held in Pakenham Mechanics' Hall next Wednesday. (16)

The report of the social held for Lillian and Sydney was in the Pakenham Gazette of October 13, 1944. It's worth publishing in full as it praises Lillian and Muriel and shows the high regard the women were held in.

Presentation to Mr. and Mrs S. Banbrook

There was a  large and representative gathering at Pakenham Mechanics' Hall on Wednesday of last week, when  a social evening was tendered to Mr and Mrs S. Banbrook.

The programme for the evening comprised principally dancing. Much appreciated items contributed by Messrs C. Blair and E. Kennedy.

Introduced by Mr P.B. Ronald, Mrs P.F. Thwaites paid a high tribute to the work done by Sister Hollins (now Mrs Banbrook) for Pakenham Hospital. She was always ready to help the Hospital in every way. Not only was she a most capable nurse, but she was also a very good business woman. The good position of the Hospital was very largely due to her efforts. Mrs Thwaites extended to Mr and Mrs Banbrook best wished for a happy and prosperous life together.

Cr T.F. Houlihan said this was a very happy occasion - this social in honour of the newly married couple. He was sure he voiced the sentiments of the whole district in wishing them all the best. All remembered when Sisters Hollins and Lewis came to the district and the marvellous work they had done for the Hospital. There was not one patient who had been there but would, if sick again, so there instead of to a metropolitan hospital. It was a pleasure to visit there. Cr Houlihan assured Mr and Mrs Banbrook that they had the best wishes of district people for their future.

Mr J.J. Ahern, president of the Hospital Committee, said he considered it a privilege to make a presentation to Mr and Mrs Banbrook. He had been closely associated with the Hospital since its inception and recognised the outstanding service that Sisters Hollins and Lewis had given - just as all present that night recognised it, as shown by their attendance and their subscriptions towards the presentation. Ten years ago, when Sisters Hollins and Lewis came here the Hospital was in anything but  a good position. To-day it was one of the best managed  and equipped  Bush Nursing Hospitals in the State - due chiefly to the Sisters. As Sister in Charge, Sister Hollins had the confidence of the committee and the patients. More than that she had the confidence of her staff, as shown by the fact that Sister Lewis had been with her ever since she had been in charge of the Hospital and also in all those years there had been few changes in the domestic staff. Mr Banbrook, soon after he had joined the Shire Office staff,  was entrusted with very important work, which he had done particularly well. Presenting Mr and Mrs Banbrook with a wallet containing £44, Mr Ahern expressed the hope that the gift would assist them in making their home at a future date and that they would purchase something that would remind them of their stay in Pakenham. He extended best wishes to them.

In responding Mr Banbrook said he greatly appreciated their references to one who had for a long time done a wonderfully good job here.  He thanked all for their generous gift and nice remarks.

Mrs Banbrook also suitably responded. (17).

After their marriage, Sydney returned to Darwin; but in March 1945 Lillian took up the role as the Sister in Charge of the Baby Health Centres at Tatura and Kyabram for the Shire of Rodney.  Her relationship with the Council turned sour in March 1946 when she asked for an assistant to help deal with some of the administrative tasks involved with the 2000 plus visits by mothers and their babies; in the first year to March 1946, she had 227 babies on her books and by May 1946, 343 babies. (18) The Council refused this and in fact, Cr L. Cross said that the council had enough to do and that a ladies committee formed by the local CWA could help with the work. (19)

In April 1946, the Council decided to charge her £1 per week rent for the two rooms she lived in at the Tatura Infant Welfare Centre, which she refused to pay. In May that year Sister Banbrook wrote to the Council -

 “I wish to point out (1) that under Section 1 of the Registered Infant Welfare Nurses’ award any nurse required to live in shall be provided with laundry free of charge, but a sum of 20/ per week may be deducted from the wages for board and lodgings. (2) I have done all cleaning since the beginning of the centre, and am still doing so, not forgetting doing the floors, staining and polishing prior to getting linoleum, and painting two-thirds of the building. (3) Mothers ring me at all hours and week-ends, plus a great deal of night writing, for which I could claim time and a half wages." (20)

Not surprising  perhaps, Sister Banbrook resigned at the end of July 1946, the official reason was that  she was joining her husband in Darwin.  Why did she not  move to Darwin straight after her wedding? Possibly there was a shortage of accommodation suitable for married couples after the War or possibly Sydney had been posted  in some remote areas of the Northern Territory and there was no accommodation for spouses or family members.

