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Home » Themes » People » Medicine

Sister Elizabeth KennyPrint Page

Sister Kenny Memorial

Photographs supplied by Diane Watson / John Huth

The memorial sundial commemorates Sister Kenny who died in Toowoomba in 1952.

At the invitation of Toowoomba Council (now Toowoomba Regional Council) J.H. Wagner & Sons submitted a successful tender to carry-out restoration of the memorial. The tender submission offered by J.H. Wagner & Sons including replacing damaged sections of sandstone, elimination of vertical jointing which had previously allowed water ingress and optional recommendations including replacement of damaged concrete time markers with granite, relocation of the memorial approximately 10 metres to the west to permit full sun across the sundial, installation of granite paving compliant to wheel chair access regulations, replacement of sandstone base material with polished granite and the laying of new turf.

Sister Elizabeth Kenny (1880 – 1952) was a self trained Australian bush nurse who developed a controversial new approach for treating victims of poliomyelitis. She saw many victims of poliomyelitis and gradually developed her own methods of treating these patients. Her treatment, which concentrated on strengthening the muscles and encouraged patients to abandon their braces and splints and undertake active movements, was opposed by the medical profession but received strong community and political support. In 1932 she established a treatment clinic in Townsville and despite continuing opposition from the medical profession clinics using her methods were later opened in Brisbane and elsewhere.

Location

Address:	Victoria & Herries Streets, Outside Milne Bay Memorial Pool, Toowoomba, 4350
State:	QLD
Area:	AUS
GPS Coordinates:	Lat: -27.564294 Long: 151.950352 Note: GPS Coordinates are approximate.

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Details

Monument Type:	Monument
Monument Theme:	People
Sub-Theme:	Medicine
Link:	http://www.acph.nicheit.com.au/

Dedication

Front Inscription

··IN GRATITUDE··

This Memorial Is Erected
In Honour Of Sister
Elizabeth Kenny Who
Died In Toowoomba On
30th November, 1952.
During Her Lifetime
She Served Her Fellow
Men In Many Countries
In The Fight Against
Poliomyelitis.
Her Untiring Efforts
And Devotion To This
Cause Brought Hope To
The Stricken And Paved
The Way For Successful
Treatment.

She Served Not In vain.

SISTER KENNY

1886 1952

Back Inscription

Save the moments while they stay
Seize and use them
Lest you lose them
And lament the wasted day

Source: MA, ADB

Monument details supplied by Monument Australia - www.monumentaustralia.org.au

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