biographies

Cuscaden, George (1858 - 1933)

Kt. Bach., V.D., L.R.C.P. et C. (Irel.), F.R.A.C.S.

Born
1858
Wexford, Ireland
Died
1933
Occupation
Gynaecologist, Medical practitioner and Obstetrician

Details

Transcription of item written by Dr Colin Macdonald and published in "The Book of Remembrance", The Royal Women's Hospital, Melbourne, 1956.


SIR GEORGE CUSCADEN
(1896 _ 1917)

George Cuscaden, appointed to the staff the same year as F.W.W. Morton and Taylor Downie, was born in Ireland in 1858, the son of Henry Cuscaden of Alexandra House, Wexford. Though his early medical education was at Mercer’s Hospital, Dublin, he finally qualified at Edinburgh in 1880. After a period spent as an assistant in London, he went to Dominica, the largest of the Windward Islands, British West Indies, as a colonial surgeon, but developing a tropical abscess of the liver, he was invalided home. For some years he sailed as ship’s surgeon, first to the West Coast of Africa and later across the Atlantic. In 1882 as a transport surgeon he was present at the bombardment of Alexandria by the fleet after Arabi Pasha had incurred British displeasure by his treatment of Europeans. A chance remark about prospects in Australia caused him to come to this country on the "Port Darwin". After a short period of practice at Port Wakefield he commenced at Urana, New South Wales and some years later settled at Port Melbourne, in the early nineties - at the time of the great financial depression - and developed a large general practice, to be relinquished in his later years for consultant work in Collins Street. Appointed to the outpatient staff of the Women’s in 1896, he subsequently advanced to senior surgeon, consulting surgeon and a member of the Board of Management.

Cuscaden was a man of wide interests. When if practice in Port Melbourne, he became a Councillor and Mayor of that municipality and in 1912 he was elected to the Melbourne City Council as representative of the Latrobe Ward, becoming an Alderman in 1929. With a short intermission, he was a Commissioner of the Metropolitan Board of Works from 1914 to 1932. During this time he represented these bodies on various organisations and was a member of many sub committees ranging from the Spencer Street Bridge to the Melbourne Centenary Committee. He was in the forefront of any health movement of importance, having been Chairman of the Heatherton Sanatorium and of the Queen’s Memorial Infectious Diseases Hospital at Fairfield. He stood high in the opinion of his medical colleagues, being a member of the Council of the Victorian Branch of the B.M.A. and a past President. He was a Foundation Fellow of the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons.

Cuscaden was very interested in military affairs and on the outbreak of war in 1914 was made Principal Medical Officer of the 3rd Military District, bring promoted Colonel. In February 1917 he was D.G.M.S. with the temporary rank of Brigadier-General and later Major-General; he continued in this position until 1921. As an indication of his responsibilities at the time of the Armistice in November 1918, there were 12 Australian General Hospitals, 34 Auxiliary Hospitals and Convalescent Homes, 3 Mental Hospitals, and many smaller institutions including 4 artificial limb factories. Though the work of these institutions, particularly during the period of demobilisation was extremely heavy, their efficiency was commended by a Committee of Investigation appointed by the Minister of Defence to advise on the state of Australian military camps.

George Cuscaden was hardworking, conscientious and dependable - a man who over many years gave worthy service to the people of Melbourne, Victoria, and Australia and well deserved his Knight Bachelor awarded in 1923.

He died in 1933 aged 75 years. He had married in 1886, Alice, daughter of William King of Adelaide and his son, W.G. Cuscaden was a member of the Women’s Honorary Staff from 1914 to 1947. So the family association with the hospital continued over 51 years. A similarly noteworthy father-son association with the Hospital was given by the Fetherstons, who served of the staff for 45 years, from 1869 to 1914, to which must be added the five years 1860-65 when Gerald Fetherston - the father - was the Resident Surgeon.

Archival/Heritage Resources

Royal Women's Hospital Archives

  • Book of Remembrance, 1956 - 1975; Royal Women's Hospital Archives [ Details... ].

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Prepared by: Robyn Waymouth

Created: 1 August 2006, Last modified: 26 November 2006