Penrith City Library hopes you enjoy solving the many puzzles we have created from our Photographic Collection. Pop back from time to time as we add more challenging and fun puzzles..
As we have done with the Pneunomic Influenza (Spanish flu) pandemic of 1919, generations to come will look back at our experiences with the COVID-19 pandemic.
The State Library of NSW has set up The Diary Files to capture community experiences and responses to the pandemic. They are calling on you to document how things have been for you during time.
Thanks to all who entered our quiz – we have two winners who have been notified. We are continuing with another round so you can still win a book voucher from Dymocks. visit the Library’s Facebook page for more information.
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Anzac Day this year will be very different to any previous Anzac Day due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This Anzac Day we will focus on Roy Dollin who at just 23 enlisted and served at Gallipoli, coming home to his family with shell shock and nervous tension, going on to work at the Small Arms Factory in Lithgow only to succumb to Pneumonic Influenza (Spanish flu) in the pandemic of 1919.
Private Roy Dollin – service number 845 – AIF D Company 25th Battalion
Photograph of Roy Dollin and of Roy and his brother Norman taken in Toowomba, Queensland just before the First World War. Photos courtesy of the Dollin family
Born in St Marys, Roy was just 23 when he joined the Australian Infantry. A bricklayer by trade, he enlisted in Brisbane and left on the HMAT Aeneas on 29 June 1915. He served at Gallipoli for several months and was part of one of the last battalions to evacuate from the Peninsula. By October 1915 he had been admitted to the Beach Hospital at Anzac Cove. According to his service record he was blown up by a high explosive whilst at Gallipoli which left him with shell shock. It is unclear whether this happened in October or later. There was particularly heavy shelling on 29th November with war historian Charles Bean noting that this was the “first occasion upon which Australian infantry in trenches were subjected to heavy modern bombardment”. This bombardment resulted in many shellshocked soldiers and the collapse of trenches suffocating others.
According to his service record Roy was moved to Mudros, Lemnos where the 3rd Australian General Hospital was located. Due to winter approaching in England it was decided to send the Australian troops coming out of Gallipoli to Egypt rather than England for convalescence, rehabilitation and training. Roy was sent to Abassia with the No. 3 Australian General Hospital. After Abassia he was placed at Ghezireh Palace Hotel which was being used as an overflow for the No. 2 Australian General Hospital at Mena House. In March 1916 he also spent time in hospital for an injury to his scrotum. In April 1916 he was sent to Tel El Kebir – a training camp for the AIF.
It is unclear from his service records what happened to him in 1916 apart from his time in hospital recuperating.
In April 1917 a recommendation was made for him to be sent to England for a change. He was at Rollestone possibly the training camp or more probably one of the Command Depots where Australian soldiers were sent to recover and recuperate. According to the Nepean Times (3 March 1917 p4), while still in Rollestone, Roy wrote to his parents asking them to thank the people of St Marys for the Christmas Cheer Fund parcel – also letting his parents know he had met up with his old friend William Garner (Garner died in August 1918 in the Battle of Amiens). Roy was still in England in June 2017 when he was penalised 7 days pay for being insolent to an officer and failing to salute.
He was in hospital for 3 and half months. His medical notes noted he was unable to sleep at night, adding that “the least excitement brings on violent shaking”. The report from 20 April 1917 also notes his present condition as being “a very nervous individual with marked tachycardia and fine tremors”.
In August 1917, the Medical Board at Rollestone changed his classification from temporarily unfit for general service to “permanently unfit for general service”. Eventually on 26 November 1917 he returned to Australia and was sent to the 6th Australian General Hospital (Kangaroo Point) in Brisbane Australia. He was at the hospital until 18 December 1917. However according to the Nepean Times (1 December 1917) he was welcomed home to St Marys in late November with a large community gathering.
By 1919 Roy was working at the Lithgow Small Arms Factory when he tragically succumbed to pneumonic influenza and died at his boarding house.
The article below from Trove announces his death at this terrible time.
If you would like more information on the Dollin family visit lesdollin.com
Bean, Charles E. W. Official history of Australia in the war of 1914-1918 Volume 2 The story of Anzac from 4 May 1915 to the evacuation of the Gallipoli Peninsula (11th edition) Sydney, Angus and Robertson, 1941 p849
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For the month of April, Penrith City Library will be running a weekly quiz on the Library’s Facebook page. Each Tuesday we will ask 3 questions about Penrith’s history. Please visit the Library’s Facebook page for more information: https://www.facebook.com/pg/penrith.city.library/posts/
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The Library’s Convicts and Colonists History Conference was opened by the Mayor on Saturday to a packed theatrette. The conference theme was based around the 200th anniversary of the opening of the Emu Plains convict farm in September 1819.
Conference attendees travelled from across NSW to attend and were well informed and entertained by the end of the day. The conference commenced with the Mayor launching Library staff member Lorraine Stacker’s revised book on the Emu Plains convict farm – Chained to the Soil on the Plains of Emu. After the launch the U3A Henry Lawson Theatre Group entertained everyone with a musical rendition of the 1829 Exile of Erin poem.
Conference speakers were Lorraine Stacker, UNSW Professor Grace Karskens, Martyn Killion from State Archives and historical land researcher Steve Ford.
Many local historical and genealogical groups were also on hand to speak to those who attended. A big thank you to all staff in Research Services for running yet another great conference for the local community. A special thank you to the Mayor for generously giving his time to attend our event, and to Research Services for organising the event.
Conference speakers (L-R) Steve Ford, Grace Karskens, Lorraine Stacker and Martyn KillionU3A Henry Lawson Theatre group who performed The Exile of ErinJanet, Judy and Sally at their Nepean Family History Society stallMartyn Killion from State ArchivesHarry May setting up the Nepean District Historical Society stallLand researcher Steve Ford presenting his research to Penrith Library on Dungarth (Superintendent’s House), Emu PlainsGracr Karskens with Lorraine Stacker and her revised edition of Chained to the Soil on the Plains of Emu: A History of the Emu Plains Government Agricultural Establishment 1819-1832Nepean Archaeology Group
Penrith Library’s new Research Room and study rooms
On 9 May 2019 the Library officially launched its newly refurbished areas. The Library’s Research Room, reading and reference areas and computer zone areas were refurbished. Penrith Council’s Mayor Ross Fowler welcomed everyone providing them with some local library history and anecdotes. Sarah Dean, the Library Services Manager thanked all of those involved with the project. The Library’s two new study rooms have been named after its first two chief librarians, Margaret Trask AM BA Mlib FLAA (1948-56, 1958-63) and Joan Pearson (1956-58). Many members of Joan’s family travelled from Newcastle for the occasion. We thank them very much for doing so.
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