Contributed by Sharon Chapman
AN interesting enquiry came to GC&M News when Mark Houston, based in Hong Kong, asked to be put in touch with long-lost friend Ethel Burgess (pictured), whose family lived in heritage-listed Bankfoot House in Glass House Mountains.
Locals know Ethel as she worked as a nurse and midwife for many years, delivering over 200 babies. This was followed by a six-year stint at Brisbane Boys College from 1970 to 1976, where she was the school nurse for 200 boys—and where she met Mark.
Ethel recalls she was the only female amongst the boys and six boarding masters, remembering her time there fondly. The boys would come to Ethel with all kinds of issues, from “a blood nose to a brain hemorrhage!”
Mark kept in contact with Ethel until COVID and her move into a nursing home. Luckily, our community was able to reconnect them, and they were both delighted to talk and catch up on old times.
