The newsletter of the St Vincent's Clinic Community
In this issue
Welcome
1
Easter Reflection
2
Giving Tree Appeal 2014
2
A/Prof Nicholas Brennan
3
Alumni Dinner
4
It's our 25th Anniversary
4
Australia Day Honours
5
St Vincent's Clinic Christmas Party
6
Melveta James' success in Perth
7
Media Protocols
8
New Cardiology Technology
9
Walla Mulla Partnership
9
Sisters of Charity Outreach
10
Vale Dr Tom Claffey
11
Art About the Clinic
11
Letter of Appreciation
12
St Vincent's Clinic News
13
Yesteryear at St Vincent's
14
Fire Safety Quiz
15
Recipe
16
Welcome
Welcome to the first edition of the Clinic Cable for 2015.
A very big thank you to those who contributed to the Giving
Tree (2135 presents donated on the Campus), the donations
to the Safe Haven Appeal (over $6000) and the 91 donations
to the EAVP Gifts for the Elderly Program. Your generous
contributions helped to brighten the lives of many people at
Christmas.
This year will be a year of celebration – St Vincent’s Clinic and Sisters of Charity
Outreach will have been operational for 25 years and everyone can be very proud
of their achievements over that 25 year period. Upcoming issues of The Clinic
Cable will feature articles related to the celebrations.
Sisters of Charity Outreach opened the celebrations with their Opening Mass on
22 February 2015. The mass was celebrated by father Darryl Mackie and was well
attended. All the Executive Directors of Outreach took the time to reflect, record
their memories of Outreach and celebrate the achievements. One of Outreach’s
services – Safe Haven – also celebrates a milestone in 2015 – 20 years of operation.
As part of the 25 Year celebrations we have engaged an archivist to assist us with
documenting the history of the Clinic. We would welcome any contributions to the
collection – documents, pictures and memorabilia. Please contact the Executive
Office if you wish to make a contribution.
In this issue Father Darryl Mackie reflects on the message of hope and possibilities
for change contained in the Easter story.
Planning for the new St Vincent’s Private Hospital Development is well underway
and we thank those who have provided, and continue to provide, valuable input
into the design process. After many years of planning, the St Vincent’s Community
Hospital at Griffith has commenced construction and a sod turning ceremony was
held in Griffith on 1 March to mark the occasion.
We would like to congratulate our colleagues who received awards in the recent
Australia Day Honours list: A/Prof Raymond Garrick, Dr David Golovsky, A/Prof
Phillip Stricker and Professor Dennis Wakefield.
We look forward to celebrating this important year with all our colleagues
A/Prof Janet Rimmer,
Chair - St Vincent’s Clinic
An Easter Reflection
By Darryl Mackie
He is Risen!
There is an Aboriginal legend that tells the story of an aboriginal tribe
that settled along a mighty river. It was teeming with all kinds of fresh
water creatures that sustained the people and provided much security
and well-being for them. They lived happily along its banks. Then,
one day, almost without warning, a big flood came and submerged
everything in its path. The people evacuated to dry land. When the
flood subsided they went back and resettled where they used to live.
On their return they found that things were not quite the same after
the great flood. The river flow became weaker and weaker. What was
once a mighty river was gradually reduced to a billabong. The people
sat around its edge and wondered what had become of their once
mighty and life-giving river. It was all very sad and depressing until
some of them decided to go upstream and see what had happened.
On their return they made an incredible announcement that their
beloved river had not dried up, but had merely changed its course.
On that first Easter morning when the women disciples uttered
those words…He is Risen - it changed the path of history. Never has
someone nor will anyone ever return from the dead. These three
words will inspire and encourage people like the Sisters of Charity, to
bring the ministry of healing and hope to those who follow in their
charism. The tomb is empty so that we must encourage hope and life.
Happy Easter!!
Giving Tree Appeal
2014 Thank You!
The 2014 Giving Tree Appeal
was an outstanding success with
2135 gifts generously donated to
underprivileged children by staff
and visitors across the Darlinghurst
campus.
The gifts were distributed to children
under the care of: Amelie House,
Come in Youth Centre, St Vincent
de Paul Redfern, Vincentian House,
Gunawirra Ltd, Walla Mulla Family and
Community Support.
Approximately 30 volunteers across
the Darlinghurst Campus were
involved in collecting, sorting and
packing the gifts.
The Giving Tree appeal is an annual
event organised by the volunteer
teams on the Darlinghurst Campus
and generously supported by
2
St Vincent’s Private Hospital, St
Vincent’s Clinic and St Vincent’s
Hospital.
