1887 to 1912 - Working
Staff in the 1890s
Three cottages, a school, and play-rooms, with kitchen and out-buildings were erected on the grounds of the Kew Asylum, thus providing accommodation for sixty children, and these were opened for use on the 19th of May, 1887, by the transfer of children from the adult asylums ... The staff was made up of attendants appointed for the general work of the department, and who disliked the work, for which, indeed, they had neither training nor aptitude. Fortunately a head-teacher, who had been employed for eight years at the Royal Albert Institution in the north of England, was obtained, and so we were able to start in the right direction. After a time it was arranged that all appointments should be made direct to the Idiot Asylum itself in place of drawing from the general staff of the department, and this was found to be a marked improvement.
James V McCreery, 'Idiocy and Juvenile Insanity in Victoria',
Intercolonial Medical Congress of Australasia. Transactions of the Third Session, held in Sydney, New South Wales, September, 1892, page 665.
Idiot Asylum - Staff
I have always carried on the medical duties with such assistance as was necessary from the staff of the Main Asylum at Kew. The staff of the main Asylum attend to the statutory and non-medical clerical work, and assistance is given by the Farm Bailiff, Engineer and Storeman. This arrangement has resulted in considerable saving in the working expenses.
Male Head Teacher - Has general control over the boys' schoolrooms and sees that the Attendants and Male Artisans carry out their duties in a proper manner.
Female Head Teacher - Has general control over the girls' schoolrooms and sees that the nurses and female artisans carry out their duties in a proper manner.
These officers have only time to supervise the schools; the actual teaching has to be done by the Assistant Teachers.
Assistant Teachers - There are four of these officers; one male and one female for the boys and two female for the small boys and girls. The school work includes drill and physical culture, and is very important for both the health and the training of the children. The classes are at present too large but in view of the present state of the finances I have not asked for an increase in the number of teachers.
Senior Nurse and Senior Attendant - These officers assist the Head Teachers in the general management of the institution and take sub-charge during their absence.
Male Artisans - Carpenter, Painter and Cook - Engaged in the work of their trades.
Female Artisans - Female Cook and three Laundresses employed in the Laundry work.
Attendants and Nurses - The 12 Attendants and 21 Nurses are engaged in attending to the children and doing any work required about the Asylum. These are allowed at the usual rate of 1 to 10 patients, with two Attendants and two nurses for extra leave. A special arrangement has been approved by the Public Service Commissioner of allowing Female Nurses in the Male Hospital in the place of three Male Attendants which does not increase the cost.
Nearly a third of the children are epileptic many others so feeble or backward that they are unable to feed themselves or attend to their wants and a number of the brighter children are dirty in their habits. The work of the nursing and laundry staff is therefore very heavy.
Inspector of Asylums to Under Secretary, November 1902, PROV, VPRS 3992/P, Unit 904, 1902/P10542.
© State of Victoria - Reproduced with the permission of the Keeper of Public Records, Public Record Office Victoria, Australia.
‘Overcrowded and undermanned’
The Idiot Asylum has been and is at present overcrowded and undermanned. An ordinary healthy infant is the work of a nurse and the Helpless Idiot Children require a great deal more attention than the present attendants, nine (9) in number altogether, can possibly give them. The accommodation for the Nursing Staff being at present quite full, the additions to the nursing staff would require additional quarters being built. These should be done without delay ...
Official Visitors Report, 5 October 1896, PROV, VPRS 3992/P, Unit 636, 96/8382.
© State of Victoria - Reproduced with the permission of the Keeper of Public Records, Public Record Office Victoria, Australia.
I beg very respectfully to ask for an increment in my salary - I was appointed Female Head Teacher here 6 years ago, and during that time I have not received any increment. When I came here first the number of Patients was 36 - but now there are 100, and consequently the work has greatly increased, and the responsibility has become much heavier. I should therefore feel very grateful if you would give my application your kind and favourable consideration.
Mrs G E Davies to the Medical Superintendent, Kew Lunatic Asylum, 10 October 1896, PROV, VPRS 3992/P, Unit 637, 96/D8651.
© State of Victoria Reproduced with the permission of the Keeper of Public Records, Public Record Office Victoria, Australia.
I beg to resign my position here as Female Head Teacher.
I have the honour to be, Sir,
Your most obedient Servant
Gertrude G.E. Davies
___
Mrs Davies wishes to leave on the 31st of December
MG
Resignation, Mrs Davies to the Medical Superintendent, 17 October 1896, PROV, VPRS 3992/P, Unit 704, 98/H1926.
© State of Victoria Reproduced with the permission of the
Keeper of Public Records, Public Record Office Victoria, Australia.
Gentlemen
I wish to bring under your notice in the hope of receiving redress, grievances that I think you will consider well founded
Firstly
I wish to complain of the very poor salary I receive considering the work & duty I perform.
I receive £70 per annum from which £16 is deducted for rations. I have been in the service on this salary over (3) three years. I do the ordinary duties of an Attendant (sometimes the duties appertaining to Idiots are none too pleasant) & in the absence of the Senior Attendant or his relief I perform senior duties. I work at my trade (carpenter & joiner) daily & under the Head Teacher's supervision I overseer the patients at the different occupations carried on in our workshop viz Carpentering, Tailoring, Matmaking, Bootrepairing & Wickerwork. Considering that the work done in the workshop must go a very long way towards making the Idiot Asylum self supporting for the mats used in all the Victorian Asylums are made in this workshop. The boots requiring repairs for the whole of the patients in this institution male & female over 200 in number are also done here. Baskets are also made & repaired & nearly all the clothing (coats, trousers and vests) & mostly all repairs in Carpentering in the Male Division are repaired here & and visit to the place will show joiner's work & new additions of carpenter's work done by one. I am also in charge of the whole of the Stock in the Workshop yet I receive the lowest pay of the lowest grade viz £4.10. & rations per month for about 66 hrs of labour or duty each week.
