You Bet There Was.... Dr Thomas Fiaschi Came All The Way From Florence To Share A Part Of His Life With The Folk Of Windsor.
Our story begins in 1876 when our Dr Fiaschi was a house surgeon at St Vincent’s Hospital, Sydney. He had only been working there a few weeks when his employment ceased abruptly. One night, a young nun ran through St Vincent’s Convent gate, which was guarded by the mother superior, who thundered forth “This woman is married to God!”. But the pretty nun kept running till she leapt right into the sulky (and the arms!) belonging to her suitor, the dashing Italian doctor – Thomas Fiaschi. The pair had worked together at St Vincent’s. The very next morning Katherine Ann Reynolds, known as Sister Mary Regis an Irish Catholic Nurse, and Dr Thomas Henry Fiaschi were married on Feb. 19 at Bethnel House, George Street North, Sydney by the Rev Thomas Gainford with Congregational forms. Notice of the marriage appears six times in the Sydney papers....it seems they wanted to make sure everyone knew.
“Tall and handsome, with an erect military figure, quick step, keen searching eyes, he looked every inch a man – a fellow surgeon at Sydney Hospital, Dr Archie Aspinall said – As he entered the ward his personality seemed to pervade everyone and everything.”
“Kate was an Irish sister with a powerful personality” recalled Jim Ellis, retired surgeon from Sydney Hospital. They married, raised a family and were very faithful. But Dr Fiaschi was excluded from St Vincent’s like a pip from an orange.”
The couple would cause a scandal, found a dynasty and leave Australia an extraordinary legacy.
Kate was the only nun to have ever left the Sisters of Charity and now excommunicated from the Church the young couple made their way to Windsor, a place which afforded them enough anonymity to begin their married life and to start a Practice which they set up first of all in the Macquarie Arms Inn, Thompson Square, then moved a little down the hill into what was become known as the Doctor’s House, still in Thompson Square.
In November.1876, The Australian, Windsor, Richmond and Hawkesbury Advertiser reports that an argument at the Royal Hotel between two men resulted in one falling and breaking his arm. Dr Fiaschi set the arm. ( Remember George Louis Asher Davies, who owned “The Australian”.....in 1876 he bought Howe House and moved to it from what was to become known as the Doctor’s House....leaving it available for Dr Fiaschi to move in).
When next we hear of the good doctor, August 1877, the leading families of Windsor have held a testimonial for Dr Fiaschi “because of the medical services he had rendered to the inhabitants of that locality.” It was held previous to his departure for Europe.
So, Thomas and Kate return to Italy and whilst there, they are married again in a special ceremony ( probably for Thomas’s family ), Kate gives birth to their first child, a son, and Thomas completes his medical studies at Pisa University where he studied the breakthrough discoveries of Louis Pasteur, neurologist Hughlings Jackson and ophthalmologist Jonathon Hutchinson.
Returning to Australia in 1877, the Fiaschis head back to Windsor and we learn from the Gov. Gazette that he is to be an additional Vaccinator for the district of Windsor.
Fiaschi brought back the latest advances in aseptic and abdominal surgery. Australian doctors did not even know they had to clean their instruments until Fiaschi introduced listerian surgery to Hawkesbury Hospital in the 1880’s thus preventing deaths from infected wounds.
Dr Fiaschi was a gift to the folk of Windsor and the Hawkesbury. They rejoiced in his return. He gave evidence at many inquests, carried out numerous autopsies, treated all types of wounds and illnesses, deliberated on the sanity of some who came before the courts, gave papers at the NSW Branch of the British Medical Association and became involved in many local issues which involved public health, like the quality of the water supply.
Many Hawkesbury folk benefited from his advanced medical knowledge, and this included the poor who could in no way recompense the good doctor for his services, freely given.
He worked day and night, receiving patients at his door or leaving at the drop of a hat to attend them if they needed him immediately...a typical example...Oct. 1882...a messenger arrives from Newtown, Windsor telling of the need of Mr Wilkins for the doctor’s services....Dr Fiaschi, who had just arrived home, sprung onto the messenger’s horse and was soon in attendance, but was unable to save the unfortunate Mr Wilkins from a series of fainting fits.
Many injuries resulted from accidents with horses....a lad, Cassidy....took a corner too sharply on horseback...fell off and hit his head badly. He was brought to to Windsor and Dr Fiaschi attended him in hospital. For some time his case appeared hopeless as he was suffering from severe concussion of the brain...but he recovered.
There are many stories like these to tell but now is not the time.
Kate Fiaschi was every inch a doctor’s wife. She intruded little in public life but was at her husband’s side as second in command. Her training as a nurse, of course, was invaluable. She made all appointments and saw every waiting patient, offering a good meal to those who had come from a far-off farm or town. She gave freely of her time in public services for the good of the district.
