A HAZARD OF HEARTS (59 page)

She turned to the men standing behind her and
swept her hand to include them, before addressing the members of the
Legislative Council. None of these faces stood out for her. They were an
amorphous mass, representing a barrier to be broken down.

‘Sirs. These gentlemen here with me have given
their promise. If elected to government, they will strive to bring about such
changes throughout the community, also setting up more clinics, clearing slums,
improving drainage, forcing the polluting industries out of the city and
cleaning our water supply. These are enormous projects, but essential.

‘I ask the Members of the Legislative Council,
to join with them when the time comes, to support this work of saving lives. I
ask you to begin now, to demonstrate your vision and greatness of mind, and not
be forced to follow where others will shortly lead. Sydney will be a great city
one day. We want to be proud of it and of her happy, healthy citizens. Thank
you, all of you, for listening.’

There was silence when she stopped speaking,
then thunderous applause. It came, not only from the marchers, but spread
through the crowds who had gathered to listen, as Elly’s speech was repeated in
shortened version to those beyond the reach of her voice. There were huzzahs
and cries of ‘Good for you, lady.’ Caps were thrown in the air, boys whistled
and clapping didn’t cease until Paul handed her down from the dray and took her
place. Even then he had to wait some time for silence.

‘People of Sydney, there has been a great
injustice perpetrated against the former Matron of our hospital. As many of you
know, she was dismissed without adequate explanation by the current Board of
Directors. Within two years she has brought our hospital out of the Dark Ages,
giving new life and hope to hundreds of people; but her career, and her hopes
of continuing to build a better facility, staffed by women trained and
medically qualified, were blighted when she was so arbitrarily removed from her
post. I plead for justice in this cause. I demand that an investigation be held
into the circumstances of Matron Ballard’s dismissal. I demand an investigation
of the Board of Management of our hospital.’

There could be no doubt of the crowd’s approval,
and it was some minutes before Paul could again be heard.

Eventually he continued, ‘I have with me today
testimonials from district doctors who have worked with Matron Ballard, as well
as from prominent citizens whose loved ones have been fortunate enough to
receive her care in her capacity as visiting nurse. They have all signed the
petition which is about to be given to the Leader of the Council.’ He turned to
the members packed along the length of the verandah. ‘Gentlemen, will you
receive this petition?’

No-one in their senses would have opposed the
mood of such a huge gathering, thought Elly. They filled the street and
forecourt, overflowing into the hospital grounds, men, women and children of
all ages and walks of life, perched on wall copings, leaning over verandah rails,
hanging in the branches of trees, even balancing on the rooves of cabs. And
while some were there to see the fun, many others had developed an interest in
the outcome of the march. Impressed by the speeches, they now looked to the
Council members for their reply.

Searching the sea of faces, Elly thought, we’ve
got them! They had grasped the importance of her message. They would support
her, providing that the momentum was maintained. If the Board could just be
revitalized with progressive men of goodwill; if she could regain her position
and work with those men, she could help bring to the people of Sydney health
care equal to any in the world.

The Council conferred until finally a spokesman
stepped forward, projecting his voice far over the crowd.

‘Ladies and gentlemen, it is not the practice of
this Council to submit to pressure in the matter of the government of this
Colony.’ Amidst rumblings, he quickly continued. ‘However, we are happy to
accept a petition on a matter pertaining to the general good, a matter which is
not yet the subject of legislation. The issue of the governance of the Sydney
Infirmary and Dispensary, an independent body, may well be judged worthy of
enquiry by a further committee of concerned citizens, within suitable
guidelines and subject to the Governor’s overriding authority. We are willing
to appoint such a committee –’

He got no further, as a stentorian bellow from
Henry Parkes caused everyone within ten yards to leap.

‘
Unacceptable
! No more ‘appointments’ of
committees stacked to suit anyone’s favour, if you please. Let the committee of
enquiry be nominated by the people of this town. The people know who in public
office has worked honestly for them in the past, and who has feathered his
nest.’

