Happier Christmas for less fortunate

Press, 21 December 1978, Page 6

Happier Christmas for less fortunate

Christmas in Christchurch hospitals, children's homes, homes for the aged, and prisons is a festive occasion largely because of many gestures of good will from school children. service groups, ad hoc bodies, church and business groups, and private citizens. Children at the Choi-; mondeley Children’s Home have had “the time of their lives,’’ said a staff member. The Lyttelton Harbour Board, in its annual children’s Christmas outing and party, took the children on a tug nde. Earlier. Gold Band Taxis spent six hours taking

11 them on a tour of Christ- , church recreation spots. | 1 The many gifts for the 1 , children were given by ' “people here and there, and 1 .some groups.” The Friends of the Hospi- ’ tai, a group of 30 elderly ' women, have raised enough . between them to buy about , 350 small gifts for hospital 1 patients in all but one of the North Canterbury Hospital. ! Board’s hospitals and to give: up to $6O in a Christmas grant to each. Another group, the Hospi-j tai Lady Visitors’ Association. will give a gift to every patient in the Christ-

•ichurch and Burwood hospitals on Christmas Day, and . has given about $5OO to buy , Christmas presents for the I children. Children at St Joseph’s .home and the Methodist . Children’s Home will spend L their Christmas in the t homes of temporary foster " parents. “Some parents. . might become permanent,”, ! said a staff member. : The Welfare Department; gave gifts to each of the 670 [ .children under its care. j The Lions Club took St' 'Joseph’s children on a bar-;; ■ becue. At the Christchurch Hos-

-ipitai, the Canterbury Childi’ren’s Theatre will tomorrow “Paddington Bear” >|for patients. Pupils from two ’Christchurch schools have • entertained senior citizens at t Churchill Courts and FitzI gerald House, and children > sang to patients at Princess • Margaret Hospital. ;. Wards in Christchurch ’(hospitals are decorated, and .'patients will be treated to J Christmas dinners of roasts; [ (turkey, pork, or lamb) the; 'traditional Christmas pudding or trifles and fruit Jsalad, cordials, sweets, and [nuts. ' At Sunnyside Hospital.'

patients in wards in the main building will be served' ’ by staff at a special ban- ’ quet. Staff in most hospitals] will sing carols to patients;! at the Christcurch Hospital they also staged a nativity Play. Tomorrow, there will be a children's Christmas party at ’ [the Christchurch Hospital.! ’After a performance of; “Paddington Bear,” Father [ Christmas will give gifts ’ bought with the grant given ; by the Lady Visitors’ Asso- 1 [elation and The Friends of [the Hospital. At Sunnyside Hospital, ’

patients in each ward have : decorated their ward ■ “thrown” a Christmas Party for relatives and friends, and organised a dance. This ; evening they will join staff ’in carol singing. Father Chirstmas will dis- ’ tribute gifts, given by various organisations, on’Christimas morning, and award ’two shields for the best decdorated wards. Staff at the Christchurch : Women’s Hospital had little ; difficulty choosing gifts for ! the patients — booties never go amiss. Immediate families will be able to visit all • Christmas Day. Special church services

(swill be held oh Christmas! I Day in at least the four ' main hospitals. At Christchurch prisons/ ii inmates will be allowed one 'gift each; items and amounts! (are regulated by statute. They will be treated tor a (traditional Christmas dinner. ; and films. Decorations are II spare. ■| The Christchurch Salva-! i tion Army Band gave a concert at Paparua Prison, and: I inmates at The Christchurch [Women’s Prison staged a (concert for visitors last' 'week. I There will be no visiting [on Christmas Day at Christ- i church prisons.