She gave birth to two sons in Windsor – Piero (1879) and Carlo (1880).
When Dr Fiaschi decided to make Sydney the headquarters of his work at the end of 1883 the Hawkesbury people were dumbfounded at their loss. The “Doctor’s House” had been a centre of attraction not only to the sick but to hundreds who had owed their lives and those dear to them to the united attentions of those two clever people.
A second goodbye testimonial was held at the School of Arts in December, 1883.
The story of Dr Fiaschi is A BIG STORY and cannot possibly be told in a few paragraphs. This part of the story has concentrated on his time in Windsor.
He took his medical knowledge to the Boer War ( where he worked with a doctor from Windsor), the Italian/Abyssinian War and WW1 where he worked for his adopted country and for his birth country, Italy. As a result he received numerous promotions and won many prestigious medals and awards. Whilst overseas during the Italian/Abyssinian War he made time to visit with a former patient from The Square in 1896 – Stanley Moses, who was in Brussels studying music and who suffered with pleurisy.
The Fiaschis always had a fond place in their hearts for Windsor, returning to the Winery on many occasions. Dr Fiaschi was never one to put profits before patients and he led the way for today’s Medicare System by setting up a sick ward for the poor of Windsor. He worked for free, using stretchers left over from convict days.
And Kate, on her visits to the Winery when Thomas was away overseas, taught music to the Darug families living at Freeman’s Reach. They learnt violin, piano and singing.
TIZZANA WINERY – In 1882, Dr Fiaschi bought 230 acres at Sackville Reach. He had always believed in the medicinal qualities of wine and turned 54 acres of the property to vines. By 1889 he was producing 9,000 gallons and took out 1st, 2nd and 3rd places at the Melbourne Centennial Exhibition. He had the first Wine Bar in Australia where Australia Square now stands. He is considered to be the “father” of the modern wine industry and an expert vigneron.
MEMORIALS - The Hawkesbury Hospital has honoured his memory and contribution to medicine by naming the THOMAS FIASCHI DAY SURGERY UNIT after him.
- A replica of the famous “Porcellino” sculpture from Florence was donated by Dr Fiaschi’s daughter, Clarissa Torrigani, in memory of her father, Thomas and her brother Dr Piero Fiaschi. It collects money for the Sydney Hospital, for which they both worked. “This wild boar has come from Florence to Sydney as a link of friendship between Italy and Australia in memory of Brigadier General Thomas Fiaschi who loved and served so gallantly for both countries.
Our story begins in 1876 when our Dr Fiaschi was a house surgeon at St Vincent’s Hospital, Sydney. He had only been working there a few weeks when his employment ceased abruptly. One night, a young nun ran through St Vincent’s Convent gate, which was guarded by the mother superior, who thundered forth “This woman is married to God!”. But the pretty nun kept running till she leapt right into the sulky (and the arms!) belonging to her suitor, the dashing Italian doctor – Thomas Fiaschi. The pair had worked together at St Vincent’s. The very next morning Katherine Ann Reynolds, known as Sister Mary Regis an Irish Catholic Nurse, and Dr Thomas Henry Fiaschi were married on Feb. 19 at Bethnel House, George Street North, Sydney by the Rev Thomas Gainford with Congregational forms. Notice of the marriage appears six times in the Sydney papers....it seems they wanted to make sure everyone knew.
“Tall and handsome, with an erect military figure, quick step, keen searching eyes, he looked every inch a man – a fellow surgeon at Sydney Hospital, Dr Archie Aspinall said – As he entered the ward his personality seemed to pervade everyone and everything.”
“Kate was an Irish sister with a powerful personality” recalled Jim Ellis, retired surgeon from Sydney Hospital. They married, raised a family and were very faithful. But Dr Fiaschi was excluded from St Vincent’s like a pip from an orange.”
The couple would cause a scandal, found a dynasty and leave Australia an extraordinary legacy.
Kate was the only nun to have ever left the Sisters of Charity and now excommunicated from the Church the young couple made their way to Windsor, a place which afforded them enough anonymity to begin their married life and to start a Practice which they set up first of all in the Macquarie Arms Inn, Thompson Square, then moved a little down the hill into what was become known as the Doctor’s House, still in Thompson Square.
In November.1876, The Australian, Windsor, Richmond and Hawkesbury Advertiser reports that an argument at the Royal Hotel between two men resulted in one falling and breaking his arm. Dr Fiaschi set the arm. ( Remember George Louis Asher Davies, who owned “The Australian”.....in 1876 he bought Howe House and moved to it from what was to become known as the Doctor’s House....leaving it available for Dr Fiaschi to move in).
When next we hear of the good doctor, August 1877, the leading families of Windsor have held a testimonial for Dr Fiaschi “because of the medical services he had rendered to the inhabitants of that locality.” It was held previous to his departure for Europe.
