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[[File:HOSP-BOARD.jpg|District Hospital Board in the 1930s]]
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[[File:090766_11280A_Amoco_Normie_edited.jpg|Normie Rowe plays to a packed house on 9 July 1966. Photograph courtesy Orange and District Historical Society, CWD Collection.]]
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Earlier this year we celebrated the opening of the new Orange Health Service on the Bloomfield Campus. The competion of this project was cause for great celebration. Coinciding with this event was the launch of the book, ''In sickness and in health'' by Elisabeth Edwards.
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== A Shining Example of Community Collaboration==
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This book takes an original approach in exploring how medicine shaped the history of Orange and the surrounding districts from the earliest days of settlement. It depicts the hardships experienced by settlers before there were doctors, dentists or hospitals, and the evolution of the public hospital from the small District Hospital in Anson Street to the 21st century Base Hospital on the Bloomfield campus which was opened in March this year.
 
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It also shows how the myriad small private hospitals played a significant role in caring for maternity cases as well as the sick and injured. It records the development of medical technology and its vital role in providing quality health care. Most importantly, it tells the stories of the doctors, nurses, ancillary staff, volunteers and benefactors who have collectively ensured the very best care for patients over many years.
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The concept of the Amoco Hall was first mentioned at a meeting at the [[Ophir Motel]] when Mr [[Ernest Tilston]] ‘sold’ the idea of a public hall to the then Deputy Mayor, Alderman [[Ron Hill]].
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Here's an excerpt:
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Strangely enough the meeting was supposed to discuss the formation of a Bowling Club for proposed bowling greens that the [[Amoco Oil Company]] had agreed to help finance in exchange for the lease of the land on [[Bathurst Road]] on  which their service station was built.Alderman Hill promised to solicit the support of the Mayor, Alderman [[Clive  Hamer]], and if [[Orange City Council]] agreed to a a public hall instead of a bowling green an approach would be made to the directors of the Amoco Oil Company to devote their lease money to the construction of the building.
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Mayor Hamer and Mr Tilston had little difficulty in persuading Amoco and the Mayor was impressed with the need for a community centre. By this time Mr Tilston had secured the full support of the [[Orange Sports and Social Club]] and a not-for-profit company was to be formed to construct the hall. The Club agreed to raise funds and with Mr Tilston’s enthusiasm support began to roll in. The Orange Sports and Social Club raised money, tradesmen promised their labour and good second- hand material was purchased.
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Orange is renowned today as a centre of medical excellence, but readers may be surprised at the level of competency in the operating room at Orange District Hospital as early as 1901. During that year 87 operations were performed, including 34 major procedures. These included: removal of appendix (3); radical cure of hernia; removal of breast (2); removal of stones from gall bladder, bladder and kidney.
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But of course like most worthwhile projects there were the ‘knockers’. Letters against the project were written and published in the ''[[Central Western Daily]]''. People who promised support suddenly lost interest. Doubts were raised whether voluntary work could be organised and whether sufficient loan funds would be forthcoming. These objections were overcome and with voluntary help and the use of second-hand material the building was eventually completed for £60,000. One of the early supporters who gave much moral and financial support was Mr [[Geoff Murray]]. The architect, Mr [[F Graf]] donated a large portion of his fees.
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In 1902-3 major operations included: removal of a tongue; removal of hydatid cysts; extraction of a bullet; a hernia cure; removal of upper jaw; fixing a floating kidney; curing a fractured spine; amputation of an arm; removal of gallstones; seven appendicitis operations; amputation of a cancerous lip; removal of a clot of blood from near the heart; and trephining (perforating) the glands of the neck.
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The opening of the Hall on 10 June 1965 soon convinced everyone that this was a much needed amenity.On the opening night in June 1965 there was a hugely successful ball complete with live dance band (the Merry Makers).The next evening [[Stomp City]], Orange's answer to Surf City in Sydney - began its amazing run as the town's major weekend entertainment. Three bands - Buddy and the Hermits, the Mystery Men and the Ravens - did half hour stints in turn to keep the dancers happy from 12 noon to 12 midnight. None of the musicians accepted pay that weekend, and neither did the hall staff - the entire proceeds were ploughed back into hall improvements Click here to read more [[File: http://www.theorangewiki.orange.nsw.gov.au/index.php?title=Amoco_Hall]]
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In 1909 surgeons at Orange District Hospital successfully removed two small pieces of bone from the head of Miss Rosie Lehmann, who had been injured the previous year when Wirth Bros’ circus tent collapsed in Orange.
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Orange is also renowned because of the number of specialist medical services available in the city. The start of specialist services can be traced to an operation performed by Dr Neville Howse, in company with Dr Percy Dean Bray, in February 1904. Cargo Road farmer James McCutcheon had been suffering from a disease of the eyeball for some years and it was decided that the eye should be removed. The operation was successfully performed and the patient was alleviated of much pain associated with the diseased eye. Drs Howse and Bray did not specialise in eye surgery but like many surgeons at that time they were skilled enough to perform such an operation.
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Copies of ''In sickness and in health'' can be purcahsed from Orange City Library [http://www.ofhg.com.au/publications.htm]
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== How can you be part of this? ==
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The launch of this 150 year Wiki gives all of the community the opportunity to contribute their stories about the '''people, places, services and events''' that have contributed to the history of local government in Orange. We've included some stories to get you started but this is very much a work in progress and will be dependent on you supplying us with information to build this resource. You can find further details at the Community Portal link on the navigation bar to the left. We look forward to hearing from you; [mailto:wiki@orange.nsw.gov.au email us]
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Revision as of 05:35, 5 June 2015

