Paediatric Care at the Newcastle Mater Hospital - Sr. Mary Barnabas - 11 Aug 1989 by UONCC

Interview by Elaine Perry in 1989 with Sr. Mary Barnabas Gardiner about the end of an era Paediatric Care at the Newcastle Mater Hospital. Sr. Mary Barnabas was born in Quirindi in 1934, she started her training to be a sister in 1952 and came to Newcastle's Mater Hospital in 1956. The Sisters of Mercy were instrumental in setting up the Mater hospital in 1921, the site chosen by the Superior who happen to be on the train passing Waratah and whilst in discussion with a priest about a suitable site for a new hospital the priest happened to look out the window and noticed the 'Enmore Hall' at Waratah was for sale. It was this location that was chosen of the Mater Hospital. The new hospital had a children's ward, it was established with funds donated by Mr Longworth. The unit became the major referral centre for paediatrics in the Hunter Region, however in 1991 all children's services were transferred to the new Rankin Park Unit. Sr. Barnabas discusses her years working at the Mater Hospital, the childhood illnesses and changing treatments. She also talks about changes to education and nurse training, the profession in general and new areas of medicine such as radiotherapy, oncology services and the hospice that are now part of the services at the Mater Hospital.

The Margaret Henry Oral History Archive is a collection of audio tapes, transcripts, summaries and essays that were part of the Oral Histories Open Foundation Course (1986-1989). Margaret Henry was a history lecturer at the UON in the 1980s.

The oral history tapes have been digitised by Cultural Collections, UON Library and made freely available to the wider global research community thanks to the generosity of The Vera Deacon Regional History Fund.

The wider collection of Margaret Henry Oral History Archive – over 220 in total and with many stories of Newcastle, the Hunter Valley and its surrounds and records voices describing the Regions cultural, intellectual and social life. It is an incredible legacy to Margaret Henry.

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