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The Bega Clock Tower was dedicated to a hard-working doctor who, around the turn of the 20th century, struggled against the odds to provide adequate care for his patients.
Montague Frederic Evershed moved to Bega in 1873 as, according to Bega Valley Historical Society research officer Sandra Florance, there was a desperate need for a doctor in the district.
In June 1927, the Bega District News reported in his early days he was the only doctor in the area, administering to people who lived between Tilba, the Victorian border and out to Bombala.
“He had never ridden a horse before he came to the Bega Valley,” Ms Florance said.
“But he had to, as his patients lived far away.
“He would ride out in the middle of the night to Bemboka to deliver a baby, then come back.”
Recognised by his long black beard, as he had to cover so much land during his journeys he would be met with fresh horses so he could continue on-wards.
He dispensed his own remedies and often treated patients without charging them.
In his older years, after he had become known as “the District’s Grandest Old Man”, he slipped getting out of a car in Wolumla and injured one of his legs, but despite this he walked around town with the “steadiness of much younger men” (BDN, 6/1927).
In the History of Bega by WA Bayley, Dr Evershed is described as self denying, self forgetting and great hearted.
The good doctor was born on March 20, 1841 in Sussex, England, went to London University, spent two years as a surgeon on the HMS Sabroan before moving to Bega.
It was there he met his wife Louisa Helen Oswald Welby, a woman born in India who’s father was a teacher in Bega and they married in 1876.
They lived in a house on Parker St, Bega, near what is now Bega Coles, and Dr Evershed spent many hours in the hothouse he has there – his other passion in his quiet time was cricket and he became patron of the Bega club.
He and his wife had five children; Oswald, Arthur, Lawrence, Mary and Frederick.
The family’s lives were touched by tragedy as Arthur was killed in action in France during World War 1 and Frederick died when he was 30, while it is unknown what became of Mary.
However, Oswald worked in the Canowindra Commonwealth Bank and Lawrence was the first taxi driver in the town.
On the evening the Bega Clock Tower was dedicated to Dr Evershed in May 1930, around 2000 people gathered to remember the man to share memories of his life.