These outstanding results were only
possible because of the generosity of
staff and visitors across the Campus
who donated gifts. Our sincere
thanks and deepest gratitude go to
all our staff at St Vincent’s Private, St
Vincent’s Clinic, St Vincent’s Hospital
and the Kinghorn Cancer Centre for
their unwavering support and for
their generosity. We would also like
to take this opportunity to thank our
patients and visitors for their great and
generous contributions. The Giving
Tree appeal would not have been such
a great success without the joint help
of all!
Slavica Kochovska, Volunteer Services Coordinator, St
Vincent’s Private Hospital
Christine Harvey, Volunteer Services Coordinator, St
Vincent’s Hospital
Maria McNuff, Volunteer Services Coordinator, Sisters of
Charity Outreach
Just some
e of the 2135 gifts generously
ly donated to the Giving Tre
Tree
appeal 2014 by staff and visitors across the Darlinghurst Campus
Welcome A/Prof Nicholas Brennan
Associate Professor Nicholas Brennan commenced practice in Geriatric Medicine
at St Vincent’s Clinic Annex at 2 Oxford Street Paddington in February.
Dr Brennan has worked as a clinician at St Vincent’s Hospital and War Memorial
Hospital since 1998 and was Department Head of Geriatric Medical Services
at both hospitals between 2000 and 2013. During this time he oversaw the
doubling in size of in activity and staffing of the acute geriatric service, the
development of the Medical Assessment Unit at St Vincent’s, the implementation
of the Geriatric Flying Squad at War Memorial Hospital and the development of
new outpatient and community geriatric services.
Dr Brennan has started practising at the clinic to offer an alternative to treatment
in acute settings which are often oversubscribed and have long waiting lists due
to high demand for geriatricians.
Geriatricians working in outpatient settings are a relatively new concept that
gives patients the opportunity to access intensive treatment and a detailed
medical assessment.
One advantage of working at St Vincent’s Clinic is the ability to collaborate with
other specialists who are treating the patient who also work within the Clinic to
offer a holistic approach to treatment. Patients are offered guidance through the
stages of their condition alongside assistance to navigate the system in making
decisions about aged care.
Practising at St Vincent’s Clinic also allows people from all geographical areas to
access treatment. This is not possible within area based geriatric services.
Dr Brennan predicts an even greater need for geriatricians as the population
continues to age and life expectancy increases. His ongoing association with
St Vincent’s Acute Geriatric Unit, War Memorial Hospital and Waverley Aged
Care Assessment Team will allow him to provide coordinated multidisciplinary
team assessments and rehabilitation his patients attending St Vincent’s Clinic.
Associate Professor Brennan will also visit select patients at home or in residential
aged care facilities and consult at St Vincent’s Private Hospital.
He is taking referrals for geriatric assessment, diagnosis of dementia,
management of dementia, depression, Parkinson’s Disease and other
neurodegenerative conditions, including younger patients with early onset
of these conditions. He also manages falls risk assessments and prevention,
advance care planning and dealing with carer stress. He will offer two sessions
per week at St Vincent’s Clinic to address the need in geriatric services in line
with demand.
Appointments can be made by calling 8382 2494
The newsletter of the St Vincent’s Clinic community
AUTUMN 2015
3
St Vincent's Annual Alumni Dinner - 29 May
The annual St Vincent’s Campus Alumni Dinner will be
held at St Vincent’s Clinic on 29 May 2015.
This year’s guest speaker will be Dr Kelvin Kong. The first Indigenous Australian
Fellow of the Royal Australian College of Surgeons, Dr Kong specialises in
Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery.
Dr Kong is from Shoal Bay and is one of the Worimi People of Port Stephens,
north of Newcastle. He completed his Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery
at the University of New South Wales in 1999 before completing an internship
at St Vincent’s Hospital. Dr Kong worked at Westmead Hospital, John Hunter
Hospital, Gosford District Hospital and Prince of Wales Hospital before returning
to St Vincent’s for his final year of training.
Dr Kong has served rural communities, working on secondments to peripheral
hospitals
Dr Kong is part of a medical family. His mother is a nurse and his father a doctor.
His sister Marlene is a GP and her twin, Marilyn, is Australia’s first Aboriginal
Obstetrician and Gynaecologist.
Dr Kong is a champion of the improvement of Indigenous health and education
and he has been involved with numerous projects and committees to improve
both.
