RETIRING MATRON

Press, Volume LXXXVIII, Issue 26869, 23 October 1952, Page 2

RETIRING MATRON

MISS NEADS HONOURED After 34 years’ nursing in a psychiatric hospital, the last 13 as matron of the Sunnyside Hospital, Miss Mary Neads will retire this week. To mark the occasion the patients organised several functions to show their appreciation and gratitude for the interest, help, trust and understanding she has shown. Cluny Villa patients arranged an evening gathering to offer their good wishes for Miss Neads’ future, and presented her with a token of appreciation. . t The female receiving home patients organised a tea party and presented the retiring matron with a memento. An evening party was arranged when the patients of six wards met to honour Miss Neads. The patient who has been in residenca longest presented her with a spray, and another patient made an appropriate speech. Songs, dances, community singing, and elocutionary items were given by the patients themselves, assisted by friends. A young patient gave an address, and a presentation was made by representatives of other wards. Miss Neads suitably replied. OBITUARY MRS E. TENNENT (From Our Own Reporter) GREYMOUTH, October 21. The death has occurred of Mrs Elizabeth Tennent, one of the oldest residents of Greymouth, and the widow of Mr David Tennent, who was prominently associated with the sawmilling industry for many years in the Grey district. Born at Hokitika 82 years ago, Mrs Tennent was a member of the wellknown Blair family and had lived for the greater part of her life at Greymouth. She was educated at the Hokitika District High School and was a pupil teacher there, and later assistant teacher at Hatter’s terrace. An active member of St. John’s Church, she was a foundation member of the Presbyterian Women’s Missionary Union and a life member of the Makura Croquet Club.

Mrs Tennent is survived by one son, Mr W. B. Tennent, member of Parliament for Palmerston North, and by two daughters, Mrs H. H. Hooper and Miss C. Tennent, both of Greymouth.

Mrs Tennent was a member of a small committee which organised the first flower show in Greymouth. During the First World War Mrs Tennent was secretary of the Lady Liverpool Society Fund for the Grey district and a member of the women’s patriotic committee. Her eldest son, Mr Robert Tennent, was killed in France in the First World War. CRIPPLED CHILDREN SOCIETY MONTHLY MEETING OF COMMITTEE There was a good attendance at the October meeting of the committee of the Crippled Children Society in Christchurch. The chairman welcomed the Dean of Christchurch (the Very Rev. Martin Sullivan) to the committee and also the field officer (Miss B. Harper), who has resumed part-time duties after her illness. The secretary reported that since the previous meeting a number of donations had been received, and also advice of legacies of £25 ahd £250. Six new cases had been registered. Much of the evening was taken up with reports from the delegates who attended the 1952 biennial conference of the society in Wellington early this month, when remits submitted by the branch proved fruitful topics for discussion and action. A busy month’s work was reported by the transport officer, with 340 trips totalling 1365 miles. The field officer reported having visited the Public Hospital last week. Eighteen of the society’s cases were in-patients. Correspondence included four letters of thanks for grants. It was decided that grants towards travel expenses would be made to the parents of five patients in the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Rotorua, who had been invited to attend a four-day refresher course there before bringing the children home for Christmas.