This cache introduces you to an interesting piece of Linton history and Australian history as we celebrate the pioneer of Australia’s Maternal and Child Health system, a system close to our hearts as it saved the life of one of our children.
The coordinates will bring you to the life-size bronze statue of Dr Vera Scantlebury Brown OBE, the Linton born medic who blazed a trail as a World War I doctor and then maternal and child health pioneer.
Vera was born in Linton in 1889, the daughter of a medical practitioner, and grew up in contact with her father’s patients in her home. She was inspired to attend medical school at the University of Melbourne, where she graduated with a Bachelor of Surgery and Bachelor of Medicine with Distinction in 1914. Vera was one of the first women to complete a medical degree in Victoria and wanted to use her skills to contribute to the war effort, but women doctors were not accepted in the Australian Army at the time, so she paid her own way to London and for two years worked as a surgeon at Endell Street Military Hospital, treating injured soldiers sent over from France. Endell Street was known as the ‘suffragette hospital’ as it was created and operated by women doctors and nurses.
Back in Australia after the war, Vera became the first Director of the Victorian Infant Welfare Scheme, a ground-breaking role which saw her caring for the health and wellbeing of babies and mothers for decades to come. The scheme that she established is the maternal and child health system we know today.
In 1938, her contribution to infant and maternal health was officially recognised with an OBE. More information can be found by scanning the QR code at the statue.
Stage two can be found at S 37 41.ABC E 143 33.DCF
Where A = the first digit in the year of her birth
B= the number of buttons on her skirt x 2 - 2
C= the number of buttons on her epaulets
D= the first digit in the year of her death plus the 4th digit in the same year
F= the number of buttons fastening her coat closed
(Stage two Coordinate checker S =30 E=30)
The second stage of this cache will take you to the house Vera lived in for the first two years of her life, and where her father worked as the community’s doctor. In 1891 the family moved to Melbourne and Vera was educated at Toorak College
The final stage and cache can be found at S 37 41.GGH E 143 33.JGK
Where G= the house number divided by 32
H= the first number of the house number
J= the first number of the house number minus 1
K= the last number in the house number multiplied by 2
(Stage 3 Coordinate checker S=25 E=29)
We hope you enjoy learning about this amazing woman
Congratulations Tangentgoat and Nelzarama for your shared FTF.