정병준 교수의 호주선교사 열전(51)
Dr Ellice Jean Davies MB BS (9 Mar 1889 – 15 Jun 1981)
한국명: 대지안(代至安) 선생, Chinju 1918-1941
Dr Jean Davies, second daughter of Rev John G Davies, niece of Rev J. Henry Davies and sister of Miss Margaret Davies arrived in Korea on 26 January 1918. Dr Davies was appointed to Chinju to take the place of Dr McLaren who had gone to France as a medical officer with the armed forces. Dr Davies was required to take a medical examination in Tokyo before she was allowed to practise in Korea. She already had experience as a Resident Doctor at both the Women’s and Children’s Hospitals in Melbourne, besides experience at the Eye and Ear Hospital and as a locum tenens.
She gave her energies first to language study, but gradually took on other responsibilities, such as the oversight of the night school for women and girls.
Dr Davies’ presence at the hospital was a great boon for women patients who much preferred to consult a woman doctor. She took over responsibility for women outpatients, and by the end of 1921 for women in-patients also. Three afternoons a week were set aside for operations, and two for teaching purposes.
At times Dr Davies was not only the senior practising doctor on the staff, but also superintendent. To keep abreast of changes in medicine she used parts of her furloughs to attend courses for post-graduate study. In 1926, she also took a course for two months in Pekin United Medical College, and attended a conference of the China Medical Association.
Dr Davies was both a fine medical doctor and administrator, and also a warm evangelistic woman who loved to win people as disciples of Christ. She taught in Sunday Schools right through her time in Korea, and taught regularly in the Toorgai outreach Sunday School. She trained the young men’s choir for a time, and helped them to stage some concerts. For a time she spent her Sunday afternoons in the wards teaching Scripture verses and hymns.
Dr Davies was unable to return to Korea after Liberation. Instead she undertook medical work in various other needy places. She conducted a survey of the situation of sufferers from Hansen’s disease in the New Hebrides on behalf of the New Zealand Leper Trust Board; she relieved Dr T J K Jamieson, superintendent of the Paton Memorial Hospital in Vila; and for a time took charge of the hospital at South Santo; she worked for the Department of Aboriginal Affairs in South Australia; and undertook various assignments for the Presbyterian Board of Missions among Aboriginal people in North-west Australia, Ernabella and North Queensland.
Dr Jean died in Melbourne on 15 June, 1981, deeply loved and respected, a devoted servant of people in the spirit of Christ.
정병준 교수(서울장신대학교 교회사 교수 / 멜번신학대학원 졸업)
