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honorary medical officer receiving a salary of 175 pounds per annum and the use of
gas, fliel and water in his rooms. A proposal to convert the hospital's store room to a
kitchen for the use of the resident surgeons suggests, however, the poor working
conditions of the doctors — on 14 March, it was suggested that the 'dead house', or
morgue, be converted to the hospital store while a colonial oven and fireplace be
installed in the doctors' working areas." Despite retaining his socio-economic status,
Severino may, therefore, have found his working conditions reduced in Australia. In
November of that year, he wrote to the Hospital Board requesting to be re-elected
honorary medical officer but, when the Board decided that 'it was not in the power of
the Committee to re-elect or appoint another honorary surgeon', Severino's
employment at the hospital was terminated."*"
While working at the hospital, Severino once again became involved in
community service. On 18 August 1870 he received thanks from the secretary of the
Ladies Benevolent Society, via the Daylesford Mercury and Express, for consenting to
act as its honorary medical officer. The following month the society again thanked him
for a donation of wine which he had provided for the consumption of the sick and
infirm, adding:
The Society also acknowledges wdth gratitude, similar instances of
generosity in which Dr. Guscetti had personally supplied wine to poor
30 people, whose cases required it."**
Like many of his compatriots, and cutting across socio-economic differences, Severino
valued food and produce from the home as a means of social exchange, the wine
coming from a vineyard which he shared with his son at Newbridge. Pr? ;tising their
traditional vigneron skills, the Guscettis were able to pass aspects of their heritage on
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