Templeton Hospital Pool Appeal

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31805, 9 October 1968, Page 18

Templeton Hospital Pool Appeal

An appeal will be opened for $12,000 for a swimming pool at the Templeton Hospital and Training School.

Plans are being prepared for the school’s Welfare Council, and it is estimated that

the pool, 100 ft by 25ft will cost $26,000. This will allow for heating from the hospital boilers. The council had been assured of a subsidy of half the cost from the Health Department said the chairman (Mr R. W. Skellerup). The pool would not only provide a recreational facility for the 600 patients at the hospital but it would also be of considerable therapeutic value, he said.

Hospital staff have undertaken to raise $2OOO by a fair at the hospital in March next year.

Service clubs in the city which are members of the council will raise funds, and the Intellectually Handicapped Children’s Society has given $5OO. Mr Skellerup said that the council did not intend to launch a public appeal until the results of its own efforts were known, but persons could send donations to the fund secretary, Mrs H. G. Holmes, at 73 Wairakei Road.

“This may be an ambitious scheme,” he said, “but it is our aim to help the children at the hospital in whatever way we can.

“The Medical Superintendent and his staff are anxious that the children have as much contact as possible with the community. This contact helps some of them to be assimilated into life outside the hospital, and anything that can be done in this way is a valuable contribution."