Prince Henry Hospital - Guardians of Public Health. From Isolation to Innovation: Lessons from Smallpox v Covid

Join Adrienne Pearson (Honorary Secretary Prince Henry Hospital Trained Nurses Association Est. 1960) as she discusses public health responses and lessons learned through innovations such as the polio era ‘Iron Lung’ and vaccine archives.

Adrienne will be joined by Prince Henry-trained nurses, Leone Dunn and Maria Luff, who will share their experiences caring for patients in Iron Lungs to supporting those with AIDS and how the hospital managed a variety of infectious diseases.

‘The Coast Hospital’, established in 1881, was the first government-run infectious disease hospital in New South Wales. Renamed Prince Henry Hospital in 1934, it operated until 2003 treating pandemics ranging from smallpox to AIDS. Today, the Prince Henry Hospital Nursing and Medical Museum preserves an extensive collection related to the hospital, its doctors, nurses, patients and support staff, and the general history of medicine in New South Wales.

Managed by the Prince Henry Hospital Trained Nurses Association the former hospital is a living museum which features its 121-year history in the exhibition ‘Bravery, Bandages and Bedpans’. Discover how a volunteer-led museum adapted during the COVID lockdown. To not only survive but thrive.

Adrienne Pearson - Honorary Secretary Prince Henry Hospital Trained Nurses Association Inc. Trained in New Zealand as a qualified nurse Adrienne worked in dialysis in the Northern Territory for ten years, health promotion for the Cancer Council and other not-for-profit health organisations.

Leone Dunn - Museum Coordinator - Prince Henry Hospital Nursing and Medical Museum. Prince Henry Hospital trained nurse who worked in primary health care and vaccinations.

Maria Luff - President - Prince Henry Hospital Trained Nurses Association Inc. Prince Henry Hospital trained nurse who worked at Wollongong Hospital.

Image:  Prince Henry Hospital Nursing and Medical Museum Collection

Liverpool Regional Museum

11am-12.30pm Saturday 20 June 2026

Saturday, 20 June 2026 11am - 12:30pm

liverpoolregionalmuseum@liverpool.nsw.gov.au 0287117126

library@liverpool.nsw.gov.au

Yellamundie Library and Gallery52 Scott Street, Liverpool, NSW 2170Other Library Locations