Petimus, Docemus, Curamus
After The Queen Elizabeth Hospital opened it was decided that an emblem was needed for a hospital tie. The Tudor rose was selected, due to its historical associations deemed relevant to the hospital. This lead to the granting of an official coat of arms.
It was then agreed that The Queen Elizabeth Hospital (TQEH) needed their own coat of arms. Given that the Royal Adelaide Hospital had their own it was up TQEH to create one that is unique to them. Its design included the Tudor rose, a unicorn and a rising sun. After a hospital wide competition the Latin motto “Petimus, Docemus, Curamus” which in English translates to “We Seek, We Teach, We Heal” was picked to be included on the coat of arms. It was submitted by Mr Michael John Neagle, a clerk in the Outpatient Department. For submitting the winning entry he was presented with a silver salver.
The coat of arms were unveiled on the 7th December 1964. Present were Mr Kenneth Treagus (Administrator, TQEH), Dr John W Rollison (Chairman of the Board of Management, TQEH) and the Honourable Sir Lyell McEwin (Minister of Health).
Coat Of Arms Explained
Unicorn: ancient symbol of medicine
Gold Torches: Represents knowledge
Ermine Background: signifies royal association
Tudor Roses: Linked the hospital with the suburb of Woodville and with its royal associations: “Elizabeth Woodville, who married the Yorkist King Edward IV on 1st May 1464, had previously been married to a Lancastrian knight. Her daughter, Elizabeth of York, married Henry Tudor after Bosworth and the red and white roses of Lancaster and York were blended in the Tudor rose. The hospital bore the name Queen Elizabeth II who had been Princess of York, and it had been opened by the Queen Mother who had been Dutchess of York; and it stood in Woodville, which bore the name of Elizabeth Woodville whose daughter had wed the first of the Tudor kings”.
Golden Rising Sun – Appeared on the pre-1984 South Australian Coat of Arms
Latin Motto – “Petimus, Docemus, Curamus” – ‘We seek, we teach, we heal’
Uses of The Coat of Arms
The The Queen Elizabeth Hospital coat of arms was used on official letterheads and documents. Is it not widely used today as the hospital is integrated as part of SA Health and all hospitals in CALHN (Central Adelaide Local Health Network) use the official SA Health/CALHN letterhead. Back in the 1980s it was also used on some uniforms such as the blazer of the Assistant Nursing Director’s Blazer as well as cuff links for formal occasions.
During the 50th anniversary of the hospital in 2004 celebratory souvenirs were made. Many featured the coat of arms including calendar and specialty shiraz and sparkling red wine.
Today it is not commonly used but it is still a pivotal piece of the Queen Elizabeth Hospital’s history and heritage. Do you own a souvenir or uniform has has the TQEH coat of arms or have a story to share? We would love to see your pictures and stories. Send the to Health.RAHHeritageOffice@sa.gov.au
Written by Kellie Branson, CALHN Health Museum