So, Thomas and Kate return to Italy and whilst there, they are married again in a special ceremony ( probably for Thomas’s family ), Kate gives birth to their first child, a son, and Thomas completes his medical studies at Pisa University where he studied the breakthrough discoveries of Louis Pasteur, neurologist Hughlings Jackson and ophthalmologist Jonathon Hutchinson.
Returning to Australia in 1877, the Fiaschis head back to Windsor and we learn from the Gov. Gazette that he is to be an additional Vaccinator for the district of Windsor.
Fiaschi brought back the latest advances in aseptic and abdominal surgery. Australian doctors did not even know they had to clean their instruments until Fiaschi introduced listerian surgery to Hawkesbury Hospital in the 1880’s thus preventing deaths from infected wounds.
Dr Fiaschi was a gift to the folk of Windsor and the Hawkesbury. They rejoiced in his return. He gave evidence at many inquests, carried out numerous autopsies, treated all types of wounds and illnesses, deliberated on the sanity of some who came before the courts, gave papers at the NSW Branch of the British Medical Association and became involved in many local issues which involved public health, like the quality of the water supply.
Many Hawkesbury folk benefited from his advanced medical knowledge, and this included the poor who could in no way recompense the good doctor for his services, freely given.
He worked day and night, receiving patients at his door or leaving at the drop of a hat to attend them if they needed him immediately...a typical example...Oct. 1882...a messenger arrives from Newtown, Windsor telling of the need of Mr Wilkins for the doctor’s services....Dr Fiaschi, who had just arrived home, sprung onto the messenger’s horse and was soon in attendance, but was unable to save the unfortunate Mr Wilkins from a series of fainting fits.
Many injuries resulted from accidents with horses....a lad, Cassidy....took a corner too sharply on horseback...fell off and hit his head badly. He was brought to to Windsor and Dr Fiaschi attended him in hospital. For some time his case appeared hopeless as he was suffering from severe concussion of the brain...but he recovered.
There are many stories like these to tell but now is not the time.
Kate Fiaschi was every inch a doctor’s wife. She intruded little in public life but was at her husband’s side as second in command. Her training as a nurse, of course, was invaluable. She made all appointments and saw every waiting patient, offering a good meal to those who had come from a far-off farm or town. She gave freely of her time in public services for the good of the district.
She gave birth to two sons in Windsor – Piero (1879) and Carlo (1880).
When Dr Fiaschi decided to make Sydney the headquarters of his work at the end of 1883 the Hawkesbury people were dumbfounded at their loss. The “Doctor’s House” had been a centre of attraction not only to the sick but to hundreds who had owed their lives and those dear to them to the united attentions of those two clever people.
A second goodbye testimonial was held at the School of Arts in December, 1883.
The story of Dr Fiaschi is A BIG STORY and cannot possibly be told in a few paragraphs. This part of the story has concentrated on his time in Windsor.
He took his medical knowledge to the Boer War ( where he worked with a doctor from Windsor), the Italian/Abyssinian War and WW1 where he worked for his adopted country and for his birth country, Italy. As a result he received numerous promotions and won many prestigious medals and awards. Whilst overseas during the Italian/Abyssinian War he made time to visit with a former patient from The Square in 1896 – Stanley Moses, who was in Brussels studying music and who suffered with pleurisy.
The Fiaschis always had a fond place in their hearts for Windsor, returning to the Winery on many occasions. Dr Fiaschi was never one to put profits before patients and he led the way for today’s Medicare System by setting up a sick ward for the poor of Windsor. He worked for free, using stretchers left over from convict days.
And Kate, on her visits to the Winery when Thomas was away overseas, taught music to the Darug families living at Freeman’s Reach. They learnt violin, piano and singing.
TIZZANA WINERY – In 1882, Dr Fiaschi bought 230 acres at Sackville Reach. He had always believed in the medicinal qualities of wine and turned 54 acres of the property to vines. By 1889 he was producing 9,000 gallons and took out 1st, 2nd and 3rd places at the Melbourne Centennial Exhibition. He had the first Wine Bar in Australia where Australia Square now stands. He is considered to be the “father” of the modern wine industry and an expert vigneron.
MEMORIALS - The Hawkesbury Hospital has honoured his memory and contribution to medicine by naming the THOMAS FIASCHI DAY SURGERY UNIT after him.
- A replica of the famous “Porcellino” sculpture from Florence was donated by Dr Fiaschi’s daughter, Clarissa Torrigani, in memory of her father, Thomas and her brother Dr Piero Fiaschi. It collects money for the Sydney Hospital, for which they both worked. “This wild boar has come from Florence to Sydney as a link of friendship between Italy and Australia in memory of Brigadier General Thomas Fiaschi who loved and served so gallantly for both countries.
