An outbreak of the bacterial infection Typhoid occurred in the Cowra district in the early 1930s.
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According to newspaper reports at the time, the outbreak followed a religious gathering at a property near Wattamondara on February 12, 1933.
Up to 300 people, according to news reports, attended a gathering of the Followers of Christ.
At least 40 cases of Typhoid were subsequently reported and at least five deaths.
Three of the deaths were members of the Houghton family, husband and wife Harry and Ruby and their daughter Coral who are all buried at the Morongla cemetery.
Typhoid can be the result of eating food or drinking water contaminated with the Salmonella typhi bacteria.
The bacteria moves down into the digestive system, where they will quickly multiply.
This triggers a high temperature, stomach pain and constipation or diarrhoea.
The following reports appeared in the Cowra Free Press between March 27 and April 24, 1933, Brisbane's Sunday Mail on March 26 and the Adelaide Advertiser on March 28.
MONDAY, MARCH 27, 1933 - Cowra Free Press
MORE CASES FROM THAT WATTAMONDARA CONVENTION
Health Dept. and Local Govt.
Authorities have Position well in Hand.
In connection with the outbreak of typhoid after the holding of a religious convention at Wattamodara, at which some 300 attended from all over the State, investigations are still being continued by Dr. Dunn and Mr. Eldershaw, Officers of the Dept. of Public Health, and we understand that about 40 cases have been traced. Of these eight are in Hospitals locally, but not one of those affected is a local resident. There have already been four deaths, only one being a district resident.
The following report was submitted to the Municipal Council by Inspector Lewis:-.
I beg to present my report for the weeks ending 24th March, 1933, having resumed duty on the 13th inst.
Infectious Diseases.-
During the past weeks ten cases of infectious diseases have been notified, particulars as follows:- Nine of the cases came in from the Shire area, eight of which are certified to be Enteric Fever and one case of Dipthera. One case of scarlet fever was reported, the patient, age five, resided within the Municipality.
Remarks.- Investigations re typhoid cases as to provable source of infection have been made by a Doctor and Inspector from the Department of Public Health, together with the local officers, Mr. J. R. Wlhite and myself. The ages of the infected patients referred to range from 10 years to 53 years, and are confined to certain families, but reports have been received that certain persons in other parts of the State who attended the religious convention at Noonbinna about the 12th February last, have been certified to be suffering from Typhoid. Four of the patients are in the District Hospital and four In Moira Hospital. Precautionary measures have been taken and special sanitary arrangements have been made for all the patients.
At to-night's Council meeting the Mayor stated that although the trouble originated in the Shire, Mr. (Lewis was lending every assistance Fix this textand the officers of both bodies were working in complete harmony to prevent any spread of the disease.
MONDAY, MARCH 27, 1933 - Cowra Free Press
LATE NEWS
Mrs. Harry Houghton (whose husband died from typhoid on Saturday) and one of his daughters are inmates of "Moira'' Private 'Hospital at present suffering from typhoid.
Mr. John Campbell ( a "brother of (Mrs. Houghton's) is also an inmate of "Moira'" suffering with the same complaint. Mr. Campbell's home is at Tullibigeal.
MONDAY, APRIL 24, 1933 - Cowra Free Press
TWO TRAGIC DEATHS
MOTHER AND DAUGHTER DIE WITHIN A FEW HOURS OF ONE ANOTHER.
Husband and Father Die Only a Few Weeks Back.
On Friday afternoon there was yet another tragic incident in connection with the-ill fated gathering of the sect known as the Followers of Christ at Noonbinna a some few weeks back, when Mrs. Ruby Olive Houghton, wife of the late Mr. Henry Houghton, of Tullibigeal, at the age of 37 years, passed away in "Moira'' Private Hospital from typhoid fever at about 4 o'clock; while some four hours later her little daughter, Coral Ruby, only ten years of age, also died from the same disease.
This is one of the saddest cases in the history of the Cowra district, seeing that it is only a very few weeks ago that the husband and father of the latest victims was called to his last reward. There now remain three lonely little orphans out of a happy family of six.
The late Mrs. Henry Houghton was a daughter of the late Mr. and Mrs. P. R. Campbell, while Messrs. William (Wattamondara), John (Tullibigeal), Wallace (Bookham), Mrs. Brien (Morongla,) and Miss Campbell (Holmwood) are sisters.
The funeral took place to the Morongla cemetery on Saturday afternoon, when there was a very large attendance of mourners and sympathisers with the bereaved family in the indescribably sad happening.
Messrs. J. H. Hilder and Co. had charge of the arrangements.
SUNDAY, MARCH 26, 1933 - Brisbane Sunday Mail
FIVE NOW DEAD
TYPHOID VICTIMS
DELEGATES SOUGHT
UNDERGO EXAMINATION
SYDNEY, Saturday. - So serious has the Cowra typhoid fever out break become that the 300 people who attended the recent open-air religions convention there will probably be called op for medical examination. Two other deaths have brought the total to five, and several more cases have been reported, making the total sufferers about 40.
Doctors believe that a ''carrier' spread the disease. The convention was held at Wattamondara, near Cowra, and people from various parts of the State attended. It was after the camp had broken up that the victims became ill.
Dr. Dunn and Inspector Eldershaw, of the Board of Health, made exhaustive inquiries and returned to Sydney on Friday with samples which will be tested.
It was fit first thought that germs existed in the camp area, but the 'carrier' theory is now more favoured.
Health Department officials are trying to get in touch with the scattered delegates. Each person sought will be required to disclose his state of health and tests will most likely be made in Fix this textmany cases, for the department is anxious to trace the carrier.
Money will not be spared by the department in its efforts to trace the source of the outbreak and prevent its further spread.
TUESDAY, MARCH 28, 1933 - Adelaide Advertiser
Death Of Victim Of Camp Typhoid Epidemic
SYDNEY, March 27.
Mr. William Henry Houghton, who attended the camp of the Followers of Christ at Wattamondara, has died at a private hospital, Cowra, from typhoid Fix this textfever. Mr. Houghton's wife is also in a private hospital, suffering from the same disease.
Two members of a family at Brookham, who were also present at the camp are patients at the Yass District Hospital, suffering from typhoid fever.