John Stovin Rodd, M.D.
John Rodd was born in Easdale, Worcestor, England in 1819, to Richard and Ann Rodd.
His father’s occupation was recorded as "Gentleman".
John went on to become a Doctor of Medicine, and in 1843 he married Mary Ramsay Price.
Dr Rodd arrived in Australia in 1852, and after some time in New South Wales, he settled in Schnapper Point, becoming the first doctor in this area.
In 1856 he was licensed by the Government to become the Public Vaccinator for Schnapper Point. This appointment was for the compulsory vaccination of all babies within three months of birth, against small pox.
Parents who omitted to have the child vaccinated were liable of a penalty of One Pound.
John Rodd’s wife Mary, died in 1855.
He remarried in 1857, to Ann Isaacs, whose address was given as "The Briars Station", Moorooduc, which is where the marriage ceremony was held.
The Argus, 25 October, 1856
William Armstrong, teacher and Registrar, of Schnapper Point, and Emma Balcombe, of the Briars were witnesses. In 1871 Dr. Rodd sued the local Church of England Vicar, Reverend Thomas Abrahams, for slander.
Rev Abrahams was called to administer the sacrament to a dying Mr John Wickham, the servant of Mr Henry Tuck, of Flinders, and whose medical attendant was Dr Rodd.
Mr Abraham was alleged to have said that he had seen worse cases of dropsy cured, and Dr Dymock (another doctor in the village) would have cured him, but that Dr Rodd had no instruments to draw off the water, for he would rather drink the price of the instruments than buy them.
There was evidence of other words to the effect that Dr Dymock practiced among the aristocracy of Schnapper Point, and that Dr Rodd was no good, and only the poor people cared for him.
The jury found in Dr Rodd’s favour, and he was awarded £10 costs.
Dr Rodd was living in Main Street, Mornington, with his wife Ann, when he died in 1874. He is buried in the Mornington cemetery, and it is fair to surmise that the "poor people" of Mornington missed him dearly.
