LEPERS’ TRUST BOARD

Press, Volume XCVI, Issue 28450, 3 December 1957, Page 13

LEPERS’ TRUST BOARD

Sir Ronald Garvey Attends Social The chairman and members of the Lepers’ Trust Board gave a social evening on Saturday at which the guest of honour was the Governor of Fiji (Sir Ronald Garvey), who is patron of the board. Other specially-invited guests included Sir Hugh Ragg and Lady Ragg, Dr. D. W. Beckett, Dr. C. J. Austin, and the Rev. Father J. Cahill, brother of the Rev. Sister M. Felicitas, sister in charge of the leper station at Makogai.

The chairman (Mr A. S. Geddes) welcomed Sir Ronald Garvey, and spoke briefly of the interest he and Lady Garvey had always taken in the station, and how the patients loved to welcome them on their visits.

Sir Ronald Garvey said he wisheu to express the appreciation of the Fijian people and the patients at the station on Makogai Island for the interest taken in the lepers there and for the funds placed at their disposal by the people of New Zealand. He said that £84.000 had been contributed by the people of New Zealand, and the patients on the island had gained the impression that New Zealand must be fairyland, because so many good things had been sent to them from this country. Sir Ronald Garvey paid tribute to the work done for the leper station by the secretary of the Lepers’ Trust Board (Mr P. J. Twomey). Items were given by Mr E. Bohan (songs) and Mr Chris Gray (pianoforte solos). Mr Gray was also accompanist. Coloured slides of life on Makogai were shown by Mr Twomey. Supper was afterwards served to about 85 members and guests at the function.