Cholmondeley Home love

Press, 19 November 1977, Page 10

Cholmondeley Home love

By

LEONE STEWART

Initially, it was the "sheer challenge’’ that made Mrs Esme Blackburn take on the job of secretary to Cholmondeley Home. She meant to stay for only about a year, and has just retired — 19 years later. Then Cholmondeley — an emergency home for children in Governor’s Bay — was virtually closed. “We had absolutely no income, and were overdrawn at the bank to the point of no return,” said Mrs Blackburn. At her first meeting, the president, Mr C. L. Paterson. said that there must be thousands of parents in Christchurch who would be grateful for the continued existence of Cholmondeley. “I was new to the country then, and understood how it would feel to be ill and have no family to help,” said Mrs Blackburn. The next two or three years saw an intensive effort to make enough money to keep the home going. “It was not a question of doing good works,” said Mrs Blackburn. “We had to be practical to give the bank sufficient confidence to carry us.” Immediately it. became obvious that the public knew little of the freehold home which was given to Christchurch for use as a children's home in 1925. So an educational and promotional campaign was launched. Mrs Blackbum well remembers applying to the Town Clerk — “who hadn’t heard of Cholmondeley” — for a streetday appeal. “I was told that we had never raised sufficient money to warrant a day of our own. He said £l5OO was the usual indicator.” She succeeded in convincing him that, of course, Cholmondeley could raise that amount. A brochure explaining the work of the home and appealing for members brought in a membership of 500, which has remained constant. ■ The street appeal, a new experience for Mrs Blackburn, was a success; and then the legacies began to come in. Looking back on those years of uphill struggle Esme Blackburn sees 1961 as a real advance. That year the proceeds, and attendent publicity, from Capping Week went to Cholmondeley. And a month later came a large legacy. That allowed the board to undertake much needed improvement of the home,

including new sewerage and modern heating systems. Even now it is rarely that income meets expenditure, but “we keep it in reasonable bounds.” Work by individuals and service groups is invaluable assistance. Esme Blackburn is grateful for the people who work quietly in the background. “I could name a hundred 1 could ring any day and ask for help, and they would just say simply: ‘Of course.’ And it doesn’t come from the rich. It makes one very humble.” Mrs Blackburn came to New Zealand in 1953. She bad joined the Wrens in England during World

War 11, and had "married into the Navy.” She describes the Navy as a good training ground for working for Cholmondeley. “My captain instilled in me that time off was a privilege, not a right.” Mrs Blackburn first began to work for Cholmondeley Home as its secretary; six months later she became secretary-trea-surer. Eventually she was executive officer, a job forming a vital liaison between the board and the matron. “One of the reasons we have continued to receive such loyal support from the public is that our financial statement is very simple,, and everyone can see that we keep administrative costs to the minimum,” she said.

Esme Blackburn has always considered it vital that Christchurch people know they have a stake in the home. “It is their home.” she said. “1 always say it is ar. insurance for all parents. Of course, we have very tragic cases among some families, but you can be the most loving parent possible and still not be able to guard against being taken ill.” During her 19 years the home’s aim of providing emergency accommodation for children who can be kept together as families in times of illness, stress, or separation from parents has not changed- The most dramatic change Mrs Blackburn has seen has

been in medical treatment. Previously, when children arrived at the home because their mother was having psychiatric treatment their stay would be at least six months. “Now the doctors are recognising that women are under stress, and are giving them preventive treatment much earlier. Now the stay in a psychiatric hospital is more likely to be six weeks than six months,” she said. Also gone are the days when children were admitted to the home for a long convalescence to recover from childhood illnesses such as scarlet fever and diptheria. The home is run by a matron, assistant matron, and three young nurses.

Mrs Blackburn believes that the “country living” of Governor’s Bay does much to ensure that the sort of “practical, caring girl, not one who wants to be out every night" works there. “Our girls have a genuine love of children, and enjov the countrv life.” She . describes the comfortable, old home as being set in six of the most beautiful acres in New Zealand. The superb setting, she is sure, provides a peace that has a theraputic affect on the children. Cholmondeley has no real problem children. “You would never see crying, unhappy children there,” said Mrs Blackburn. “They may be a bit tearful on arrival, but it

takes only a few minutes to distract them. They get lots of loving kindness and are treated always with firmness and fairness. And we have no raised voices at Cholmondeley. The children respond extremely well.” One of the biggest problems she and the staff have had is not to get too attached to the children, especially those there for a longer stay. “It’s terribly human to get very fond of them.” she said. “A child has got to feel loved, but at the same time they have to be able to leave the home without looking back.” At the same time there can never be any sense of favouritism. All the children must be treated equally.