Trentham’s distinctive 1970s High Street clock holds special significance for the town: it commemorates the life and career of Dr Gweneth Wisewould (1884-1972).
From a well-to-do Brighton family, she had already enjoyed a full career in Melbourne before arriving in Trentham. She had worked at the Melbourne, Alfred and Queen’s Memorial hospitals; performed surgery at the Women & Children’s; and instructed students in anaesthetics.
Her unconventional life attracted much rumour, so she sought escape in country Victoria, with us in Trentham.
Here she used her considerable skills to face the realities of life as a rural GP, working tirelessly for the community, often free of charge. Daily consultations; house-calls day or night, in extremes of weather and terrain; operations in isolated cottages or Trentham’s Bush Hospital.
Tall and sturdy, invariably wrapped in a greatcoat, she observed “you cannot do this work looking pretty”. The community very quickly took her into their hearts.
Dr Gwen’s reminiscences, Outpost, published in 1971, is regarded as a minor socio-medico classic – a portrait of a community and the doctor they loved.
TDHS has developed a A walk of commemoration around Trentham to remember the 50th Anniversary of Dr Gwen’s death. Please contact hs@trentham.org.au if you would like a (free) pdf copy.