A TRIP TO HOSPITAL

I can still remember as a child being admitted to hospital to have my tonsils and adenoids removed. I was about four years old at the time and the memory is a very vivid one.

In those days it was it was a very different scenario to an admission for the same procedure today. In today’s scenario you would be admitted today and home tomorrow. Back then you were admitted for four or five days. It was also not encouraged for parents to visit whilst you were a patient as it is today when parents stay with their child around the clock.

I don’t recall having any preparation for my visit to the Mater. On the appointed morning I was taken by my parents to the hospital. Dad would not have had a car back then so I am not really sure how we got there. What I do remember was being dressed in my pyjamas and dressing gown. My dressing gown was pale green chenille with yellow and pink flowers on the bottom. Mum tells me that she made this for me by cutting down one of her old dressing gowns as was the practice at the time.

I remember waiting in the waiting room where there was a very large grandfather type clock which I found fascinating. My name was called and I was told to go with the nice lady. Being the good little girl I was, (back then) off I went without a backward glance to where Mum and Dad were waiting. They told me however that they would be waiting right there for me.

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I remember being on a trolley and being wheeled into theatre (although I did not know this was what was happening at the time) and a doctor asking me what my favourite thing was and I told him fairies. He asked me what colour fairies I liked and I told him pink and purple. He then told me he was going to help me go to sleep and I would dream about the fairies. There was no explanation as there would be today about a mask being put over my face. I told him I was not sleepy and he said I would go to sleep very soon because he was magic. I remember the mask being placed over my face and floating away. I really do think I dreamt about the fairies.

I woke up in a strange bed with someone else pyjamas on and I felt like someone had lit a fire in my throat. I was not allowed out of bed for the next few days and was fed on jelly, junket and foul tasting broth.

I remember trying to ask were was my mum and being told not to talk. Now those of you who know me well will realise that this was a massive challenge.

After a few days I was finally told I would be going home. Now I expected to be taken back to the room with the grandfather clock but I was taken in a wheelchair to a waiting ambulance to be taken home. There were two or three other passengers sitting in the back of the ambulance and when they had been dropped off the driver asked me if I wanted to hear the siren. Well it had all been worth it as we came along the streets near my home with the siren ringing. I say ringing because it was a bell clanging as we approached home.

Convalescence followed for a few weeks after this and I remember home made jelly and mum’s home made ice cream (Oh what a treat).

 

Further history of the Jennings Family

It has been some time since I posted anything to the site I think mainly due to the surgery to repair my arthritic hip and the complications which have ensued in the recovery phase. I am hoping to amend that and continue to provide updates on my family history research. Today's offering is about my great grandfather's brother Jeremiah Jennings. Jeremiah was an interesting character, he worked as a coal miner, served on the Adamstown Municipal Council as an alderman and was Mayor from 1896 -1897.

Jeremiah Jennings

Jeremiah Jennings was born in Arbut, Galway, Ireland in about 1858.  He was the oldest child of Thomas and Bridget Jennings.  As  an eight-year-old he travelled to Australia with his parents and two younger brothers on board the vessel Sirocco, arriving in 28/1/1864.

When Jeremiah set sail for Australia  he was accompanied by his parents and his two younger brothers, William (1861-1931) and John (1863-1911).  Jeremiah’s father Thomas, had a sister Bridget, residing in the Colony who sponsored the family’s migration allowing them to travel as Assisted Passengers on the voyage.

Once in the Colony the family had four more children Thomas (1865 – 1866), Patrick (1867-1940), Mary (1869-1869) and Michael William (1870 – 1943).

At the age of 19, on 3rd November 1877,  Jeremiah married Elizabeth Hamilton (nee Gore) (who was 26)at St Mary’s Roman Catholic Church in Newcastle.   Elizabeth was born on 14th December 1851.  She was the daughter of Arthur Herbert Gore (1818 – 1878 ) and Mary Anne Hodstone (1833 – 1868).  Following her mother’s death in 1868, two of Elizabeth’s younger siblings, William(6 years)and John Thomas (4 years) were given over to the care to the Randwick Children’s Asylum.  Elizabeth’s father it would appear was in gaol at the time.

Elizabeth had been married previously to Richard Hamilton (1848-1874) and brought two children to the relationship.   John “Dinny” Hamilton (1872-1955),  - married Louisa Wilson and Helena Miler.  Dinny was a member of Adamstown Rosebuds Soccer Club for 66 years and was known in the Club as the "Grand Old Man". Marion May “Cissy” Hamilton (1874 – 1947). Married Albert Bramley 

Together Elizabeth and Jeremiah had 10 children.

Margaret M - 1878 - 1915 married John Holloway

Alice Maude 1880 - 1946 married William S Stone

Frederick James 1881- 1971 married Anastasia Flavey

Florence Bridget 1883- 1963 married Thomas Nolan - their grandson Vincent Farrell was killed whilst a prisoner of war in World War 11

Elizabeth Catherine 1887 - 1960 married Richard James Cox

William Patrick 1888 - 1977 married Margaret McKee (served NSW Police for 38 years rising to the rank of Inspector)

Christina Casina 1890 - 1891

Jeremiah A 1892 - 1952 married Lillian McElroy ( known as Bull Jennings and had a promising soccer career but ub 1918 suffered a bullet wound to the leg. He was the leading groundsman at Jubilee Oval Kograh)

Casina Ellen 1894 -1949 married Henry Turnbull

In January 1880 Jeremiah was sentenced to one month’s imprisonment in Maitland Goal for assault at Adamstown – Newcastle Morning Herald and Miners Advocate, Friday 16th January 1880.

In 1894 Jeremiah was involved in a strange case of stone throwing. It would appear a neighbour’s son had been throwing stones at his home for some weeks.  When the identity of the stone thrower was discovered the matter was brought before he courts and the culprit found guilty and chose gaol over the paying the fines imposed.  Newcastle Morning Herald and Miners' Advocate (NSW : 1876 - 1954) Wednesday 11th April 1894 page 7 

Jeremiah worked as a coal miner. In 1898 he was overcome by carbon monoxide whilst assisting in the recovery of 15 bodies at the Dudley Pit. The newspaper report states that he was bought to the surface in an unconscious condition and had to be attended by several doctors.  Elizabeth was present at the pithead and also had to be treated by doctors as she went into hysterics. Newcastle Morning Herald and Miners Advocate 

In 1903 the miner’s lodge organised a benefit concert for him and the family, which had a very successful result.  At that time Jeremiah had injured his back and had been unable to work for over 12 months.  Newcastle Morning Herald and Miners Advocate, Thursday 25th January 1900

He served several terms as and Alderman and Mayor of the Adamstown Council.  He was also active on the management of the Adamstown School of Arts as well as an active interest in Mining Lodges. Jeremiah served as Mayor of Adamstown Municipal Council from 11/2/1896 – 8/2/1897

He was the Manager of the Adamstown Rosebuds Soccer Club, in particular at the time of the winning  1909 State Cup team.  Two of his sons William and Arthur, were members of the team and his stepson, Denis Hamilton was the Secretary of the Club. 

Jeremiah and Elizabeth resided in Adamstown and had a small cottage on the shores of Black Ned’s Bay at Swansea. 

The latter part of their life was spent in the home of their daughter Cassie and her husband, Harry Turnbull, at Cardiff.

Elizabeth died on 12th December 1942. At the time of her death the Newcastle Herald reported that she left 125 direct descendants – 13(?) children, 61 grandchildren, 50 great grandchildren and 1 great, great grandchild.  Jeremiah died on 16th May 1947.  They are both buried in Sandgate Cemetery