More Info →Foxton Maternity Home 1942-1982 Page 25

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On the NZ shipping company passenger liner Rangitoto. I was sponsored by my cousin •„ (whO had also worked as a nurse at Foxton Maternity Home) and her husband who lived at Himatangi Radio Station.

On my arrival at the home the Matron at Palmerston North Hospital said I was to commence duty on 27th December. This was a nice surprise as I could spend Christmas with family.

It was strange coming to a small cottage hospital with only eight beds after working at Leeds Infirmary in England with almost a thousand beds.

It was quite a shock (not being snobbish) to be shown the dreadful green uniform and white stockings I had to wear after the black stockings we had in England. We did get a shoe and stocking allowance which was more than we were used to. I was made I would very welcome by all the staff from the Matron to the Cleaner and the Cook, who were all characters in their own way, and I spent a very happy year in Foxton.

Unfortunately I cannot remember a great deal but I will try my best.

The one thing that surprised me was when I took my first patient into theatre for delivery I was asked, "What are you doing?" I said, "Delivering this baby" the nurse said, "You can't, you have to ring the Doctor," I was dumbstruck as I had delivered over a hundred babies on the district before I came here.

I found it harder to iget the doctor on time than it was to do the delivery, I soon learnt!

Another incident was when doing the medications. I had them all set out to go and I dropped the whole lot on the floor! - And there was I, on the floor, picking up lots of tablets when who should come in but one of the doctors. You can imagine some of the comments that issued forth! That was quite an embarrassing moment, as I had not really got to know the doctors well at that stage.

A short time later one of the nurse-aids gave me a pen and ink drawing of the incident, me on the floor surrounded by pills, the door ajar and the Doctors foot just coming of lots through the door saying, "Hi Het."

I can remember some of the food we had, as it was a weekly menu so we knew what was coming from one day to the next like cauliflower cheese, corned beef, stew, sausages. The best was a roast which we had once a week. The desserts I remember were Spanish Cream and jelly. Scones were made for morning and afternoon tea.

On special occasions the cook would make a few extra bits and pieces.

When the work was done and all was quiet we would be in the Matrons sitting room smoking and playing scrabble. The doctors would join us for a coffee or a game depending on circumstances. Sometimes we would sit up till midnight.

I was very fortunate to be taken under the wing of one of the senior staff at the time and treated as one of her family. When I was off duty I would just about live at her house and enjoyed the company of her children.

Other things that impressed me were that my wages doubled. It was great as after a while I was homesick and saved every penny I could to pay for my return trip home. I did not go back home for twenty five years! Also, the hours that we worked were either a.m. or p.m. all in one go. I had been used to working split shifts where you had three

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Identification

Date

2005