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file via Foxton Historic Society. It is also purported to have originally been the property of Mrs Anne Marie Hunt.

• Photographs used in the book were freely loaned by their owners in good faith and I (the author) disclaim any dispute to any images shown in them.

Frances E M Ellis
(Author)

References:

(A brief review gleaned from the write up, "Professional and Medical Services", by M.Malthus in the book, "Foxton 1888-1988 The First 100 Years")

Some information from clippings which were kept by Phyl Lash from the following Newspapers:

Also:
• Manawatu Standard. • Archives - Palmerston North Hospital
• Levin Chronicle. • Foxton Historic Society - via Tony Hunt
• The Dominion • Manawatu College Library
• The Manawatu Herald • Andrea White

The Beginning of Changes to Birthing Facilities in Foxton Borough

During. the 1880's medical services were insecure, mainly because the Te Awahou district was a low socio-economic area and with only a small population, doctors had no incentive to stay, also, New Zealand hospital conditions were slow to improve during the nineteenth century and were not considered an appropriate place for childbirth, therefore pregnant women depended on trained nurses or untrained midwives.

(This began to change after the passing of the Nurses Registration Act 1901, and the Midwives Registration Act in 1904.)

The first state maternity home in the World was Wellington's St Helens Hospital which opened late in 1904. Midwives were trained there, and public hospitals began adding maternity wards in the larger populated areas, leaving small towns wanting. Another St Helen's Hospital opened in 1905 which Otago Medical School had opposed, but two more opened in 1907 — one in Auckland and one in Christchurch.

(For a more comprehensive explanation about midwives and birthing procedures, please turn to page 57)

In Foxton, certified and non-certified midwives were busy caring for pregnant women and births from the early 1900's - generally working from their own homes. In 1924, Nurse Powell opened the ORATAVA Maternity Home at 16 Robinson Street, (later to become ‘Lonsdale'.) Mrs F Williams, on finishing her year long midwifery training at Wellington's St Helen's Hospital in 1929, opened a practice at her Union Street home, practicing there until the opening of the Foxton Maternity Home in 1942, then, Mrs Williams continued seeing women in their own homes for some time.

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Date
2005

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