For further information on the function, please contact St Vincent's Clinic
Executive Office on 02 8382 6405
It’s Our 25th Anniversary!
2015 is the 25th anniversary of the opening of St Vincent’s Clinic. An anniversary celebration for the clinic will be held on 19 August 2015 so please
save the date! Details of the celebration will be included in the next edition
of the Clinic Cable. In the meantime we would like your input into remembering the last 25 years of excellence at St Vincent’s Clinic.
Archivist, Sarah O’Neill has joined us to develop the St Vincent’s Clinic archives and she would be grateful for any memorabilia you could contribute
to the preservation of the history of St Vincent’s Clinic. Photos, newsletters,
programs, booklets – anything that documents the history of the Clinic
could be included in the archives.
If you have any items that you would like to contribute, please contact the
St Vincent’s Clinic Executive Office on extension 6405 or email Samantha
Newell at [email protected]
4
Australia Day Honours recipients
Four members of the St Vincent’s community were acknowledged in the recent 2015 Australia Day Honours List presented
by the Governor General of Australia. Congratulations Associate Professor Raymond Garrick (AM), Dr David Golovsky (AM),
Associate Professor Phillip Stricker (AO) and Professor Denis Wakefield (AO).
Associate Professor Raymond Garrick was awarded Member (AM) in the General Division of
the Order Of Australia for significant service to medicine in the field of chronic pain management
and to medical education as an academic.
Associate Professor Garrick has been head of St Vincent’s and Mater Clinical School, University of
Notre Dame, since 2009. He is Conjoint Senior Lecturer in Medicine at University of New South
Wales and a former consultant tutor of the year award recipient.
He has been an Honorary Medical Officer (neurologist) at St Vincent’s Hospital since 2009. Prior to
this, he was a Visiting Medical Officer for for 27 years, Director of Neurophysiology for 10 years and
was involved in establishing an acute and chronic pain service at St Vincent’s. He was a member
of the St Vincent’s Medical Advisory Committee from 1992 to 2002, including the role of Chairman
from 1999 to 2002.
Dr David Golovsky was awarded Member (AM) in the General Division of the Order Of Australia
for significant service to medicine, particularly in the fields of urology and fertility.
Dr Golovsky worked at St Vincent’s Hospital, St Vincent's Private Hospital and St Vincent's Clinc
and is currently also compiling a history of the department. He was an Honorary Medical Officer
and Visiting Urologist at St Vincent’s Hospital from 1978 to 2008 and Head of the Department of
Urology from 1995 to 2008.
Dr Golovsky practised at St Vincent's Clinic for many years and was a member of the Scientific
Advisory Committee of St Vincent’s Foundation from 1995 to 2003.
Professor Phillip Stricker was awarded Officer (AO) in the General Division of the Order of Australia for distinguished service to medicine and medical research as a leading urologist, a robotic
surgery pioneer, a teacher and mentor and as an advocate for prostate cancer awareness.
A/Prof Stricker is Chairman of the Department of Urology at St Vincent’s Private Hospital and St
Vincent’s Clinic. In 2006 he performed the first robotic surgery undertaken in NSW. He is the Manager of the Robotic Fellowship Training Program and Research Fellowship and Director of the St
Vincent’s Prostate Cancer Council.
In 1996 A/Prof Stricker initiated the first cancer support group in Australia. He is the Director of
the Australian Prostate Cancer Research Centre NSW and the Clinical Director of Prostate Cancer
Research at the Kinghorn Cancer Centre and Clinical Head Uro-Oncology Research Unit, Garvan
Institute of NSW.
Professor Denis Wakefield was awarded Officer (AO) in the General Division of the Order of
Australia for distinguished service to medicine, particularly in the field of ocular immunology and
immunopathology as a clinician, researcher and academic.
Professor Wakefield established the first ocular immunology research unit at St Vincent’s Hospital,
the first dedicated inflammatory eye disease clinic in Australia.
He was the Associate Dean,(Research) and Director of Medical Research in the Faculty of Medicine
at the University of New South Wales from 2008 to 2014.
The newsletter of the St Vincent’s Clinic community
AUTUMN 2015
5
St Vincent's Clinic Christmas Party
St Vincent’s Clinic celebrated Christmas with a lively party in the Wintergarden Café on 3 December 2014. A great
evening was had by all and even a large thunderstorm and torrential rain couldn’t dampen the festive spirit.
Many thanks to the Wintergarden Café who did a great job hosting the party. Some photos of the celebration are
included below.
