----- From: "Gwen Dundon" <[email protected]> To: "Marg Morters" <[email protected]> Sent: 18 September 2000 08:00 Subject: Some early medicos Hi Gwen Very interesting response . Am re posting to the list Hopefully it might stir up an info pot ! Good question re early medicos, Marg! Wonder if anyone has done some > conclusive work on this subject? If they have its under wraps somewhere ! > Dr Robert Bell and his wife were living at East Gosford in 1843 when a son Robert was born to them on 5 July, father a surgeon. Dr Robert Auld must have been pretty early too, as he had land at corner of Henry Parry Drive and Wells St (where the small Council park is, I think) bought from Samuel Peek on his East Gosford estate. Some years ago I met a descendant researching Auld at Gosford Library, so perhaps a file is >held there on this person. There is only one AULD in Gosford nw, living at Henry Kendall Village, I think >Another early medico at East Gosford was Barker Joseph Benson, a surgeon, whose wife Hannah Emily gave birth to four children while there... William Robson 1845, Edward 1847, Emily Lancaster 1854 and Willis Allatson born 1860. I had a letter in 1989 from a great grandson of this doctor looking for information. Private nurses and midwives cared for people in the early days of the district, along with the doctor, and anyone seriously or injured was transported (painfully!) to Sydney Infirmary etc, as I understand it. In the 1920s, perhaps a bit earlier and later, there were some private hospitals conducted in Gosford, by nursing sisters such as Khandala (Sister M. Ricketts) in Hills St. Gosford District Hospital was not opened until 1945, although a fund to build a cottage hospital in the town was inaugurated in the late 19th century. I would be grateful for any information about early medicos to add to my very small file. Sincerely, Gwen Dundon