Among various documents kept by my family is “Stuffed Notes”, the hand-written newsletter of an imaginary hospital, composed in 1919 by my grandmother Kathleen Cavenagh Cudmore (1908–2013), when she was eleven.

Kathleen’s father was Arthur Murray Cudmore (1870-1951), an Adelaide surgeon. Her mother, Kathleen Cudmore (1874-1951), was much involved in charity work.

“Stuffed Notes” seems to be based on overheard scraps of dinner-time conversation, which Kathleen adapted and re-worked into the newsletter of a 50-bed hospital ‘for any diseases, infectious or not’. She herself was Matron.

Kathleen and Rosemary

Kathleen and her sister Rosemary

Stuffed Notes
StuffedNotes1
StuffedNotes2
 
The transcription below retains my grandmother’s spelling and grammar.
Stuffed Notes
The Hospital telephone number has changed from 36 to 4506.
This Hospital is for any diseases infectious or not. There is a nicely equipped isolation hospital for infectious diseases.
Stuffed Notes will be published monthly. The charge is a 1d a year.
The Hospital will hold fifty beds. Children can be kept at the hospital when they are convalescent if parents wish.
The Doctors are
Dr Binks
Dr Bronte
Dr Sam
Dr Bingo
The chief Nurses are
Nurse Wills
Nurse Wagga
Nurse Sambo
Nurse Coon and many others
K.C. Cudmore (Matron)
 
Nowra public school temporary hospital

Nowra Public School converted into a temporary hospital for pneumonic influenza epidemic, 1919 (Illustrating hospitals of 1919, photograph from the collection of the Historic Houses Trust)

…..
 
We are pleased to send you this months Stuffed Notes.
There has been one case of influenza which was fatal. But we are glad to say no more cases have been proved influenza.
All the other patients all getting on very well, all but Caecer the Stuffed whos eye is still bad. Bruin has got Typhoid Fever very badly but we think he will not die.
All in the hospital send there love.
K.C. Cudmore
 
…..
 
The Hospital has had one death a little boy died of a injured Spinal Cord. The accindent accured through a motor driven by Mr Jackson of Henly Beach ran into a trap driven by Bellring and Caeser the Stuffed. Both were rendered unconious and taken to the Animal Hospital. Bellring is getting much better and soon will be going home.
All the other patients are getting better
No more cases of Enfluenza have accured.
All the Hospital sends their love.
KC Cudmore
(Matron)
 
…..
 
If you would like all the 1919 numbers of Stuffed Notes in a little book you can do so by writting or Telephoning 4506.
There has been one more case of Influenza. But he is recovering. There are 5 cases of Diphtheria but they are all getting better all but two who are dangirus.
Nurse Wells is going for a holiday so Nurse Wagga is taking her place.
All the patients are improving all but two Bellring and Possy the Stuffed.
The hospital sends their love.
KC Cudmore
(Matron)
 
Keswick hospital 1919

Ward 11 Keswick Military Hospital, Adelaide, South Australia 1919 Photograph from the Australian War Memorial

…..
 
The are 8 cases of Influenza 2 deaths and 3 dangious cases all the rest are getting better.
The Mayor gave 10 pounds to the hospital on Saturday. The Govenor 5 pounds.
Bellring and Possy are much better and will leave the hospital on Friday. Nurse Wells has come home and will go on with her dutys as before. Dr Binks xrayed Bruin yesterday but found nothing broken only a bone bruised.
All the Hospital sends its love.
K.C. Cudmore
(Matron)
 
…..
 
Five cases of Influenza have accured 1 death and 2 dangirus the other two a getting better the outbreak of Influenza is very bad at present.
One of the convalescent patients, Poggy Quack Quack, was out for a walk with one of the nurses, saw his mother across the street and run to meet her when he was in the middle of the street a motor run over him.
He was taken to the Hospital were he died. It was not the nurses fault for she tried to catch him.
All the Hospital sends thier love.
K.C. Cudmore
(Matron)
 
…..
 
There are 10 cases of Influenza 3 deaths and 5 dangrous cases. Nurse Wagga is ill with Influenza so Nurse Sambo is taking her place. Dr Bingo x-rayed Little Teddy, he has a broken back. He is slowly getting better. Nurse Wagga is is not so very dangious but she is fairly bad.
The Hospital has given 20 pounds for the Navy.
All the Hospital sends thier love.
K.C. Cudmore
(Matron)
 
…..
 
Influenza
Cases = 12
Deaths = 4
Dangious = 3
Mild = 5
Nurse Wagga is quite well now and has gone away for a Holiday a Henly Beach.
We are not removing the Influenza cases to the Isolation Hospital at the Exhibition. As we heard the conditions are not very good.
All the Hospital sends thier love.
K.C. Cudmore
(Matron)
 
…..
 
Septeber
On Monday Bellring was in a tran when it clided with another the two motormen were killed as well as 10 passengers & many injured. The rams caught alight which made the tragedy more awful. Bellring was taken to the Hospital where he is in critical condition between Life and Death. Some times he seems better sometimes worse. every attention is being had to him that can be done & we still have hope of his recovery.
There a five cases of Influenza but they are all recovering.
Nurse Coon has gone for a holiday so Nurse Wells is taking her place.
All the patients send their love.
K.C. Cudmore
(Matron)
bus and tram accident

Crowd gathers to observe the damage following a collision between a motor bus and an electric tram near Hurtle Square, Adelaide, on 13 March 1915. Both vehicles burst into flames and Walter Simmons, aged 5, received fatal burns. Photograph from State Library of South Australia.

…..
We are glad to say Bellring has received but is not well enough to be discharged.
Little Teddy is back is much better and will go home on Friday.
Nurse Coon is home from her holiday.
There were no deaths lately and most of the dangerous cases are getting better.
Possy has to have his fingers amputated as he slammed it very badly in a door.
All the Patients send their love.
K.C. Cudmore
(Matron)
…..
No more cases of Influenza have accrued. Dr San x-rayed Bellring nothing serious was the matter only a broken arm.
A fete will be held on the 11th Nov at he hospital ground there will be Brand Pies, sweet stalls, work stalls Hoop-la and other stalls
There are 5 cases of measles but none of them are dingoes.
All the Patients are getting much better.
All the Hospital sends their love.
K.C. Cudmore
…..
This is the last number of Stuffed Notes this year, it will soon be Christmas.
We want to give a little present to the children that are in the Hospital at Christmas. we may have a Christmas tree with the presents hung on and wheel it round for the children to see and take the presents off and give them to the children.
All the Patients are a little better.
A happy Christmas to you.
All the patients & staff send their love.
K.C. Cudmore
Keswick hospital xmas tea

Christmas tea Keswick Military Hospital 1919. Photograph from the Australian War Memorial

Christmas tree Adelaide 1919

A Christmas party at Parliament House, Adelaide, for soldiers’ children. In the foreground is Mr Samuel ‘Sammy’ Lunn, M.B.E., a well-known worker for soldiers at the Front and, after the war, for returned soldiers and their families. c. 1919 Photograph from State Library of South Australia.