History of the Colostomy Association of NSW by Ian Murray

The Inaugural Meeting of the Colostomy Rehabilitation Association of NSW was held in the Balmain Council Chambers on Monday, 3 February 1964. There were 7 Colostomates present, called together by Mrs Houghton, who after having the operation didn’t have anyone to turn to for help, realising that other Colostomates would be in the same position as herself, put an ad in the Sydney papers to call them together to help each other.

Three Ileostomy Association Members, Mrs Beness the Assistant Secretary, Mr Perc Eddes the Treasurer and Sister Betty Hughes the Secretary, Sister Ryan from Barrere Surgical, with Peter Franks attended that meeting.

The second meeting of the newly formed Association was held at the Balmain Council Chambers on Monday, 2 March 1964. At this meeting, Doctor Mark Killingback attended and offered his services as Honorary Medical Advisor.

The third General Meeting was held in the Maitland Lecture Hall, Sydney Hospital on Saturday, 9 May 1964. At this meeting Sister Betty Hughes, Secretary of the Ileostomy Association described the Pharmaceuticals available free to Colostomy patients and outlined the means by which these could be obtained.

At the end of the first 6 months, the membership had reached 60. By September 1967, the membership reached 400 as a result of advertising through the radio, newspapers and letters to Doctors. By 1979, the membership was over 2,000 in NSW with about 3,000 throughout Australia.

On 12 December 1970, the Association was able to present Dr Hereet, the Superintendent of Sydney Hospital, with the sum of $500 for the Colon and Rectum Unit, later to be called “The Edward Wilson Colon and Rectum Unit”.

In 1970, Sister Oldmeadow was appointed to the position of Stomal Therapist in the new unit. Sister Oldmeadow was attached to the Sydney Home Nursing Service, other sisters have followed her in this work and are doing a tremendous job in preparing the patients in the hospitals before and after their operations, then guiding them back to health and comfort.

Also on 12 December 1970, the Committee was asked to take steps to safeguard the interests of the Association by the presentation of a submission to the Select Committee of the House of Representatives on Pharmaceutical Benefits that the scope of such system be enlarged to cover supply of Appliances.

In 1973 several applications were put to Parliament for “Free Appliances”.

The Bill for Free Appliances was put before Parliament November 1974, but failed. The Bill was re-introduced into Parliament on 21 February 1975. The Free Surgical Appliances Bill was passed and received Royal Assent. The Prime Minister at the time was Mr Gough Whitlam.

Mr Mullen (President) and Mr P. Franks (Appliance Advisor) attended a meeting with the Department of Health on 22 April 1975.

On 31 May 1975, another meeting was called by Canberra to iron out the final arrangements. Mr Grice attended that meeting.

On 27 September 1975, a letter was received from the Department of Health advising of the approval of the scheme to supply Free Stoma Appliances to those that need them.

Mr Lazzarini from the Department of Health attended our meeting on 23 October 1975 to briefly outline the scheme.

On 22 November 1975, we rented rooms at 243 Elizabeth Street, Sydney. Sister Turner was engaged to help the members with their Appliances and Mrs Doreen Smith was engaged to run the office. They started on 24 November 1975. Every member was asked to pay a levy to purchase our first stock:-

Full Members $10.00
Pension Members $2.50

AND SO OUR “FREE APPLIANCE SCHEME” GOT UNDER WAY.

When the free distribution of goods was being organised, the Stomal Therapists estimated what would be needed be each member, and this amount is issued each month. Only one months supply to be ordered at any one time.

The Government printed the forms for the members to fill in for their requirements.

We purchase the stock, issue it to the members and are then reimbursed by the Government Health Department plus 2½%. This was supposed to pay the expenses of running the office and administrative costs.

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