6
Melveta James awarded first prize at
Transplant Conference
Melveta James – Senior Social Worker
at St Vincent’s Hospital Transplant
Unit was awarded first prize in the
poster competition at the 2014
Transplant Nurses Conference held
in Perth. Her attendance at the
conference was made possible by
a grant from the St Vincent’s Clinic
Foundation
Melveta’s poster presentation
was titled: Beyond the Solitary
Journey – Post Transplant Support
Rehabilitation Group: “I don’t have to
do it alone.” She presented research
on how support groups can assist
transplant patients during their
treatment and recovery. She chose to
present on this topic because, in her
experience, transplantation is a very
lonely journey. “Patients do feel that
they are alone no matter how much
support they have” she said.
Melveta facilitates the weekly Post
Transplant Support Rehabilitation
The newsletter of the St Vincent’s Clinic community
group for pre and post-transplant
patients and their families which runs
two days per week. Patients attend
the group for eight weeks.
great deal. Without the grant I could
not have attended the conference.
For this I say thank you.”
Congratulations Melveta
Prior to patients joining the
program, Melveta provides a full
psychosocial assessment. She has
found that patients need practical
and emotional support from others
who are going through the same
experience as they are.
The research that Melveta presented
at the conference will benefit
patients by allowing her and her
colleagues to further understand
the emotional and psychological
processes of transplant patients. Her
success hightlights the important role
that research plays in providing the
best possible service to patients. She
is most grateful to the St Vincent’s
Clinic Foundation for funding her
attendance at the conference:
Melveta James, Senior Social Worker in the St Vincent's Hospital
Transplant Unit with her poster that was awarded first prize at the 2014
Transplant Nurses Conference 2014 in Perth
“The financial support helped me a
AUTUMN 2015
7
Media Protocols for St Vincent's Clinic Staff
As part of St Vincent’s Health Australia, St Vincent’s Clinic is bound by published media protocols. All staff are
reminded that it is a legal requirement that they work within the protocols when liaising with media.
The media is an important way for St Vincent’s Clinic to communicate with the wider community and the
prominent media profile of the organisation has contributed to the positive reputation of St Vincent’s in
Australia. For this reason, there is often media interest in the work done by St Vincent’s Clinic.
One of the key values of St Vincent’s Health Australia is respect for human dignity and in accordance with
NSW Health Privacy Manual Version II 2005, the organisation as a whole has an over-arching commitment to
protecting patient confidentiality in its dealings with media, unless there are extra-ordinary circumstances
where informed patient consent is obtained.
If you are contacted directly by the media and asked to make a statement or comment explicitly on behalf of
St Vincent’s Health Australia, they MUST seek approval from the Public Affairs and Communications Department before proceeding further. This helps to ensure that staff are appropriately supported, that all messages are communicated effectively and that the person is in a position to speak authoritatively on behalf of the
organisation.
When speaking with media in your individual capacity as representatives of external organisations or associations, it is the responsibility of the individual to make clear to the media that there is a separation between
their role and their function within St Vincent’s Clinic. No mention should be made of St Vincent’s Health
Australia or its entities or its position on the subject being discussed unless approval has been given via the
Public Affairs and Communications Department.
For more information on Media and Public Affairs, please contact Nikki Potent on extension 2132 or email
[email protected]
The St Vincent’s Health Australia Media Protocols document can be downloaded via the intranet on the Staff
Resources page at http://intranet.stvincents.com.au/svPageDocBase/uploads/331SVMHSSQL01-Doc.pdf
Tutors of the Year
Congratulations to Dr David Roy (University of New South Wales) and Dr Warren Hargraves (Notre Dame)
who were named Tutors of the Year for 2014.
Dr David Roy
8
Dr Warren Hargreaves
NSW Cardiology use ultrasound technology
to screen for heart attacks and strokes
Doctors at NSW Cardiology have discovered that a simple ultrasound could be the answer to preempting heart
attacks and strokes before they happen after a study revealed the potential of the technology to see blockages in the
arteries.
The study, published in Global Heart, suggests an ultrasound may be a more accurate way to screen those at risk of
heart attack and stroke.
Using a portable ultrasound machine, researchers detected cholesterol or 'plaque' in arteries.
Associate Professor Cameron Holloway from NSW Cardiology said the ultrasound technology had been around for
decades.
"What it does is have a look at the thickness of the wall to see if there's early plaque, and if you've got early plaque,
you're at risk," he said.
