Rosemary Opala

Rosemary Opala (née Fielding) (1923–2008) was an Australian artist, writer and nurse, she is regarded for her work as a Queensland environmentalist, historian, social commentator and community activist.

Opala's literary and artistic themes reflect her personal experiences and social outlook. Her work is noted for focusing on Queensland wildlife, nursing, womanhood, family life and social history.

Opala focused much of her nursing career on Peel Island's Lazaret (Leper colony or Leprosarium) caring for patients with Hansen's Disease (Leprosy). Through both her art and writing, Opala became a significant commentator on the Lazaret's history, its social stigma and the controversial treatment of its patients.

Background

Born in Bundaberg on 24 January 1923, Opala was raised in Palmwoods on the Sunshine Coast, Queensland Opala lived with her parents, Harold Fielding and Ethel Fielding (born Ethel, née Witney) and her younger sister Her mother, Ethel Fielding was a published author of poetry and short stories. Opala attended Palmwoods Primary School, and completed her education at Nambour High School At the commencement of World War II, Opala began a nursing training after leaving art school, in order to 'do something more useful than playing with paints'. From the late 1940s until 1959 when the Lazaret was closed, Opala worked on the Island with Hansen's disease patients, with intermittent periods of other work on mainland Queensland. and took a position as a Supervisor at Prince Charles Hospital Brisbane in 1980. She retired from nursing in 1989 and remained at Victoria Point in Redland Bay.

Opala was registered as a General Nurse of Brisbane General Hospital on 6 June 1945, was registered as a Midwifery Nurse of Brisbane Women's hospital (later Royal Brisbane Women's hospital) on 16 September 1948,

Opala assumed the role of a qualified nurse taking her first role at the Brisbane General Hospital, now Royal Brisbane Hospital with a fairly pessimistic view of the profession. While working there, Opala wrote on key issues facing the nursing profession, documenting changes in education requirements to become a nurse, changes in the duties of nurses and most significantly, the shift of nursing education from out of the hospitals and into the colleges. She had a fairly pessimistic attitude early in her career, describing herself as a "glorified domestic worker" documenting her duties as revolving primarily around cooking and cleaning for the patients, rather than specialised medical duties.

Whilst treating patients for leprosy during her time at St Anne's, Westwood TB Sanatorium, Opala developed an interest in the disease and a liking for the patients she encountered. Her patient to nurse relationships was unaffected by the social stigma surrounding leprosy in Queensland at the time.

As a qualified nurse, interested in the Island life and nature, Opala assumed her first role as a nurse on the Peel Island Lazaret in the 1940s. Both young and naïve, Opala wrote extensively during her time on the island discussing cures, name changes, segregation of patients, misunderstandings as well as the social life of nurses and patients on the Island.

Later years

Following Opala's retirement from nursing in 1989, she continued to live an active life. Opala was involved in many community writing and creative activities from her retirement until her 80th birthday in 2004. Already living in Caloundra, where she and husband Marian moved to in the late 1960s, she continued to write frequently for various community outlets, including the Sunshine Coast Daily after her retirement. She also edited for the Caloundra branch of the Wilderness Preservation Society of Queensland's newsletter.

In 2004, Opala was recognized in the inaugural Women of Redlands exhibition ceremony by the Zonta Wynuum Redland Branch. This award recognized Opala's contribution as an artist and Redlands Bay community activist through her work. She displayed artwork in shows for the Redlands Bay area and has donated her works for fundraising for community groups. In addition, Opala was nominated by the Friends of Peel Island Association and the Wilderness Preservation Society of Queensland for recognition as an Australian Living Treasure in 2002

Opala is a foundation and lifetime member of the Friends of Peel Island according to the 2002 nomination letter for Australian Living Treasure from the Friends of Peel Island Association (FOPIA). Opala states "I've written and drawn since early childhood in the days when owning one's own book was a rare treat." childhood, the assimilation of Australian migrants, public perception of nurses and the outdoors and the Australian environment, Opala's content engaged in topical themes of the time for women and Australian society.

Opala published some pieces under pen names including Kay Brohm Sunshine Coast Daily (including Opala's regular feature column on Watch) Eco Echo (quarterly magazine published by the Sunshine Coast Environmental Council) The Queensland Naturalist (Official Journal of the Queensland Naturalist Club Inc.) Wildlife Preservation Society of Queensland Bayside Newsletter USA Redlands Newsletter FOPI Flyer (Friends of Peel Island Newsletter) Opala continued to write on natural history and conservation through to the mid-2000s.

Social history and activism

Opala also became regarded for her writing on local social histories. She wrote various reflective accounts of her personal experiences in Queensland which have been published in various outlets including Australian Folklore Annual.

Peel Island

Opala wrote much about her life as a nurse on Peel Island, Queensland. Much of her writing focused on correcting the 'myths' and 'misunderstandings' associated with the island and the Lazaret. In an article for Australian Folklore, Opala states: "Even though decommissioned, some institutions however continue to be a focus for 'myths and legends.' Among such, Peel Island remains both source and object of its folklore". A series of watercolour, ink and pencil illustrations document details of scenes from the Brisbane General Hospital, depicting patients, doctors and nurses as well as the surrounding area. This collection of illustrations provide insight into the Medical Practitioners and architectural landscape of Brisbane between 1940 and 1945.