From the Archives - Spanish Flu Pandemic
St Laurence’s College has been many things to many people, but in a time of need, exactly 100 years ago in 1919, Archbishop Duhig and the Christian Brothers offered St Laurence’s College as the site of an isolation hospital to be staffed by the Sisters of Mercy.
The Spanish Flu Pandemic, which had begun overseas in 1918 and eventually killed up to 50 million people worldwide, struck Queensland in early 1919. By May 1919 hospitals were full and schools and borders were closed in an attempt to halt the spread of the disease. The Brisbane General Hospital (RBH) staff numbers were so depleted that it was forced to close. The school building became an isolation hospital with three large wards on the top floor accommodating patients.
The Daily Mail reported on Monday 26 May 1919 that the School had been handed over to the Home Department by the Archbishop and was inspected by the Home Secretary (Mr Huxham). The work of fitting out the school as a hospital was nearly complete. At the time of inspection, there was accommodation for 60 patients (40 male and 20 female). In addition, tents were being erected in the ground for 20 convalescent patients. The hospital was completely fitted out in every detail, containing an operating theatre and all the requisites which an institution of this sort required. The wards were described as well-lit and ventilated; the situation of the building made it an ideal place for nursing the sick and for the recuperation of the patients.
The Monastery provided accommodation for the nurses, including seven Sisters of Mercy and secular nurses and eight probationers from the Mater. Dr Helen Shaw was the Resident Medical Officer and Father J Healy was chaplain to the hospital and the Sisters. Sister Damien was the Sister in Charge. Eventually a mortuary was established on the Stephens side of the building.
The Brothers had relocated to St Joseph’s Gregory Terrace but taught some classes, albeit sporadically, in the German Hall on Vulture Street.
The newspapers of the day reported the admissions, births, discharges and deaths at each of the hospitals. The Queensland Times on Thursday 29 May 1919 reported:
“A report from St Laurence’s Hospital this afternoon stated that there were 30 patients in hospital, many being dangerously ill. There had been no deaths, but early this morning a female child was born to one of the patients.”
On Monday 9 June 1919 the Brisbane Courier reported:
“The St Laurence’s Epidemic Hospital accommodated 54 influenza patients last night. Of these 5 were classified as dangerously ill, 4 are seriously ill, 38 as improving and 7 as convalescent... A woman in St Laurence’s Hospital gave birth to a baby on Saturday. The mother was subsequently reported to be in a serious condition”.