South Australian Medical Heritage Society Inc

Allan Edward Chadwick 13 /10 /1907 —29 / 6 / 1972
pilot for the Bush Church Aid Society (BCAS)
in Ceduna, South Australia

Acknowledgments

We are most grateful to Dr. Robert Cooter AM  MBBS  FRACGP FAMA for  suggesting this entry, and for providing us with excerpts of his book and also the comments and photographs which were sent to him by Dr. Merna Mueller, Joy Brann AM, and Mr. McArthur Job. We are also grateful to Alan Sedgwick, a past resident in Ceduna. Allan Chadwick’s contribution to the health service by flying the doctors and nurses of the Bush Church Aid Society needs a special mention. See references at the end.

BACKGROUND

The name Ceduna may well have its origin in an aboriginal word Cheedoona,  “a place to rest”. The earliest visitors were the Dutch  (Pieter Nuyts, 1627). In the early nineteenth century (1802) the area was visited by Matthew Flinders during his circumnavigation, and by Nicholas Baudin who named the bay of Ceduna  Murat Bay, after one of Napoleon’s Marshals, and Cape Thevenard after a French Admiral. Denial Bay was named by Flinders (1802). It was originally a supply port and is now a small settlement known for fishing and shellfish.

The first effective settlement is ascribed to William McKenzie in 1889. There were attempts to grow wheat and the scrub was cleared using manual labour. McKenzie employed nearly 30 hands and became involved in shipping, haulage and provisions. Over time the centre of activity moved from Denial Bay to Thevenard but eventually Ceduna became the main township and was proclaimed as such in 1901. The name “Murat Bay” however persisted for some time longer. Currently Ceduna is the third largest port in South Australia and exports cereals, livestock and minerals. Some are rare and even unique to Ceduna, such as Zircon.

The original population was small and the heath services then were non-existent apart from those provided by the residents themselves. Some were recognised as bonesetters,  others could suture or treat wounds or use medicinal preparations. After an increase in population and a tragic death of a shearer cook, which could possibly have been avoided, nurses were provided, and finally several doctors became resident. They were supported by contributions from the residents and supervised by the Farmers Medical Society (FMS). The private contributions ranged from 1 to 3 Pounds per year.

The Bush Church Aid Society  (BCAS) became involved in 1925. It opened the first hospital, provided medical staff and extended its services to outlying areas such as Cook Tarcoola and Penong. It became the major health provider and caused the dissolution of the FMS. 

Further changes occurred in 1934 when Drs. Roy and Freda Gibson arrived. They were successful in lobbying for a new bigger hospital and a pilot to serve outlying areas. All these activities were not possible without good will and financial support from the Bush Church Aid Society. Dr.Verna Mueller arrived in 1951 initially as locum after Roy Gibson died from snake bite. She stayed and . Drs Gibson , Mueller and the nursing staff provided reliable and excellent medical services until 1968.. The  important role of Allan Chadwick as the Bush Church Aid pilot requires a separate entry.

Allan Chadwick’s pilot licence  in 1937 qualifying him to fly the aeroplanes indicated on the bottom right of his licence. (DH60; DH53; AVRO AVIAN; DH83; and DH84).

He took delivery of a De Havilland Fox Moth in 1938 and flew it from Sydney to Ceduna

Allan Chadwick was born in South Australia but in the 1930s, lived in Melbourne, and attended the St..John’s and St. Thomas’s churches in Malvern and Essendon. He was an accomplished organist. He also worked at the Essendon  airport. When the .BCAS advertised for a pilot he applied for and was awarded the post. He obtained his first qualification as a pilot in 1936, and increased his competency to fly more aircraft in 1937. He loved Ceduna and was noted for playing the church organ. He had a reputation for safety and his small safety delays may have saved many lives. His flying of the many different aeroplanes was legendary. The navigation then was basic and depended on recognising features such as salt pans, rocks, roads and railways.

Two Fox Moth aircraft flying at Essenden Flying School on March 4 1935.

