CONCLUDING the story of Dr Ted Blomfield. He is still practising at the Old Bega Hospital but moves are being made to build the Bega District Hospital.
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DR TED said that Dr McKee led one of the rallies for a new hospital. It was built by Perc Remington at an initial cost of 273,000 pounds with 1,200,000 bricks made by Lot Stafford.
The nurses' home was built first and was completed and occupied by 1946. A taxi took the nurses to and from the home to the hospital.
On July 2, 1956, transfer of the 50 patients took place from the old to the new hospital. Dr Blomfield, along with Dr McKee, the Matron and the nurses had their photo taken outside the Bega District Hospital.
The conditions were immeasurably improved at the new hospital, said Dr Ted. Over the years he had delivered 3133 babies at Pambula, the Old Bega Hospital and the Bega District Hospital.
His last delivery was a baby boy Alcock on December 21, 1984, after which he was forced to retire as the Hospital Commission terminated his appointment as a Honorary Medical Officer and VMO because he was too old. The age of visiting medical practitioners had changed from 70 to 65.
“That was one of the biggest disappointments of my life,” he said.
Two weeks before his termination he was called on to perform a caesarian section because no-one else could perform the operation.
In his honour and in recognition of his work the maternity unit at the Bega District Hospital was named the Dr E C Blomfield Maternity Wing in 1987.
In 1996 he was granted life membership of both the Bega and District Nursing Home and the Casuarina Hostel board.
Dr Ted had a gentle nature and was generous and friendly, with a quick wit and an endless supply of jokes. He contributed greatly to the life of St John 's Church and was a long standing member of the Rotary Club, which recognised his contribution with a Paul Harris fellowship, one of its highest awards.
His lifelong hobby was photography. He bought his first camera, a folding Kodak, from the proceeds of trapping rabbits.
He did at one time try processing his own film in the darkroom for X-rays at the surgery, but found he was often called out during the processing period and the film was lost.
He did capture some wonderful landscapes and these may be seen on the walls of Hillgrove House. The Bega Pioneers' Museum also has many of his photos in its collection.
He was a supporter of Little Athletics, Meals on Wheels and other organisations. He died on December 12, 2001.