We’ve always been very proud of the role of Mary McConnel in Qld’s history. In 1877 children were only giving a 50/50 chance of reaching the age of 5, and after losing two of her children, one at 7 months and one at 8 weeks, this was a cause very close to Mary. Hospitals refused to admit & treat children under five with the prevailing wisdom at the time being ‘kids were best cared for at home by their mothers’. Last week’s Sunday Mail touched on the legacy of Mary and her hard work and determination to have a children’s hospital opened in Brisbane, a dream realised with the hospital now known as the Royal Childrens Hospital opened on 11 March 1878. Mary was the wife of David Cannon McConnel who settled ‘Cressbrook’. Their youngest son Eric was appointed manager of Mt Brisbane and eventually bought 10,000 acres of the original property in 1914 (100 years this year). John is Mary’s Great Grandson.
Posted on: Wed, 08 Oct 2014 04:52:58 +0000
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