The following is quoted from "Markers and Memorials at the Geelong Hospital" by W.R. (Roy) Lang Cheers... Pat... A remarkable woman, Mary Clementina De Garis M.D.,B.S. 1881-1963 In the foyer of De Garis House at the Geelong Hospital there is a framed document with two medals attached. There are twenty lines in this curious statement. This is how it reads:- "In the name of His Majesty Peter I By the Will of God and the Will of the nation King of Serbia we Alexander successor to the throne upon the recommendation of our Minister of War do decorate with the Order of St. Sava 3rd class Miss Mary C De Garis Officer commanding the Scottish Women's Hospital at Ostrovo (3rd Field Surgical) having her free from paying the tax Our Minister of War may execute the UKAS 14th December 1918 Solonika, Signed Alexander Minister for War (General) Mih Rashitch LBrF3622. The faithfulness of this copy is herewith testified 29/9/1918 (signed) Lt. Colonel Vlad Y Skubitz" An "In Memoriam" Card declared her to be the Daughter of Elisha C. (an irrigationist) and Elizabeth (Buncle) De Garis. Sister of her twin, Elizabeth Florence Alexander and of L.G. De Garis, Auntie Doc to nephews, nieces, cousins and in-laws. Sister of the late C.J., Lilian and A.E. De Garis. With appreciation of the presence of Miss Ann Tovell at the critical moment; of Mrs L. Schouter, the friendly neighbor in the crisis; of Dr. Agar in prompt attendance; of Messrs. Hargreaves, in professional manners; and of Rev. Stanley I. Weeks in administering spiritual power. Recipricol good will to Baxter House, Kardinia House, and the Geelong & District Kitchener Memorial Hospital. She was born at Charlton, Victoria on 16th December 1881 and died at Geelong on 18th November, 1963. She was "faithful in her day and generation". She practised her profession 1905-1963. Her World War I service was in England, and with the Scottish Women's Hospitals: 1916-1918 She came to Geelong in 1919 and practised from "Gable House" 258 Latrobe Terrace, Newtown, Geelong from 1922 to 1963. Her brother L.G. De Garis recalled her as sister, colleague, and encourager; "for more than thirty years the chief encourager of the Credit Crusade, expressly desiring its continuance, for a new theory of money as the alternative to debt and war. Dr. Mary De Garis was Honorary Medical Officer in charge of the Maternity Ward in the 1931-1932 year and resigned in 1940-41, when she became an Honorary Consultant Medical Officer of the Hospital. She was concerned about the right of women and it is interesting to note that during her service in the Scottish Women's Hospital at Ostravo Dr. Mary De Garis worked with orderly Stella Miles Franklin, author of "My Brilliant Career," (1901), "All That Swagger," (1936) and ten other novels. There was a Nightingale touch about this group of women. Dr Mary's writings included "Clinical Notes and Deductions of a Peripatetic," (London, 1925) and "The History of Obstetrics" (London, 1930), and her important functional study of child bearing was of high professional value. She believed that "What we do depends upon on what we think." The De Garis family motto "Dum spiro spero" suggests that while there is life there is hope. At 30/07/2003 Wednesday02:26 PM -0700, you wrote: >Heather, >De Garis House, now medical room, situated behind the present Geelong >Private Hospital is named for Mary De Garis. It housed the Barwon Health >Medical Library until recent years. Chief Librarian Stephen Due would help >you with further information I feel sure - find him thru the Barwon Health >website. >Carollyn Williams > ----- Original Message ----- > From: Heather > To: AUS-VIC-GEELONG-DISTRICT-L@rootsweb.com > Sent: Tuesday, July 29, 2003 8:32 PM > Subject: [GEELONG] de Garis and the Credit Crusade > > > Does any one know about this? > > Mary de Garis was a pioneering woman doctor who ( I am pretty sure) died in > Geelong. Her father was Elisha de Garis and her mother was Elizabeth(?) > Buncle. Therefore her maternal grandfather was John Buncle who owned > Parkside Iron works in North Melbourne. Mr Buncle wrote "Experiences of a > Victorian Manufacturer" which was republished on his death in 1899. The > State Library has a copy of this with the following stamps - The Credit > Crusade - L G De Garis. 'Sarnia' 256 (or 286) La Trobe Terrace Postal > address Box 59 Geelong" and "In Memoriam Mary C DeGaris. Colleague of the > Credit Crusade" and repeats the postal address. > > L G de Garis is probably Lucas George > > Heather McKay > > Reference and Local History Librarian > North Melbourne Library > 66 Errol St > North Melbourne 3051 > Ph 9297 3280 > Fax 9297 3279 > > > ==== AUS-VIC-GEELONG-DISTRICT Mailing List ==== > Geelong & District Cemeteries : > http://www.zades.com.au/geelong/gdcem.htm > > > >==== AUS-VIC-GEELONG-DISTRICT Mailing List ==== >Geelong & District Towns and Regions : >http://www.zades.com.au/geelong/gdtown.htm pat@ozonline.com.au www.gencircles.com/users/pat-online (updated weekly) ICQ# 17057235 PO Box 65A Armadale, 3143 Victoria, Australia

I have a feeling that the name De Garis rings a bell and its in relation to being a Town Clerk at Caulfield or Brighton in the 1950/60s. Maybe a list in civil records there can help. Brighton had a very good historical society operating some years back. Regards Craig Cook