"Those people, who have early plaque are the people at high risk, so it's those people we should be suggesting statin
medications or cholesterol medications for," A/Prof Holloway said.
Risk factors for heart attack and stroke, include family history, blood pressure, diabetes, being overweight or a smoker.
This story was featured on Channel 9 news in January.
St Vincent’s Hospital Partner’s with Walla
Mulla Family & Community Support Centre
St Vincent’s Hospital has formed a partnership with Walla Mulla Family and Community Support Centre in Woolloomooloo to directly address the health inequities faced by the local indigenous community.
Cardiovascular disease such as heart disease and stroke are the most common cause of death among Australians, and
these diseases are 30% more common among Aboriginal Australians than non-indigenous citizens. These diseases are
responsible for more than half of preventable deaths in indigenous communities.
Education and access to health care can significantly reduce the incidence of disease and St Vincent’s will help to provide these services.
From January 2015, Walla Mulla and St Vincent’s have provided a free indigenous health care clinic to enable the local
indigenous community to receive quality healthcare and access to medical education and support.
Executive Health Solutions and Drs Thorburn, Walker and Subbiah assisted in the fit out of the healthcare room by
supplying and examination couch, lights and chairs.
The newsletter of the St Vincent’s Clinic community
AUTUMN 2015
9
Sisters of Charity Outreach
Sisters of Charity Outreach Celebrate 25 Years of Service at
Opening Mass
Sisters of Charity Outreach Celebrated their 25th Anniversary with an opening mass at St Vincent’s Clinic on Friday
20 February. Father Darryl Mackie celebrated the mass and many of Outreach’s friends and supporters shared their
stories of 25 years of Sisters of Charity Outreach.
Sr Deidre Hickey, Sr Mary Maguire, Sr Margaret Fitzgerald & Sr
Pauline Nicholson
Father Darryl Mackie
Sr Jennifer Fahey and Slavica Kochovska
Margaret Fitzpatraick & Gina Pizanis
Sr Deidre Hickey, Eva Waciega & Sr Margaret Guy
Attendees at the mass
Safe Haven Appeal raises funds for victims of domestic violence
St Vincent’s Clinic Doctors donated over $6,000 to the Sisters of Charity Outreach Safe Haven Appeal at the end of
2014. The donations will assist victims of domestic violence in Sydney’s South West. Sisters of Charity Outreach are
most grateful for the donation that will help some of Sydney’s most vulnerable people to start a new life. Thank you to
all who contributed to this important service.
Sisters of Charity Outreach launch new website
Sisters of Charity Outreach have launched a new website for their services and supporters. The new website aims to
highlight the significant services that Sisters of Charity Outreach provides to the community and to connect with the
public and potential volunteers. The website facilitates online donations and expressions of interest from volunteers.
The new website can be accessed at www.sistersofcharityoutreach.com.au
10
Vale Dr Tom Claffey AM
Distinguished St Vincent’s Orthopaedic Surgeon, Dr Tom Claffey, passed away
on 7 November 2014 aged 89.
Dr Claffey was dux of Waverley College in 1942 before graduating from the
University of Sydney in 1948. After graduation he began working at St Vincent’s. After spending some time working in orthopaedics in the UK, he
returned to Australia and St Vincent’s where he held senior roles including
Chairman of the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery and Director of Accident and Emergency. In his eulogy, Dr Claffey’s son, Michael, stated: “Dad
was at his best and his happiest when he was associated with his beloved St
Vincent’s.”
Dr Claffey was an active member of the Australia Orthopaedic Association for
many years and was president of the organisation in 1983.
In 1988 he was awarded life membership of the NSW Society for Crippled
Children for his dedication to the orthopaedic needs of children and young
adults with disabilities.
In 1990 Dr Claffey was awarded the Order of Australia (AM) for services to
medicine, particularly orthopaedic surgery.
Dr Tom Claffey AM
Art About The Clinic
Joan Miro - Peintures sur cartons
These colour lithographs are two of 21 created by Miro for Derriere le
Mirroir No.’s 151/152 by Jacques Dupin and printed by Arts Adrien Maeght Paris. They are located on Level 9 of St Vincent’s Clinic.
Joan Miro was born April 20, 1893 in Barcelona, Spain. Like Pablo Picasso, Henri Matisse, and Salvador Dali, Miro was one of the great pioneers
of twentieth-century art. Miro began drawing at a young age, and his
choice of subjects, such as tufts of grass, insects, birds, revealed an early
affinity for the organic. Though based on his observations of nature, his
works were abstractions, and bridged the gap between realistic and
abstract imagery.
