FAREWELL FUNCTION

Evening Star, Issue 22920, 30 March 1938, Page 20

FAREWELL FUNCTION

HOSPITAL SERVANTS HONOURED MATRON AND CHIEF CLERK Members of the administrative branch of the staff of the Dunedin Hospital Board met at the Hospital yesterday afternoon for the purpose of bidding farewell to Miss Tennent (matron) and Mr P. Priest (chief clerk), who had reached the retiring age. The president of the board (Mr J. W. Dove) presided. The Chairman said they had met for the purpose of saying farewell to two members of the staff who had been with them for many years. He referred to Mr Priest’s prowess on the football field as a young man and paid a tribute to his high qualities. Mr Priest, he said, had also done yeoman service for the city and would continue to do so as a private citizen. The board was very satisfied with the work done by Miss Tennent since her appointment, went on the speaker, and would always be indebted to her. She would also be remembered by the hundreds of girls who had passed through her hands.

On behalf of the staff Dr J. Thomson (medical superintendent) said that Miss Tennent always had high ideals of her duty. Her first consideration was always for her patients, and her staff came next. Her sympathy, enthusiasm, and loyalty were reflected in the high position the hospital hold in the public estimation. The speaker wished her many happy years in which to enjoy her retirement and presented her with a, cheque from the staff.

Miss Tennent, in the course of her reply, acknowledged the generosity of the staff and expressed her thanks for the gift. The success she had made of her work, she said, would not have been possible without the co-operation of the staff.

The secretary of the board (Mr John Jacobs) referred to the retirement of Mr Priest who, he said, had, like himself, been engaged on the more mundane part of the board’s work, but during the whole of the time the speaker bad worked with Mr Priest perfect amity bad existed between them. Ho had been a faithful servant of the board, and it was difficult to finally say farewell. Ho was sure that every member of the staff would wish Mr and Mrs Priest a long period of happiness in their retirement. Mr Jacobs then presented Mr Priest with a rug and travelling case from the staff. The speaker then wont on to support the remarks made by the chairman in reference to the services of Miss Tennent. Replying, Mr Priest said that during the 2S years he had been on the board’s staff bo bad soon many changes. He ■referred to several well-known members of the board who had rendered good services. Mr Jacobs bad said be was the sole survivor of the first ad-

ministration, having joined the staff in 1910. At that time the staff consisted of four or five, and it now numbered 20, The speaker expressed his thanks to the chairman and secretary for the help that had been given him during his term of service and the members of the staff for their co-operation. In conclusion he wished Miss Tennent many happy years of retirement. . Mr F. J. Silvius also referred in appreciative terms to the work of Mr Priest.