For generations of Australian kids, the school sick bay was a strange little world. Welcome to the sick bay Depending on the school and the era, the term “sick bay” could be rather generous. Vinyl, naturally, often dark green and presumably chosen because it could survive anything a primary school child could throw at it, occasionally literally. Grazed knees could mean iodine, cotton wool and a bandage, and if you remember iodine, chances are you also remember the sting. She answered the telephone, dealt with parents, found lost jumpers, knew where every teacher was and, when necessary, transformed into the school’s medical department.