Exhibition Explores History of Smoking, From Doctor's Prescription to Social Norm

It may seem unthinkable today, but once upon a time cigarettes were prescribed by doctors for common ailments.

Shirley Harbus is 92 years old but the Yamba resident remembers a time when doctors believed smoking was therapeutic.

"My mother didn't smoke normally but the doctor said when you feel an asthma attack coming have a cigarette, a menthol one," she said.

In 1973 the federal government mandated that manufacturers include the warning "smoking is a health hazard" on cigarette packets, but it still took decades for the message to filter through to the addicted public.

Now the Alstonville Plateau Historical Society in northern NSW is exploring the history of smoking through an exhibition of artefacts from 1900 to the present.

Society member John Sim is a member of the society said the group had mixed feelings about the show at first.

"But we decided it was a story that had to be told about past practice and social attitudes," he said.

Some might find those practices and attitudes surprising.

"We have ads where doctors were quoted advertising particular brands of cigarettes," Mr Sim said.

"The doctor was the most respected member of the community."

Displays reveal how businesses used smoking products as marketing tools.

"Matches were given out by lots of motels and business companies, just available in the foyer for people to take," Mr Sim said.

One memory, that Shirley Harbus can now laugh about, is getting six straps of the cane for smoking a cigarette in the Whiporie Public School bathroom, in 1944.

"It did the job, because I never smoked again," she said.

From take-off, to landing

Barbara Hofmann was an air hostess in the 1960s and '70s and said smoking added to the job's allure.

One of Ms Hofmann's duties with Trans Australian Airlines, was to prepare a tray of cigarettes for first-class passengers.

"Very shortly after take-off [passengers] could light up a cigarette, and you could smoke until the light went back on at the end of the flight," Ms Hofmann told ABC North Coast.

She can't remember passengers complaining about the smoke.

"There most certainly would've been people who didn't smoke and hated it, there's no doubt about it, but I don't remember it being a big focus.

"It was an area of life that I don't think will ever be repeated. I remember St. Moritz because they had a gold tip and that looked beautiful."

It was not until December 1, 1987 that smoking was banned on domestic flights in Australia, with passengers risking a $500 fine if caught.

As the exhibition reveals, smoking was the social norm.

Shirley Harbus agreed.

"You'd be the odd one out if you were male and didn't smoke in those days," she said.

The exhibition will run until the end of June. This time around, it's a smoke-free event.