The pilot is at the rear. AE Chadwick is accompanied by H Boston. Above, RA Watt  is accompanied by K Tuckey

A modified Fox- Moth was a single engine bi-plane, which could  seat three persons and cruised at 85 mph. A stretcher could be carried in an emergency.

In the first year of operation  of the Fox Moth, Allan Chadwick flew a distance of 15000 miles, the flying time was 200 hours and 800 patients were treated. The Fox Moth was in active service until 1947 when it was replaced by a DH 84 Dragon. The Moth was transferred to Kyancutta and used by a doctor, also a  pilot, from Wudinna Hospital

The following photographs represent the later aircraft used at Ceduna by the BCAS at Ceduna.
They were kindly provided by Dr.Mueller.

A twin engined de Havilland Dragon, roomy and with a top speed of 120 mph “if the winds were favourable.”

Allan Chadwick (Chaddy) with Percival Proctor. Chaddy was a BCAS pilot from 1938 to 1968

Photograph of the Douglas  A12:  It shows Mac Job,  also a pilot and a friend

One of the later aeroplanes, a twin engined Cessna

Later in his career Chadwick also took part in communications the photograph shows him in the Ceduna radio room (above) and radio room layout (below).

A photograph from the Melbourne Sun newspaper taken in May 1934

The following photographs have been copied from a CD kindly provided by Dr Mueller

Ceduna Hospital in 1960

First BCAS hospital in Ceduna 1922

Aerial view of Ceduna in the 1950s  taken by Dr.Mueller. 

Aerodrome and the BCAS hangar in the background right.

Dr Mueller performing a tonsillectomy

Mount Fink, a useful navigational landmark.

Before the 1950s roads, railways, salt pans and stations were most useful.

Photograph of Allan Chadwick and his wife, and a memorial plaque denoting his achievements below.

Allan Chadwick and the Auster

Single-engined Cessna 172 at Coober Pedy

If  no wind bag was available, smoke from a fire was used.

Information about aeroplanes and BCAS activities after arrival of Dr. Mueller in 1951

1951 Doctor Merna Mueller joined the Ceduan Staff
1953 Radio Control Station opened at Ceduna – VKB Ceduna
         Operator - Mr George Cameron
         Radio Tranceivers established in the hospitals and outback station properties
1954 Percival Proctor 3 VH BOR purchased, and Fox Moth VH-GAS sold
         Mr. Mac Job joined staff as pilot
1955 Tarcoola: New Tarcoola District Hospital built and opened
         Staff: Sisters Vera Holle * Marjorie Tarr
1956 Lockheed 12A VH-BHH purchased (Later VII-FMS)
        DH84 and Proctor aircraft sold.
        Mr Gordon Taylor joined staff as pilot
1959 Oswald Watt Memorial Medal: Awarded to Allan Chadwick, for safety in Flying
1960 Lockheed 12A damaged and sold
         Cessna 210 VH_FMS purchased
1961 Mr. John Lindridge joined staff as pilot
1962 Cessna 210 VH-AEC purchased
1965 Coober Pedy Medical Centre built and opened
         Staff: Sisters Vaisey Cochrane & Heather Heaver
1966 Bechcraft Baron aircraft FH-FMS purchased
         The two Cessna 210s sold
1967 Flying medical Service work terminated from Ceduna and taken over
         by Royal Flying Doctor Servied – Port Augusta Base. Beechcraft
         VH-FMS in January, and the Radio Network in February.
1970 Allan Chadwick awarded MBE in Queen’s New Year’s Honours List

Damage to Lockheed 12 a

The road across the Nullarbor  Plain

Aboriginal child treated for gastroenteritis



Mulgathing and Commonwealth Hill Stations were also on the visiting list

Aerial view of Tarcoola. Another stop for the Chadwick plane

Cook Hospital staffed by two nurses provided by BCAS  Emergency surgery, confinement and First Aid were  provided as well as consulting once a month

Long stright stretch of rail at Cook.

A coming train could be seen for 30 minutes before arrival

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