Such a low salary as £54 could not surely have been intended to continue from year to year by those responsible for this low rate of pay, their intention must have been for increments annually yet increase of pay so far is unknown to me though I have passed the examination in “Nursing” as far as it has been gone into in our division & to the best of my power have qualified for both increments & promotion. I may state that I passed the non-clerical examination about 7 years ago & that I registered for the position of carpenter (for which I passed & obtained the necessary Certificate of Competency) under the provisions of the Discipline Act.
I ask you, gentlemen, to procure for me position & salary consistent with the duties I perform.
... I have the honor to be
Gentlemen
Your most obedient
servant
D G Gray
Letter, D G Gray to the Board appointed to inquire into Anomalies and to re-classify the Public Service of Victoria, 28 February 1898, PROV, VPRS 3992/P, Unit 704, 98/G1990.
© State of Victoria Reproduced with the permission of the Keeper of Public Records, Public Record Office Victoria, Australia.
Sir
I have the honor to report that the present system of appointing male attendants to the Idiot Asylum is unsatisfactory. These appointments are now made from the list of persons who have passed the non-clerical examination. The work in connection with idiot children requires special qualifications which are possessed by very few persons, and therefore a careful selection is necessary which cannot be made under present conditions. I would beg to recommend that the Public Service Board be asked to exempt all Male Attendants for the Idiot Asylum from passing the non-clerical examination, in the same way that the female nurses of this Branch are now exempted.
___
I do not think any modification of the non-clerical examination would improve matters. The work of the Idiot Asylum is very special, and it is found in practice that very few persons can or will do it. I sometimes hear of suitable men, but as they cannot be taken on, they drift away to other employments. The only way to meet the difficulty is as far as I can see to have the attendants exempted as suggested.
Inspector of Asylums to Under Secretary, 11 October 1901 and 22 October 1901, PROV, VPRS 3992/P, Unit 862, 1901/011967.
© State of Victoria Reproduced with the permission of the Keeper of Public Records, Public Record Office Victoria, Australia.
Staff Training
Sir
I have the honor to report that lectures on nursing have been given in all the Asylums, and no attendants presented themselves for examination, it was thought best to adopt a somewhat low standard at first so that the rejections were but few. The same attendants will be expected to present themselves for the second examination at the end of the current year, when a full practical examination should be held. If the system of training attendants is to be successful, it must be either made compulsory or inducements given to the attendants to qualify themselves. In the cases of probationers I would recommend that attendance on instruction and the passing of a first examination be made compulsory and that in the case of attendants on permanent staff knowledge of nursing together with general good conduct and seniority, should be the basis of promotion. I would beg strongly to recommend that the knowledge of nursing should be essential for further appointments of the position of Matron or Head Attendant.
I have the honor to be
Sir
Your most obedient servant
J McCreery
Inspector of Lunatic Asylums
Inspector to Under Secretary, 28 January 1876, PROV, VPRS 3992/P, Box 609, File 96/C724.
© State of Victoria Reproduced with the permission of the Keeper of Public Records, Public Record Office Victoria, Australia.
No 10 Mary Mercer
When did you last see an epileptic fit?
-
This morning.
At what time?
-
About a quarter to nine.
Where was the patient?
-
In the day room.
Boy or girl?
-
Girl.
What age?
-
About 11.
Tell me exactly what you saw. I suppose the child was dressed?
-
Yes. She got hold of someone.
Of what?
-
Of another patient.
Yes, and then?
-
She screamed and loosened her hold of the patient. I laid her down and loosened the clothes around her neck.
You have not told me she got a fit.
-
It was coming on when she caught hold of the child. I loosened her hold. She became unconscious, respiration was interfered with.
Yes - What did you do with her?
-
Placed her on the floor and unfastened the clothes round her neck; put my arm under her head.
And her face?
-
Was discoloured, bluish, and her eyes turned towards the right side; all the right side seemed affected, and gradually the muscles were unstrained and the arm jerked towards the body.
Was the left side jerked at all?
-
No, it was not moved at all; and her eyes were turned towards the right and she gradually regained respiration, and stertorous breathing. I placed something between her teeth to keep her from biting her tongue, the colour came back into her face and respiration was restored.
Extract, Notes of Oral Examinations 1903, PROV, VPRS 3992/P, Unit 937, 1903/R6991.
© State of Victoria Reproduced with the permission of the Keeper of Public Records,
Public Record Office Victoria, Australia.
Nursing lectures and demonstrations were given by the Medical Officers during the year, and the results obtained at the annual examinations were very satisfactory. The gold medal presented by you annually to the senior candidate passing the best examination was won by a nurse at the Idiot Asylum, Mary J Grant.
I have the honor to be
Sir
Your obedt Servant
J McCreery
Inspector of Lunatic Asylums
Report of the Inspector-General of the Insane 1912,
Victoria Papers Presented to Parliament, Vol. II, 1913-14, 30.