NURSING LIBRARY NAMED

Press, Volume CXII, Issue 33061, 31 October 1972, Page 16

NURSING LIBRARY NAMED

The name of one of the most illustrious graduates of the Christchurch School of Nursing, Miss M. I. Lambie, was officially applied yesterday to the school’s library in Christchurch Hospital; it will now be known as the Mary Lambie Library.

The suggestion for naming the library was made by the Christchurch School of Nursing Association. A photograph of Miss Lambie and her medals and decorations, which will be kept in the library, were presented by

her sisters, Miss A. B. Lambie, Mrs M. McAneny and Mrs C. Reid. The chairman of the North Canterbury Hospital Board (Dr L. C. L. Averill), said Miss Lambie was an outstanding woman with a world-wide reputation. She began her nursing training in 1910 and was paid nothing for the first three months. After Plunket nursing and midwifery training and gaining experience in Canada and Britain, Miss Lambie joined the Health Department as a public nurse in 1927 and helped develop post-graduate courses which led to the school of advanced nursing training.

In 1932, she was appointed Director of Nursing, and with Dr Elizabeth Gunn she helped in the development of health camps and visited several Pacific countries to assist in organising health services.

Also present at the brief naming ceremony were the president of the Christchurch School of Nursing Association (Mrs J. Sawers), the vice-president (Mrs A. R. Cant), the secretary (Mrs N. P. Ball), the treasurer (Mrs W. M. Berry), the Matron-in-Chief (Miss D. R. Newman), and the Medical Superintendent of Christchurch Hospital (Dr R. A. Fairgray).