The representative of the Council turned purple.
He could scarcely get his words out. ‘That is an iniquitous accusation, sir!
And the suggested mode of choosing your philanthropic nominees is quite
unworkable. How would the people nominate?’

‘Quite simply, through
The Empire
. Each
copy on the street would have a nomination form printed on it, to be filled in
and posted through a locked box kept on
The Empire
premises – to which
you may hold the key, if you choose. On a given day the names will be counted,
publicly, by the Leader of the Council, and the most popular ten or fifteen, or
what you will, announced as our committee to appoint a new Board of Directors.
What could be fairer?’

Elly choked on stifled laughter. Henry Parkes’
audacity had to be admired, as well as his brilliant notion for increasing his
newspaper’s circulation figures. But his idea had merit. She wasn’t surprised
to find the Council agreeing to the scheme, in the face of the crowd’s
approval. Men like Parkes and Paul, once voted into office, would be
introducing far more radical notions and to hope for both Houses to work
together was probably impractical. Still, the suggestion did no harm.

Henry Parkes hadn’t finished. Having shaken the
hand of the Council representative on his parliamentary steps, he again
addressed the crowd.

‘Fellow citizens, today you have seen democracy
in action. Now let us have justice. Let the post of Matron of our hospital be
added to the nominations. Let it be open to anyone of fit standing and
qualifications. Let the slur cast upon the finest woman ever to devote her
energies to the care of others, be done away.’

The rest of his speech was drowned in an
enormous shout of ‘Vote for Matron Elly!’ She was swooped upon by Paul and J.G.
and lifted high above the crowd where she could be seen. Wild cheering broke
out, while Barty’s friends began a frenzied drumming. If the reception accorded
Elly’s speech had been enthusiastic, this was pandemonium. Deafened, overcome
with emotion, she could not respond with anything more than a wave and smile.
No-one could have heard her speak over the racket, she thought. Anyway, what
could she have said – that she was touched by the support of so many people,
humbled by their trust in her, delighted to the core at the thought of another
chance to mould the future of ‘her’ hospital?

The Clydesdales snorted, tossing their ribboned
manes and scattering those standing close by, while the political aspirants on
the dray now unfurled a new banner of their own. Admirably succinct, it read: ‘Free
beer and sausages in the Domain.’

The rush began with those nearest the dray, then
spread rapidly. Men and boys tumbled off walls and out of trees, balconies
emptied and soon Macquarie Street had cleared, even Barty and his friends
succumbing to the lure of complimentary food and drink. Jo-Beth, Ethan and
Pearl, who had climbed on the dray to take refuge from the mass exodus,
suggested a withdrawal of their own for a celebratory lunch. Elly, still too
full of emotion to speak, met Paul’s gaze, and wished they could be alone. She’d
been seeking an opportunity to be private with him, but the right moment never
occurred. And this was certainly not it. This day of victory should be shared
with the people who had made it possible. Yet it was Henry Parkes who had the
final word, or several words, as a politician.

‘You can’t run off yet. We’ve softened them up,
and now we go in with the speeches, tell them what we stand for, what we’ll do
for them when the elections are held early next year.’

Paul glanced at him sharply. ‘You know
something. Come on, Henry. Out with it.’

Parkes winked. ‘I’ve had a private message from
London, telegraphed overland and carried by the fastest steamboat. It’ll soon
be official. Westminster has passed the Bill. We have a Constitution, my
friend.’

Paul threw up his hat, yelling like a schoolboy,
and Elly flung her arms around him and kissed him, regardless of who might see.
‘I’m so happy for you, Paul. We’ll see you in Parliament next year, bringing
all your own dreams to life. What a day. What a glorious, wonderful day.’ She
held out her arms to embrace her two dearest women friends.

‘Who would have thought, a few weeks ago, that
we’d have achieved so much? I can’t wait to get back to the hospital. There’s
so much to do. Oh, I pray the people of Sydney will vote in my favour.’

