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William Redfern, surgeon, sailor, mutineer, prisoner and pioneer.
From his birth in approximately 1775 to joining the Royal Navy as a ship's surgeon, it seemed William Redfern was destined for a life of relative wealth and status, but all that changed in 1797, when he was swept up in the infamous Nore Mutiny. In support of the common sailors and at odds with his fellow officers, Redfern was court-martialled for his actions and sentenced to be hanged.
Due to his profession, the sentence was commuted to transportation for life and on arrival in New South Wales, his exceptional surgical skills quickly saw him granted a full pardon. He was soon central to the new colony's medical services, was appointed personal surgeon to the Governor and Assistant Surgeon of the Colonial Medical Services, but despite becoming a wealthy landowner in his own right, he would forever carry the convict's stain in the eyes of certain members of the British Colonial establishment.
Remembered for the Sydney suburb that bears his name, this outstanding biography, in two volumes, brings to the forefront the story of William Redfern as it follows the rise and fall and subsequent rise again of one of Australia's most influential early settlers. A pioneer of immunisation techniques and an advocate for the role of hygiene and nutrition he truly was one of the first to understand that prevention was better than cure.
About the author
Arthur Raymond Jones was born in Cessnock, NSW. He first became interested in William Redfern as Principal of Minto Public School which was opposite the historic precinct of William Redfern's farm and home.
Since that time his insatiable desire for historical investigation and evaluation of evidence has seen him present and publish on Redfern's expertise, interests and endeavours, including Redfern's studies at Edinburgh University and his valuable contributions to the early colony of New South Wales. Better Than Cure, published in two volumes, is the culmination of more than 55 years' work.
Throughout his career, Arthur, who has enjoyed a long-term and passionate interest in libraries, participated in the establishment of local and school libraries, and built opportunities for community development through his contributions to local government and urban planning. He was an Alderman on Campbelltown Council from 1971 to 1977 and a member of the Macarthur Development Board from 1981 to 1987. He is also a Life Member of the Campbelltown and Airds Historical Society. In keeping with his love of libraries and early memories of books, which to him were uncommon but highly valued, he and the Jones family have donated his personal library of research material that underpins Better Than Cure, to the Campbelltown City Library, NSW.
