Agency:
Tasmanian Society for the Care of Crippled Children
Agency Number:
Start Date:
21 Oct 1935
End Date:
30 Jun 1988
Description:
The Tasmanian Society for the Care of Crippled Children was registered under the Companies Act on 21/10/1935, with the first formal meeting of the Society held in Hobart on 13/11/1935. Mr J Burgess Watt and Dr A W Shugg were the first Presidents of the Society.;;The Society was formed with grant money from the Nuffield Trust. Initially this Trust asked that the Tasmanian Government establish and operate a convalescent home at Taroona. This was deemed unfeasible, with most of the funds being allotted instead to establish an after-care orthopaedic clinic within the Royal Hobart Hospital. The clinic, 'Wingfield House', was opened in 1940 at St Johns Park (after the Wingfield Morris Orthopaedic Hospital established by Lord Nuffield in England). ;;The Society provided a broad range of services aimed at ensuring that children with a disability were provided with care, education, and family support. Initially the definition of disability was focused on sufferers of infantile paralysis and disabilities of bone and muscle. The Society made home visits, provided physical aids, transport, and access to vocational education. A feature that continued throughout the life of the Society was annual events such as a Christmas party for patients and their families. Fundraising was an ongoing task, with the Society working closely with many local community groups (Apex, Rotary, CWA, Radio 7HO, Red Cross, etc.) as well as prominent local individuals. The Governor was a Patron of the Society from 1960.;;During the 1960s the Society strongly advocated for a 'New Wingfield' to be built at Montagu Bay. This did not occur, however in 1967 a major refit of the St John's site was undertaken. In 1972 Wingfield was closed as an inpatient facility, and converted to a Day Centre. In 1978 the Society purchased a unit in Lenah Valley to assist in respite for the parents of children with a disability. Wingfield was closed in 1980, with all functions transferred to the new Douglas Parker Rehabilitation Centre in Tower Road, New Town. By 1984 The Society had transferred all of its administrative work associated with this Centre to the Government. ;;The Society was instrumental in the development of an accessible playground at Cornelian Bay, Hobart.;;From the 1980's the Society focused on its role as an independent organisation that could provide services, equipment and advice to organisations and individuals. At this time discussions were also underway regarding the appropriateness of the Societies name. In 1988 the Society officially became 'Tascare Society for Children'.;;The records of Tascare in Tasmanian Archives do not contain clinical details of clients. The only personal information located appears to be in file 'NS6672/1/16 - Survey of children by Apex Clubs of Tasmania' which includes names and addresses of children 1952-53. The only photographs of children are from the annual events. Very few images include the names of those depicted. Records in series AB713 should be referred to for photographs of children at Wingfield House.
Information Sources:
Records of the Society.
Functions Performed:
Community health and welfare
Related Agencies:
Launceston General Hospital (TA442) | 01 Jan 1820 |
Society for the Care of Crippled Children (NG1499) | 01 Dec 1938 | 04 Feb 1986 |
Subsequent Agencies:
Tascare Society for Children (NG3439) | 01 Jul 1988 | 01 Dec 2019 |
Series Created By Agency:
NS6631 Minutes - Meetings of Directors and Annual General Meetings | 14 Aug 1935 | 11 Sep 1968 |
NS6672 Records of the Society | 06 Sep 1935 | 31 Dec 2017 |
NS6674 Clippings and Memorabilia | 01 Sep 1939 | 31 Dec 2018 |
NS6632 Photographs of Events | 01 Jan 1987 |
NS6673 Bequests | 01 Jan 1988 | 21 Jan 2014 |