I am the creator of this site. I was the Library Manager for the Toowoomba District Health Service, of which Baillie Henderson Hospital was a part, for the 13 years between 2000 and 2012 when owing to drastic government cutbacks, I was made redundant.
I have a strong interest in mental health and in history as told through the stories of everyday people, as opposed to the rich and famous. For that reason I voluntarily put much time and effort into attempts to resurrect what was an old and neglected assortment of artefacts from previous eras. Unfortunately, although I had some success in a small way, and despite many appeals, the hospital administration and senior staff were completely uninterested in facilitating or helping with the work.
I did make some headway in terms of re-organising and sorting the artefacts and moving them into more satisfactory accommodation. I also collected together all old records that I could find and organised them in secure storage. I also created an indexed database of all patients of the hospital from its inception through to 1985, after which records were computerised. I did this work on my own initiative and in my own time. I also used my own resources.
As part of the process I produced various terms of reference, policy and such for the Museum and a document outlining how information might be made available to relatives of past patients. I submitted that to the Health Information Services Director who is responsible for overseeing such matters, and also copied it to various senior hospital staff including the District CEO and the Executive Director of Mental Health. Unfortunately, again I got no response other than acknowledgment of its receipt and a note that it would be "looked at". From memory, I submitted this around 12 months or more before I was actually made redundant.
Whilst I was employed by and working with the Health Service I conducted tours of the museum until we had to stop those because of the unsafe nature of the museum building which had been allowed to dilapidate. I also offered and conducted, by mutual arrangement, presentations to groups of people interested in the museum history and these were well received by the community. Indeed, as some of those who have contacted this site have indicated, there is strong community interest in the history of the institution and a desire by many for details of their relative's time there. Another part of what I did was to establish this site and a sister site dealing with Toowoomba and Darling Downs history more generally, but including some medical information. This site is at: downsfolk.wikidot.com
Before finishing at the hospital I contacted both the Executive Director of Mental Health Services and the District CEO and offered to continue to care for the museum in a voluntary capacity and also made some suggestions of how communication and presentation to the community could be facilitated. I received not even an acknowledgment.
After 13 years with the Health Service here and many attempts to obtain some interest and support from those with the power to preserve and promote this valuable history, I now realise that there was never any will or interest to do so. In spite of the many hours of thought, work, and effort that I, and on occasion, a literal handful of others, put voluntarily into attempting to salvage what was essentially a part of history left to rot; I got as good as no support whatsoever from the Hospital Executive. The only occasions in which they were interested were when there was a "photo opportunity" for them.
The result is that, because of severe depression since my redundancy together with the lack of interest, even hostility, of the Hospital management to my work whilst with the Health Service, I have had no contact with them over the last 12 months.
I am however, prepared to make an approach to them, once more, to see whether anything has been done since my leaving - which I doubt very much - and, if not, whether they are willing to allow me access to do more work and respond to request such as some of you have made.
The alternative is that you contact the Health Service directly and see what sort of response you get.
I am sorry that I am unable to do more right now. I find it very disturbing that this is the case but I am just a little nobody and have no power or authority to do anything unless the Hospital administration allow it.
Lastly, I would just like to offer my apologies that a response to you has taken so long. My last year with the Health Service and the time since has been plagued by both physical illness, family problems, the suicide of a close friend's son, and chronic depression. As a result, I have had little time or presence of mind to devote to the site or matters relating to the Hospital. My sincere apologies that you are frustrated at obtaining some mementos or information about the experiences of your relatives.
roger
nonsibicunctis