Sister Banbrook resigns from the Shire of Rodney

Kyabram Free Press, August 2 1946 https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/270194812

Sydney died in Adelaide on October 27, 1963 and Lillian on July 30, 1965. They are buried at the North Brighton Cemetery in Adelaide. (21). As a matter of interest, even though Sydney was born in 1904 in Sydney, New South Wales, his parents Alfred Banbrook and Matilda Usher had married in Victoria in 1890 and they had three children in Victoria.  There was a short obituary for Matilda in the Dandenong Journal in January 1951 - 

We regret to learn of the death of Mrs. Matilda Banbrook, of 23 Orwell St., Potts Point, Sydney, but
formerly of Spring Vale and Dandenong. The end came at her home last Wednesday at the age of 83. Deceased was the wife of the late Alfred Banbrook, who pre-deceased her about eight years ago, and was the daughter of the late Silas and Lucy Usher, nee Jewis. She was born at Spring Vale and her remains were interred there last Monday. Rev. W. J. Clarke conducted the service and W. J. Garnar and Son carried out the funeral arrangements. (22)

Acknowledgement - The book Somebody’s baby: a history of the Pakenham and District Hospital 1926-1992 by Heather Shallard (Pakenham & District Hospital, 1992) provided useful information for this post. 

Footnotes

(1)  Souvenir Booklet: Back to Pakenham March 3-10, 1951. Published by the Back to Pakenham Committee.

(2) Electoral Rolls on Ancestry.com

(3) Indexes to the Victorian Births, Deaths and Marriages.

(4) Ovens and Murray Advertiser, October 20, 1928, see here.

(5) 1934, that was the date Sister Hollins started and various reports say her and Sister Lewis started the same year. Souvenir Booklet report, as transcribed.

(6) Dandenong Journal, March 21, 1945, see here;  Dandenong Journal, May 9 1951, see here.    

(7) Dandenong Journal, May 9 1951, see here. 

(8)  Retirement date - just a guess from the address in the Electoral rolls.

(9) Information in this paragraph is taken from Lillian Hollin's wedding certificate (to Sydney Banbrook) and the Hollins/Hollins  file from the Divorce Case Files, 1860-1940. VPRS 283 (Supreme Court of Victoria Divorce Files) available on Ancestry.com

(10) Indexes to the Victorian Births, Deaths and Marriages.

(11) Shallard,  p. 30 (see Acknowledgement for citation).

(12) Dandenong Journal, July 22, 1937, see here.

(13) Dandenong Journal, May 11, 1938, see here.

(14) Dandenong Journal, January 21, 1942, see here.

(15) Hollins/Banbrook wedding certificate; From - The Commonwealth of Australia Gazette of June 17, 1948 - the appointment of Sydney Clifford Banbrook as Engineer, Grade 2 (£522-£558), Third Division, Engineering Division, Northern Territory, be confirmed as on and from 17th October, 1947 (see here); 1949 Electoral Roll lists Stanley as a Surveyor at the Department of Works and Housing. 

(16) Pakenham Gazette, September 29, 1944, p. 1.

(17) Pakenham Gazette, October 13, 1944, p. 5.

(18) Kyabram Free Press, March 9, 1945,  see here;  See articles in my Trove list on Sister Banbrook's time with the Shire of Rodney, here.

(19) Shepparton Advertiser, May 28, 1946, see here.

(20)  Kyabram Free Press, May 31, 1946, see here.

(21)  SA Genealogy https://www.genealogysa.org.au/ ; Find a Grave https://www.findagrave.com/

(22) Dandenong Journal, January 24, 1951, see here.