Dispensary’s history on show for all to enjoy

THERE was much jubilation and celebration last Wednesday as Wonthaggi Miners’ Dispensary officially unveiled their long-awaited laneway mural.

Dispensary Chair, Danny Luna opened proceedings inside thanking artists Dennis Leversha and James “Jim” Barritt for their ‘labour of love’, and General Manager Sally and her team at the Dispensary for their assistance throughout.

Mobility issues may have prevented Dennis from seeing out the majority of artistic works, but it did result in signwriter Jim coming on board and together the pair created magic in the laneway through Wonthaggi’s wind and rain.

Depicting 100 years of the Dispensary and the final feather in the cap to mark the centenary, Board Member, Rod Beech took the honours in the cutting the ribbon in front of fellow board members, life members and guests.

“A life member of the dispensary, (Rod) spent 14 years on the board, 10 of those consecutively as the Chair,” Danny said.

“Looking into Sam’s (Gatto) book, your grandfather George Beech was also elected chairman of the dispensary back in 1926.”

Dedicated to the pioneers of 1922 (and later dental clinic integration in 1927) the dispensary was an integral part of the miner’s welfare system.

Highlighting brands present in yesteryear (and some still available today), the mural also depicts a pharmacy manager and customers.

A favourite of many at the unveiling was the inclusion of the Miner’s Black Jack, said to be a cure for everything and present in every home, no-one quite knows everything contained within the bottle, but it did note on the bottle chloroform, ether and morphine.

“I remember having it as a kid,” Rod Beech explained.