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Cecilia Bauer & Rose WilesPrint Page 
A fountain commemorates two nurses who were victims of Australia`s only outbreak of pneumonic plague in Maryborough in 1905. Pneumonic plague, a severe type of lung infection, is one of three main forms of plague, all of which are caused by the bacterium Yersinia pestis. It is more virulent and rare than bubonic plague.
Nurses Cecilia Bauer and Rose Wiles courageously volunteered to nurse victims of the plague. Whilst looking after their patients both nurses fell ill and died from the deadly disease.
Australia's only outbreak of pneumonic plague occurred in Maryborough in 1905. At the time Maryborough was Queensland's largest port — a reception centre for wool, meat, timber and other rural products. A freighter from Hong Kong, where plague was rampant, was in the port of Maryborough about the time that a wharf worker named Richard O'Connell took home some sacking from the wharf, for his children to sleep on.
Subsequently, five of the seven O'Connell children, two nurses, and a neighbour died from the disease. Fortunately, there were no more cases but the ensuing fear, panic, and hysteria totally consumed the town, and a huge crowd gathered to witness the family’s house being burnt to the ground by Health officials.
Location
| Address: | Lennox Street, Maryborough, 4650 |
|---|---|
| State: | QLD |
| Area: | AUS |
| GPS Coordinates: | Lat: -25.537655 Long: 152.701412 Note: GPS Coordinates are approximate. |
Details
| Monument Type: | Fountain |
|---|---|
| Monument Theme: | Disaster |
| Sub-Theme: | Plagues |
| Approx. Event Start Date: | June-1905 |
| Approx. Event End Date: | June-1905 |
Dedication
| Actual Monument Dedication Date: | Saturday 13th August, 1966 |
|---|
THIS FOUNTAIN WAS PRESENTED TO THE CITY BY
THE MARYBOROUGH
JUNIOR CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
TO HONOUR THE MEMORY OF
NURSES BAUER AND WILES
WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES NURSING THE VICTIMS
OF AN OUTBREAK OF PNEUMONIC PLAGUE
"THE BLACK DEATH." IN JUNE 1905
THIS OUTBREAK WAS THE THIRD RECORDED IN HISTORY.
UNVEILED ON 13th AUGUST 1966.
BY P.A.EARNSHAW C.B.E., M.B., Ch.M., F.R.A.C.P.
