INSPIRING LIVES.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLIII, Issue 343, 10 March 1922, Page 5

INSPIRING LIVES.

MARKED TRIBUTE TO NOBLE WORK. HOSPITAL MATRONS FAREWELLED. A UNIQUE RECORD.

Hit! great debt of gratitude that r the public in general and the Pal- > merston North Hospital Board in s particular owes to the Matron ' (Miss McLagan) and the DeputyMatron (Miss Greig) of the hospital was fittingly acknowledged ’ yesterday afternoon, when both ladies were officially farewelled and presented with illuminated adI dresses. The gathering took place at the Nurses Home, and among , those present were the chairman (Sir James Wilson), and members of the Hospital Board, Mr J. A. Nash, M.P., representatives of the clergy, the medical profession, the nurses and the general public. The principal speaker was Sir James Wilson, who in the course of an eloquent tribute said: “To .lay we are met. first to do honour in the matron and deputymatron who have so long been in the service of tire hoard with such signal sticee s to express our appreciation ol (heir work, nml our regret that they are retiring. Tim matron lias been 23 years and the deputymatron 18 years with us—a long span ot (lie life of each where die responsibilities are so great, To become a matron —the hidlest office a nurse in a hospital can at-tain-—the nurse has to go through a long course of iraining. The matron is more or less isolated for fear of showing favouritism, which would Ik’ fatal io her authority. Bhe lias the entire control of tin- nurses and ol the domestics, and lias to overlook all household affairs. She Inis jo know all the patients, visit them each clay, know their londilion. communicate with their friends, and sometimes assist in helping the patients to light for their lives. 1 need not dwell upon tlic sad episodes which often occur in the course ot her work. She must have a judicial mind, for if any complaints are made she has to silt them and deal out justice, to judge of llie capacity of the nurses under her, to encourage some, to chide others, and sympathise with and teach all under her charge. Like Father O’Flynn, she must ‘have a wonderful way wid her,’ but not go Ids length of ‘coaxin' the easy one, hating the lazy one on wid a stick.’ She has a number of children under her charge. ' have often been .-truck, when goin- . . (lie children’s ward with-her, ..Ph the confidence with which she was received.” AX ELOQUENT TRIBUTE. Continuing, Sir Janies emphasised that the discipline in hospitals must he strictly kept up, ;:s a stop might he fatal, and inattention to instructions might lead to serious trouble. Watchfulness on the rnairoiiN part had therefore to he inees:,;int. “Up to a few years ago,” he ’vinarked. “before wo had a., resident medical staff —that is nefore the new wards were opened—-our matron had double work to do, for ski' had the whole Responsibility, which is now divided between the resident doctor and herself. When I look hack on the position it strikes me with wonder ill,-if , she could get through the work she did successfully. Yet ii was done and done without a hitch —and she has been commended by the Director-General and others for tin* work she lias done. Her control of the hospital during tin- epidemic was masterly. “Of tin* deputy-matron much; too, can he j said of her work, and it speaks well lor i both that, during the long years they have worked together, they arc closer friends than ever they were. In the absence ol the matron, either on account of holidays or sick leave. Miss Greig assumed control and showed her capacity in charge to the hoard’s complete satisfaction. When the malron was in Britain for a holiday Miss Greig had charge during the whole time and refused to receive any remuneration for her services, over and above her own -alary, though the hoard was anxious to recompense her. For many years she had charge of the operating t float re. and in her the surgeons had complete confidence. I cannot say too much of her earo of patients under her charge at any time, and how cheerful -he was under all oireunisianees.’ j; Concluding, Sir James wished both ladies God-.-peed and presentcd each with an 1 illuminated address, eulogising their services, and hearimr the signatures of the members of the hoard and tin* heads of the |

FSTFFM OK MKDK'AL RROFF.SSIOX |)r, I’ni 11:1111. speaking as oik 1 who h;ul been ;ilßiclte.l to the stall for many years, said hr could unreservedly endorse the sentiments expressed by Sir James Wilson. .Miss Melamaii joined' (he staff when the hospital was a tiny institution numbering 25 hods, in charge oi live nurses. do-day, alter a lapse of 25 years, the hospital comprised 43 nurses and 150 beds. Ihe matron s great capability and administrative ability were known to all with whom she had come in contact, and she was the essence of kindness. Her heart was much bigger than her body, and he voiced the ideas of the staff as a whole in stating that the utmost regret was fell at the departure of the [natron and Iter confrere, Miss Greig. Mr J. K. Ilornhlow (treasurer of the hoard) also paid a marker! tribute to the services: rendered by both ladies. The testimonial that had just been read convoyed the feelings of the board very distinctly. They had to thank Miss Mi Kagan for the great care site had always exercised in Iter administrative capacity, in which connection she had saved the hoard in the aggrei*.nil.' a cnnM(li‘ral)l(‘ sum •>! money. i-iood unique as a matron in any institution in New Zi aland, because there were very few matrons who had the adaptability to carry out the work that she had performed in connection with the Palmerston North hospital. Her hard work and Selt -acrilice. were an inspiration- to all who were associated with her on the nursing stall. OX BFIIALF OF TIJK PUBLICMr J. A. Xasli, M.P., an behalf ol the general public of the district, said it was must, lamentable that the hospital was losiii" - the services of two such splendid women who had proved their worth on innumerable occasions. Members of the hoard, the medical profession and many residents eon,d speak of the skill and ability displayed by both Miss McLagan ■l,,d Miss Greig. It was only fitting that their worthy chairman. Sir James Wilson, who had held ofliee for 21 years, was ah e that fitly to make the presentations. Alt Xitsh referred to the fact, that Sister Oreig had always a, smile for everybody and enlarged on her loyalty to Miss Me Lagan hi "retraining from seeking 'the vacant mat ronship, in order to accompany her friend and colleague on a trip 10 the Did (‘oniitry. . T . „ , The medical superintendent, Dr. honest, expressed the regret of (lie staff at the deluiriure of Miss McLagan and Miss Oreig, both of whom had always been held in high honour and esteem, lie acknowledged his personal indebtedness to Miss McLagan for her loyal support, and referred to the valuable services Miss Oreig had rendered si„(ir in char we of tin- operating theatre. Vt was largely due to the faithful service of both ladies, combined with the carelu administration of Sir Janies Wilson and other mi tubers of the board, that the. 1 altnerslon Xmlh hospital to-day enjoyed such a good reputation. Hc*i)lviiiL r on bclialt of Miss MrLai»an, Dr Pill nan: paid a tribute to the full meagre of support she had at all tunes received from the chairman and members o (he hoard. Hundreds of nurses had passed through her hands at the hospital and she foil that Iter life had not been spent m vain when she was made the recipient of so many expressions (if regret, at. her departure’and such tangible evidence of the si c(„.ss n f bet* adminislratioii. It would he ntatty vc-ars before she fully got over tinsevere 'wrench in severing her-connection 1 with the institution in which she had spent so many years ol her hie. , ... f Kit tin"- response was made, on bclialt 01 Si-ter Oreig bv Dr. I'.etl, at tbe conclusion of which the 'visitors wen- enie-tamcd n afternoon tea. . . , ,\ presentation was also made to Miss ■ MdaiMit bv the patients ml the womens surgical ward, who gave the . departing maimii a. bamlsome set of knives. '1 he recipient briefly returned thanks.