Normie Rowe plays to a packed house on 9 July 1966. Photograph courtesy Orange and District Historical Society, CWD Collection.



A Shining Example of Community Collaboration

The concept of the Amoco Hall was first mentioned at a meeting at the Ophir Motel when Mr Ernest Tilston ‘sold’ the idea of a public hall to the then Deputy Mayor, Alderman Ron Hill.

Strangely enough the meeting was supposed to discuss the formation of a Bowling Club for proposed bowling greens that the Amoco Oil Company had agreed to help finance in exchange for the lease of the land on Bathurst Road on which their service station was built.Alderman Hill promised to solicit the support of the Mayor, Alderman Clive Hamer, and if Orange City Council agreed to a a public hall instead of a bowling green an approach would be made to the directors of the Amoco Oil Company to devote their lease money to the construction of the building.

Mayor Hamer and Mr Tilston had little difficulty in persuading Amoco and the Mayor was impressed with the need for a community centre. By this time Mr Tilston had secured the full support of the Orange Sports and Social Club and a not-for-profit company was to be formed to construct the hall. The Club agreed to raise funds and with Mr Tilston’s enthusiasm support began to roll in. The Orange Sports and Social Club raised money, tradesmen promised their labour and good second- hand material was purchased.

But of course like most worthwhile projects there were the ‘knockers’. Letters against the project were written and published in the Central Western Daily. People who promised support suddenly lost interest. Doubts were raised whether voluntary work could be organised and whether sufficient loan funds would be forthcoming. These objections were overcome and with voluntary help and the use of second-hand material the building was eventually completed for £60,000. One of the early supporters who gave much moral and financial support was Mr Geoff Murray. The architect, Mr F Graf donated a large portion of his fees.

The opening of the Hall on 10 June 1965 soon convinced everyone that this was a much needed amenity.On the opening night in June 1965 there was a hugely successful ball complete with live dance band (the Merry Makers).The next evening Stomp City, Orange's answer to Surf City in Sydney - began its amazing run as the town's major weekend entertainment. Three bands - Buddy and the Hermits, the Mystery Men and the Ravens - did half hour stints in turn to keep the dancers happy from 12 noon to 12 midnight. None of the musicians accepted pay that weekend, and neither did the hall staff - the entire proceeds were ploughed back into hall improvements Click here to read more File:Http://www.theorangewiki.orange.nsw.gov.au/index.php?title=Amoco Hall

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