Were you born in Gunning? Nurse Bush's Birthing Cot Donated to Museum

The birthing cot donated by Lyndell Whittaker
Photo: Ann Darbyshire

Lyndell Whittaker, daughter of the late John and Eyvonne Clancy, has graciously donated to the Gunning & District Historical Society, a birthing cot that would have been utilised for many local citizens immediately after their birth in Matron Bertha Bush’s private maternity hospital “Allawah” in Biala Street, Gunning. There was the possibility raised by John Clancy himself that this birthing cot may have been transferred from the earlier maternity hospital “Templeton” on the Collector Road, Gunning, operated by Nurse Beatrice Maud Caldwell.

Nurse Bush's advertisement, note the phone number!
Photo: Ann Darbyshire

“Allawah” had been built by Con and Fanny Lucilla Dowling of “Bloomfield” in 1929 and Matron Bush leased “Allawah” from them. Their son Noel Dowling recalled several years ago that the annual rental was £58.10/- (or 58 pounds and ten shillings).

That same year, 1929, Dr Barbour built his residence in Biala Street which included his surgery. Presumably when Matron Bush closed “Allawah” Dr Barbour acquired the birthing cot, a small (by current standards) metal cot which could, if necessary, be readily transported.

In 1979, John and Evonne Clancy purchased Dr Barbour’s residence that they renamed “The Overflow”. The house is itself an amazing building and included the birthing cot that remained in the house.

Some of the baby bed clothes from the cot
Photo: Ann Darbyshire

The house has recently been sold and Lyndell has donated the cot – a precious item from Gunning’s past together with some infant bedclothes and a spinning wheel to the Historical Society, where they are now on display at the Pye Cottage Museum.  Earlier a double bed quilt from the Clancy home had also been donated, showing careful mending from times that preceded our current throw-away society. 

We hope to add some further information about the very personal connection that Lyndell had to this cot in a future article.

Article by Ann Darbyshire.