More Info →Foxton Maternity Home 1942-1982 Page 10

Description

Noteworthy Occurrences:

The following would be a fairly rare event.

• One year there was a wedding held in the Matrons sitting room, of a patient and the father of her week old-baby.

Those present were:

The bridal couple, a Matron, a Doctor, a Lawyer, and a Priest.

• Lady Norris, wife of the Governor General visited in 1964.

• A Sad Happening
A most unfortunate happening was the death of a mother early in 1952. The woman had had no ante-natal-care at all, probably not even medical care, as she lived out in the country, and with a large family and other circumstances at the the time (finance, no transport), she just did not have the care and attention that pregnant mothers should have had.

• Probably the biggest shock to the Foxton Maternity Home staff, (and the townspeople) was in 1973 when Ria Mitchell, a fellow nurse-aid died in a car accident.

• An attempted break-in via the louvre windows of the sterilizing rooms was reported in June of 1981 which became a grave concern as night nurses were on duty alone from 10.30pm until 7.00am. (With a Senior Nurse/Sister asleep in the Sister's flat within the hospital building)

Fundraising

for the Maternity Home Staff & Patients

• The Foxton Lions Club raised money for a television set in 1970.

• Under Sister Jeffrey's guidance and enthusiasm in 1972, a social club was formed of all staff members, with a view to raise money to purchase extra comforts the hospital board did not provide.
All staff did crochet, knitting, baking, ran raffles and all the usual activities to extract money from the general public.
There were stalls held on the front lawn or in the cottage if weather was poor. This continued for five years.

• In January 1975 the money raised by the staff amounted to $200 which purchased four pictures and two clocks for the wards, and garden furniture, consisting of, four vinyl chairs, one large beach umbrella and a table so patients could enjoy being outside in comfort during the summers.

Identification

Date

2005