In the 1960s, Miro devoted more time to printmaking, creating lithographs, etchings and aquatints. Miro was attracted to printmaking and
sculpture as a respite from the solitary nature of painting, and as an
opportunity to work with printers and other artisans. These experiences
enhanced Miro's own creative repertoire. Peintures sur cartons were
created in 1965 and are good examples of his work during this time.
Miro recognized an advantage in printmaking, stating: "A painting is a
unique example for a single collector. But if I pull seventy-five examples,
I increase by seventy-five times the number of people who can own a
work of mine. I increase the reach of my message seventy-five times.”
The newsletter of the St Vincent’s Clinic community
AUTUMN 2015
11
Letter of Appreciation
It is always nice to receive praise for the hard work done by the team at St Vincent’s Clinic. This letter is from Paris
Tavakoli from GENCA Education Committee NSW.
Dear Michelle;
I would like to take this chance to thank you and your team, and Tass and his team for organising the Evening
Educational Event for GENCA and the nurses / gastroenterologists in St Vincent Clinic on Thursday, 12th February
2015.
The event was a success with forty registered gastro-endoscopy nurses, members of GENCA and 10 trades/representatives in the area of gastroenterology in attendance.
Everything from the venue itself (sound, air conditioning, lighting, computers) to food, parking and security was
well managed. Special thanks to the girls at reception, security and most of all, George who was the man of all
talents on the evening.
I am proud to be part of St Vincent's Clinic and I look forward for my next education event at the venue.
Thanks and warm regards
Paris Tavakoli
DEC- Member of the GENCA Education Committee NSW
"I have found that a well-timed silence in the midst
of a bustle prepares the way for a well-timed word
of explanation, which, from those who say nothing
but what is truthful, will be more effectual than any
altercation when feelings are excited."
Mother Mary Aikenhead
12
St Vincent's Clinic News
New Accreditations
St Vincent’s Clinic welcomes five new practitioners to the team
Associate Professor Nicholas Brennan
Dr Jacob Fairhall
Dr Lianne Lee
Dr Martine O’Neill
Dr Tina Su
Geriatric Medicine
Neurosurgery
Pathology
Anaesthesia
Obstetrics
2 Oxford Street
Suite 704
Suite 507A
Suite 601
Suite 807
Bequests
St Vincent’s Clinic Foundation has been the recipient of three bequests in the last year. Miss Marie Toohey bequeathed the Foundation $500 000 to boost the research funding available for the SVPHS Ladies’
Committee Sr Mary Bernice Grant or to establish a multidisciplinary Sr Mary Bernice Research Grant. Miss
Toohey was well known to many at the Clinic from her long association with the Sisters of Charity and
with the Ladies’ Committee. The Foundation has also received a bequest from the Estate of the Late Lucienne Kavan to be used in neurology, colorectal and orthopaedic research. A third bequest was recieved
from the Estate of Peter Morrison.
Thank You Dr David Ende
Dr David Ende has resigned from the Medical Council and Board – thank you David for your input to the
Medical Council and Board since July 2012. The Board will appoint a replacement for Dr Ende until the
AGM in August 2015.
St Vincent's Clinic Foundation Grants
Watch out for the call out for the 2016 St Vincent's Clinic Foundation grants.
The newsletter of the St Vincent’s Clinic community
AUTUMN 2015
13
Yesteryear at St Vincent's
Maximilian Markus Herz
(1875-1948)
St Vincent’s first trained
Orthopaedic Surgeon
By Dr Maxwell Coleman
Before the advent of trained orthopaedic
specialists, Orthopaedic surgery was carried
out by general surgeons. The first trained
orthopaedic surgeon at St Vincent’s was
Maximillian Markus Herz. He was born in the
old Westphalian town of Bochum, Germany, on February 17, 1876. Max commenced
formal education at the Barmen Gymnasium
(grammar school) at the age of seven. After
passing his exams, he enrolled as a medical
student at the Ludwig Maximilian University
in Munich. In October 1896 he transferred
to the Friedrich Wilhelm University in Berlin
where he drank in the intellectual stimulation
of Berlin provided by Sigmund Freud, Paul
Ehrlich, Robert Koch and in the orthopaedics
of the Professor Adolf Lorenz with his ‘bloodless surgery’. There were also wonderful art
galleries, concerts conducted by the likes of
Richard Strauss and outspoken publications
covering everything from poetry to politics.
