One of the most delightful artefacts in the Edward Ford collection is a small business card entitled 'With the Seasons Compliments'. It is a greeting from one of the unsung heroes of early public health practice - the Night Man.

The Night Man story highlights the resilience of workers who were willing to undertake a challenging and repellent task that often went largely unrecognised by society. Operating in the dead of night, these individuals played a crucial role in improving hygiene in urban Australia, long before the advent of modern sewerage systems. Their job was to empty sewer pits and cesspools, which were dug in backyards and accessed through laneways at the rear of properties in towns and cities.

With no other means of disposal, these pits were prone to overflowing, creating health risks for the neighbourhood. The Night Man ensured that the waste was safely removed, thus preventing outbreaks of disease such as typhoid and cholera, which were common in the pre-modern sanitation era. While the job was essential and probably only recognised when it went undone, it came with significant social stigma. Long before the advent of occupational health and safety standards, the exposure to disease and hazardous waste was a constant risk.

As sewer technology evolved, the work of the Night Man gradually declined, and his role is now largely forgotten by current generations who mostly take the improvement in sanitation for granted. This card alludes to the arrival of the modern sewerage system, but I also imagine it as a tribute to the generous soul who recognised the thankless task undertaken and left tokens of appreciation for the Night Man to enjoy on his nightly rounds.