They all laughed, teasing her to give them a
resume of her plans.

‘Well, I’ve got to prepare the programme for my
nurses’ training school and I’ve so many ideas to implement once I’m given
charge of the wards. Then I’ll just have to hope for a Board willing to work
with me instead of against me. Nor will I forget all the women who have been so
staunch in past weeks. Apart from recognising their hard work, we should
harness their devotion and turn it to good use. I can think of a dozen ways.’
She threw up her hands. ‘I don’t know where to begin.’ Catching Paul’s wistful
expression as he glanced over his shoulder at the last of the crowd pelting
down towards the Domain, she began to laugh. ‘You too! I might have known. Off
you go and ‘politic’ with the other men. We have plenty of our own work to
occupy us, don’t we, ladies?’

The three women descended from the dray, Elly
standing arm-linked with Pearl and Jo-Beth, surrounded by new friends and
supporters, knowing there was just one major thing lacking in her life to make
it perfectly fulfilled. It only needed a little courage to try for it.

A few days later, Jo-Beth’s wedding to
Ethan was celebrated quietly, without any of the splendour and pomp she might
once have wished for. Elly, helping to dress the bride, felt misty with pride
in her friend’s beauty and serenity, knowing that this was a blessed union. The
private ceremony took place in St. James Church, just a step away from the
hospital, with the guests later adjourning to the Earl Grey Tavern, closed for
the duration of the wedding luncheon.

Afterwards they walked down to the Quay to see
the newlyweds aboard a ferry going upriver, their final destination a carefully
kept secret. They bore with the good-natured chaffing, although Jo-Beth’s
glowing face could be seen like a beacon amongst the crowd on deck as the boat
steamed out into the harbour and the guests left on shore dispersed.

While it was still light, Elly slipped away from
the others, around the back of Government House grounds to wander alone in the
Botanical Gardens. From there she could see the main hospital building on the
crest of the hill, its roof slates gilded by the sunset. Her days there seemed
so far away. Had she really spent two years of her life struggling to bring
system and order to a medical dinosaur? How different she was now from the
woman who had sailed into battle against the Board like Drake amongst the
Spanish, full of self-confidence, proud of her ability to stand alone.

That confidence had been severely shaken,
although it survived in a somewhat battered state, and she had known for many
months that standing alone meant lonely separation. She did not want to be
solitary for the rest of her days. With a sigh, she removed her large hat
garlanded in blossoms and laid it on the sea-wall. Her eye followed the
stonework running around the cove to Fort Macquarie, silhouetted against the
light. Then she looked out over the harbour where swells as smooth as satin
reflected the lamp-lights just beginning to prick out on the opposite shore.
Sadness welled up in her, a product of the lonely hour and place, and of her
own heartache. She knew she had to make her final bid for happiness soon.

It seemed inevitable when a familiar, beloved
voice spoke behind her.

‘You seem so sad, Elly.’

She automatically pinned on a smile before
turning to face Paul. ‘Not at all. I couldn’t be sad in the face of Jo-Beth’s
joy.’

Paul rested his back on the wall and searched
her face.

‘You’ll be lonely with your dearest friends gone.
Even with Jo-Beth living in the town, she’ll have a full life of her own.’

‘Need you remind me?’ She then added painfully, ‘I’m
sorry. I shouldn’t snap at you. I’ve been trying not to think so far ahead.
Pearl sails tomorrow and I don’t know if I’ll ever see her again. I’ll miss
J.G., too. Without him there’ll be no-one to create a disturbance when least
expected, and fewer red faces amongst the complacent citizenry.’

Paul glanced aside. ‘He is my closest friend, a
companion in all my activities, private and public, since my boyhood. It was he
who brought me to the attention of my benefactor, the surrogate father who took
me in, educated me and gave me a chance in life. He’s dead now, but he was a
very great gentleman, and J.G. is another. We won’t find his like again so
easily.’