Herz received his medical certificate in
August 1897 and in July 1898 he sat for and
passed his final medical examinations. The
final hurdle to graduation was a lengthy
inquisition before the Munich Medical Board
on January 17, 1899 after he was proclaimed
Doctor of Medicine. By this time Herz had
decided on a career in orthopaedics. In
October 1899 he got a position as assistant to Professor Schancz at the renowned
Dresden Orthopaedic clinic. He spent a year
there before joining Professor Adolf Lorenz
in Vienna. In 1901, Lorenz cofounded the
German Society of Orthopaedic Surgery and
supported orthopaedics as a subspecialty.
He is considered by some to be the father of
modern orthopaedics. Lorenz introduced the
technique of “modelling redressment” for the
treatment of club feet. Herz quickly adopted
the technique as well as the substitution of
alcohol for carbolic as an antiseptic. Before
long he became the Professor’s first assistant.
In March 1902 Hugo Friedlander, a granary
owner in Ashburton in the South Island of
New Zealand, was farewelled on a trip to
Europe to seek treatment for partial lower
limb paralysis. As a young man he sustained
a spinal injury from a sack of grain that fell on
him that resulted in paralysis of both limbs for
many months. In search of further improvement he consulted Professor Hoffa in Berlin
who advised surgery. One of his assistants
was Max Herz. Friedlander was anxious to
return home although his treatment was
incomplete. He offered to take Herz with him
to carry out further care. On arriving in Ash-
14
burton Herz performed further surgery on
Friedlander and the end result was considerable improvement in his disability and effusive
praise from his patient. They witnessed his
fastidious preoperative preparation where he
washed his hands for 15 minutes and then
rinsed them in alcohol. His instruments were
sterilised in boiling water and his dressings
were steamed for 2 hours. Postoperatively
his dressings and applications of plaster were
equally exemplary.
Herz was prominent in the social scene
despite being somewhat reserved. He was
introduced to Australian, Ethel Cohen who he
married in Christchurch on February 28, 1905.
During his time in New Zealand he had been
a regular correspondent for the “Tageblatt”
in Berlin. Herz was strongly criticised by a
Christchurch newspaper that selectively
released disparaging remarks about New
Zealand and its people in his articles. After
a short stay in Auckland, Max and Ethel
decided to head for her hometown of Sydney.
Max Herz was registered to practice in New
South Wales on April 20, 1910 and soon after
became a Member of the NSW Branch of the
BMA. He received acceptance at all levels,
including Government, when the State Children Relief Board sought his help for crippled
children under their care. Herz responded
enthusiastically and at no cost.
In April 1911 Dr Max Herz was appointed an
Honorary Orthopaedic Surgeon to the Outpatient Department of St Vincent’s Hospital in
Sydney. Towards the end of 1911, he entered
a professional partnership with Dr Hamilton
Marshall and shared second floor consulting
rooms in “Wyoming” in Macquarie Street. Marshall often gave anaesthetics for Herz. In 1913
while working at St Vincent’s Hospital, he
sustained a laceration to a finger of his right
hand. The injury was considered trivial and
treated by the Hospital, however, infection
had set in and the wound required drainage.
Herz put the blame squarely on the Hospital
and immediately resigned. He requested that
his friend Dr Hamilton Marshall take charge
and admit him to the Lister Hospital but the
end result was a bent finger.
Within a week of Germany declaring war
on Russia on August 1, 1914. the Australian
Government required all German nationals
to report to the police for registration of their
names and addresses.. By October there
were reports of German atrocities that fanned
German hatred. A warrant for his arrest dated
May 15, 1915 was issued by Senator Pearce,
the Minister for Defence. Herz was taken
to Victoria barracks before being moved
to Holdsworthy Detention Camp. Despite
appeals via his solicitor, his wife (who was
looking after their young daughter Helen)
and requests from patients pleading need
for his expertise, he was transferred to the
Trial Bay Gaol near Kempsey in January 1916.
Trial Bay Gaol was originally established
as a Public Works Prison that was seen as a
progressive step in prison reform in Australia.
Spurred on by the loss of ten steamships and
79sailing ships with 243 people drowned
between 1863 and 1866, the Government
provided funding for a breakwater to be built
from Laggers Point to provide a safe haven
for shipping in Trial Bay. Storms in the area
resulted in destruction of the breakwater on
several occasions before it could be completed and this, together with cost overruns, saw
the Gaol close in 1902.
