RPA Hospital welcomes guest speakers and opens new history wall to celebrate milestone.
 

Royal Prince Alfred (RPA) Hospital’s Nutrition and Dietetics department celebrated 90 years of service, marking the day the first dietitian started employment in 1936.

The celebratory event – hosted by Suzanne Kennewell, Sydney Local Health District Director Nutrition and Dietetics – saw specialists and leaders from across dietetics present fascinating talks about the past and future of the field.  

Dr Beverly Wood AM, Honorary Associate Professor from Deakin University travelled from Melbourne to share history of the first dietitian in NSW, Edith Tilton.

"Edith travelled to the other side of the world, docked at Circular Quay, and was met by Dr Alan Lilley, medical superintendent, and Matron Dunn,” she said. 

“Their commitment to her was shown by that act, and they provided the good governance that would support her success. She went straight to work the next day."

As the country's unofficial dietetics historian, Beverly reflected on the start of Edith's career in Australia and how she transformed the field of dietetics and established an American generalist model.

"As RPA's Chief Dietitian, Edith reorganised the hospital kitchens and food service to make sure patients received the proper nutrition they needed," she said.

"She saved her salary [amount] in the waste that she saved first year."

Edith established a dietetic training school, and taught Joan Woodhill, the first dietetics student, who then became Chief Dietitian herself in 1940. In 1938 she also wrote the first edition of the RPA Diet Manual.

Beverly is also one of Australia's first-generation dietitians, and personally knew Edith, Joan, and their pioneering colleagues.

"She was very loyal, a lovely person,” Beverly said of Edith.

"We are a very young profession. I knew them all personally as well as professionally. The spirit of these remarkable women lives on in Suzanne and her wonderful colleagues.”

Suzanne said: "Our early pioneers really set the scene of how good governance is critical.”

Speakers on the history of dietetics also included Dr Helen Vidot, RPA Senior Hepatology Dietitian, Melissa Armstrong, Manager Nutrition and Dietetics St Vincent's Hospital, and Professor Margaret Allman-Fainelli, Discipline Lead & Director Nutrition and Dietetics, Sydney University. 

In the second half of the afternoon, Andrew Davison, NSW Chief Allied Health Officer, Dr John Seach, Senior Dietitian at Grafton Hospital, and Magriet Raxworthy, Chief Executive Officer of Dietitian Australia. Magriet spoke about the future of the field and the need to embed nutrition across health and food systems to improve the wellbeing of all Australians.

Nutrition and Dietetics at RPA is a modern, comprehensive department, looking to incorporate evolving technology (including the use of Artificial Intelligence) and adapt to the needs of a changing population. 

Suzanne and Associate Professor Sharon Carey, RPA Nutrition and Dietetics Manager, also launched a new dietetics history wall, a project completed with assistance from the District’s Capital Infrastructure and Engineering team and the RPA Museum.

Staff and visitors are welcome to view the history wall in RPA Department of Nutrition & Dietetics in Building 12 on the RPA campus.