Caring for the wounded: Rosemount repatriation hospital

Join us for a free talk on the history of Rosemount repatriation hospital and the role it played caring for returned service personnel.

‘Many Brisbane residents have visited the Rosemount Military Hospital at Windsor, and have realised the care and attention bestowed on the “Diggers” there.’ (Cairns Post 1924)

The advancement of weaponry during World War I significantly increased the severity of wounds for both allied and axis forces. Countless Australian soldiers returned home with complex medical conditions resulting from their service. The ongoing care of these individuals represented a logistical challenge for families and governments alike. In response repatriation hospitals, such as Rosemount, were established throughout Australia to provide medical care, rehabilitation and long-term treatment for World War I veterans.

Rosemount, located at Windsor, was opened in 1915 as 1 Australian Auxiliary Hospital (AAH), later becoming the 27 AHH. It specialised in the rehabilitation of orthopaedic and spinal injuries with massage, physiotherapy and amputee services. Such was the demand as World War I ended that Rosemount struggled to cater for its ever-growing patient lists, with the site requiring numerous additions. This important historical site is a testament to the those who survived the war and a reminder of the long-lasting health implications many suffered. Moreover, Rosemount draws attention to the essential role that medical staff played in the ongoing rehabilitation of wounded soldiers.

This talk will be presented by special guest Associate Professor Clifford Pollard, who served in Bougainville and East Timor as a member of the Royal Australian Army Medical Corps. He is the former Chair of the Queensland Trauma Clinical network, and previous Director of Trauma Services at the Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital, and Director of the Queensland Trauma Registry at the Centre of National Research in Disability and Rehabilitation Medicine, The University of Queensland.

After the talk, visitors can stay to explore the Memorial Galleries, embarking on an interactive journey from the First World War to today, before taking time to reflect on the remarkable stories of bravery and sacrifice in the tranquil parklands.

Anzac Square Memorial Galleries is located at 285 Ann Street, Brisbane. Entry is through the double brass doors located beneath the Shrine of Remembrance.

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