At our April Meeting, Ros Simmnet told the story of her unique walking stick. It belonged to her grandfather, Edwin Jenkins, his life began in Western Australia. As a young man, he carted timber as an occupation but later in life, the lure of Kalgoorlie and gold attracted him.
It was here he married and had three children. His training and occupation during this period of his life was in explosives being used in the gold mining exploration.
At the beginning of World War I, he was conscripted by the army to use his knowledge of explosives to build trenches in France. Here he was severely injured. His partner saved him, but he had a damaged leg and shrapnel in his chest. He was transported to England, where his leg was amputated below the knee.
Ultimately, he came back to Victoria for rehabilitation at Caulfield. A use of a duck-board and eventually a prosthetic leg aided him in walking.
A special seat walking stick was constructed for him to assist in not having to weight bear for long period of time.
Ros uses his special walking stick today.
A wonderful sideline to the story is that a medical doctor in England who treated Edwin in the war years met him again at Caulfield Rehabilitation Centre, he could not believe that Edwin had survived his injuries.
Source: 2024-06 DTHS Newsletter
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