AFTER years of planning the Bega District Hospital was finally built and officially opened by Mr Robert Lucas Tooth. Not so long after the opening Dr Evershed resigned as one of the medical officers.
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THE fact that Dr Evershed had to resign because he was so busy with his practice in Bega showed that for those who had worked so hard to fundraise and have this hospital built did a charitable gesture for those who were poor and needy, They, as they had always done, called on Dr Evershed and the other local doctors to treat them and their family in their homes.
Money for the ongoing expense of the hospital was still a problem so the position of collector was advertised and Mr Crommelin was appointed.
In August flowers, shrubs and trees donated by Messrs Gowing and Wren were planted and 20 pounds 11 shillings was added to the hospital fund from a ball at Candelo.
There were three patients in the hospital early September and had been another death, that of Mrs Ross of Wolumla who had been ailing for some time.
Money was needed before the end of the year to secure a Government endowment, and a way to raise that money came about through the good offices of Daniel Gowing, JP, of the Garden of Eden, Jellat Jellat. One of of the largest landed proprietors in the Bega district.
He came to the colony from Norfolk, England, in 1841 "and first settled on a clearing lease at Bung Bung, then moved to Sutton Forrest. There for six years he carried on business as a gardener and nurseryman. He followed similar pursuits at Glenfield for a number of years when he purchased about 500 acres of land in the Bega district from the Government, being one of the first purchasers for cash."
He increased this from time to time, and in 1888 owned about 3000 acres, 500 of which are under cultivation and the remainder used for grazing purposes.
"Mr Gowing has been a JP for many years and is the admitted father of Tathra having, with his own hands, cleared the road from Bega to the port. He used machinery forty years ago, and is one of our best and most successful farmers." Aldine's Centennial History of New South Wales.
Dan Gowing had kindly placed his spacious grounds at the disposal of the hospital committee for a Garden Party on November 8. It was declared a district public holiday and, although it was a Saturday, it meant many employers would allow their farm workers the day off.