Most of those sent to Trial Bay were well educated, often with private means or continuing
salaries. They were also capable of negotiating improved camp conditions that included
educational programs in languages, science,
arts, literature, finance and management.
They also managed a library, theatre, an
orchestra, a bakery, a kitchen and a canteen.
Max Herz was prominent in theatrical and
musical productions and was in charge of the
Gaol Hospital. Music was important for the
morale of the detainees and Herz wrote to
Ethel requesting his cello. A band was soon
formed and Herz organised a drama group.
The internment camp at Trial Bay c. 1918
(NAA: A1336, 7597)
© Commonwealth of Australia (National Archives of Australia) 2015
He treated patients from the local settlements
of South-west Rocks, Arakoon and environs as
well as inmates.
In early 1918 a decision was made to return
the Trial Bay prisoners to Holdsworthy in the
expectation that the war was about to end
and that the detainees would be repatriated to Germany. During this time Herz and
his wife were under considerable financial
pressure due to lack of income, requests from
the Taxation Commission and difficulty in
obtaining fees owed by patients. After 5 years
internment he was eventually released from
Holdsworthy. He decided to convert a two
story house in Rushcutters Bay into the Odin
Hospital. In early 1922, Prime Minister Hughes
finally gave him freedom and the funds
owing to him, after payment of his significant
legal bills, were returned to him. By the late
1920s he had purchased the Odin Hospital
and renamed it Bona Dea.
Max Herz suffered from renal calculi and died
from cardiac failure on December 17, 1948
in the Bona Dea Hospital. He was cremated
in the Northern Suburbs Crematorium. His
estate was valued for probate at £9558. He
left instructions for all his clinical notes to be
destroyed.
Workplace Fire Safety Exercise
Exits
Are all EXIT signs in your area working and illuminated?
Where is your evacuation diagram located?
Where is your closest fire exit?
Are all main evacuation corridors/egresses kept clear of obstructions?
Where does your closest exit take you to?
Where are your correct assembly areas and how do you get to them?
Fire Extinguishers
Where are your fire extinguishers located and what type are they?
If you are heading north near Kempsey a
diversion to the Trial Bay Gaol is well worth a
visit.
Fire Hose Reels
Where are your fire hose reels located?
Are all fire cupboards kept clear of obstructions?
WIP
Where is the Warden Intercom Point located in your area?
MCP-NSW Fire Rescue /ECP/EDR
Where are your emergency alarms located?
The newsletter of the St Vincent’s Clinic community
AUTUMN 2015
15
Reader’s Recipe
Try this traditional Easter bread over the holiday break
Folar de pascoa
Portuguese Easter Bread
Ingredients
1 cup of warm milk
Half a cup of caster sugar
1 tablespoon of dried yeast (2
sachets)
790 grams of plain flour
1 teaspoon of fennel seeds,
crushed
1 teaspoon salt
60 grams butter, at room
temperature, coarsely
chopped
6 eggs
Olive oil, to brush
1 egg, extra, lightly whisked
Recipe submissions are gladly accepted!
Please send to:
Method
Combine one quarter of a cup of the milk and 1 tablespoon of the sugar in a
small bowl. Sprinkle over the yeast. Set aside in a war, draught free place for 5-10
minutes or until frothy.
Combine the flour, fennel seeds and salt in a large bowl. Make a well in the
centre. Add yeast mixture, butter and remaining milk and sugar. Lightly whisk 3
eggs and add to the bowl. Use a wooden spoon to stir until combined. Use your
hands to bring dough together in the bowl. Turn dough onto a lightly floured
surface. Knead for 10 minutes or until smooth and elastic. Brush a large bowl
with oil. Place dough in bowl and turn to coat. Cover the plastic wrap and set
aside in a warm, draught free place for one hour and 45 minutes or until the
dough doubles in size.
Preheat the oven to 200 degrees C. Lightly brush a round 22cm spring form cake
tin with oil. Reserve half a cup of dough. Lightly knead the remaining dough and
place in the prepared can. Gently press remaining whole unpeeled eggs into the
dough.
Divide the reserved dough into 6 pieces. Roll each piece into a thin 12 cm long
rope. Use the ropes to form a cross over each egg. Brush the dough with extra
egg. Set aside for 10 minutes. Bake for 40 minutes or until golden and the bread
sounds hollow when tapped. Set aside to cool slightly.
[email protected]
438 Victoria St, Darlinghurst NSW 2010
T: 02 8382 6222 e: [email protected]
www.stvincentsclinic.com.au