Cripples’ Holiday Homes To Be Opened Today

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30100, 6 April 1963, Page 13

Cripples’ Holiday Homes To Be Opened Today

Specially-wide doorways for the passage of wheelchairs, and gripping-rails around baths and in lavatories, are features of the Harry T. Adams Holiday Homes for Crippled Children, which will be opened this afternoon by the president of the New Zealand Crippled Children Society (Sir Charles Norwood). The homes, at 51 and 53 Lonsdale street. New Brighton, were made possible by legacies from Mr Adams. The main part of the cost of about £lO,OOO was met from the sale of Mr Adams’ Idris road house and its contents, and the contents of his holiday home at Hanmer Springs. A gift of £lOOO from the Levi Blood estate paid for a good deal of the furnishings.

The homes are semidetached, and can be turned into one unit if necessary to accommodate a large family. They will be available to any family which has a child registered with any branch of the Crinpled Children Society. The first families will come in for Easter. One of the unite has an extra bedroom, and has four beds: the other has two beds. Each unit has also a stretcher and a divan.

Outside facilities include carports and lawns. The chairman of the committee which will manage the home, Mr P. A. Hickling, hopes that youth service organisations in New Brighton may offer to help with the maintenance, especially in lawnmowing.

While most of the families who use the homes will probably come for a holiday, another use Will be to accommodate crippled children from places outside Christchurch who have to attend hospitals in the city for outpatient care. The child will Live in one of the units with its mother, and the society will make arrangements for travel to and from the hospital.