Presentations to Miss Newman

Kai Tiaki : the journal of the nurses of New Zealand, Volume XVI, Issue 1, 1 January 1923, Page 29

Presentations to Miss Newman

On Saturday, December 16, a pleasing function took place at St. Helen's Hospital, a presentation being made to Miss Newman, the Matron, who has been promoted to Wellington after thirteen years' service m Christchurch. The nursing and medical staff, a large number of past and present nurses, others who had been colleagues of the Matron m her training days, as well as a large number of friends from different parts of the city, assembled on the lawn at the rear of the hospital. The guests were received by Sister Jones, who acted as hostess. Miss Newman was presented with a handsome bouquet of crimson roses by little Joan Anderson. Dr. Douglas Anderson, a member of the medical staff, m a brief speech, called on Dr. Irving, the senior medical officer, to make the presentation. Apologies for absence were received from Canon Bean, Miss Maclean, Miss Bicknell, Mrs. Irving, Dr. and Mrs. Cooke, Dr. and Mrs. Guthrie, Mr. Moore, Rev. C. Perry, Nurses King, Wallis, Brake, Currie, Beer, Beaton, Thomson, Dalziel, Rowe> Beaumont, Patterson* Carter, Fowler, Bruce, Prichard, Mrs. Turner, Mrs. Taylor, and Dr. Eleanor Baker. Partings were always sad ; said Dr. Irving, and m this case he was losing a friend as well as a matron, as he had known Matron Newman for many years, before she had commenced her training as- a nurse. He had watched her through her training, as probationer nurse, sister, acting-matron, and matron, and he could say, as the result of years of experience? that he had never met anyone else Who so nearly resembled the perfect matron, A mere knowledge of nursing did not make a matron. She must have other qualinra+ions besides, and Matron Newman had these m full. A matron made or marred an institution. That afternoon's gathering was only a gathering of her friends amongst the medical profession. Had it been a gathering of mothers who had been under Matron Newmans care the grounds would not have been

large enough to hold the numbers. What was Wellington's gain was Christchurch's loss, and Matron Newmans promotion was fully deserved. They did not want her to leave without giving her something as a small mark of their esteem, love and honour. On behalf of the members of the medical and nursing staffs he would ask her to accept this gift. Dr. Anderson briefly returned thanks on behalf of Matron Newman. The -gift, a handsome oak writing desk, suitably inscribed, was much admired. Afternoon tea was served* and musical items were given by Misses Masters and Biltcliff (songs) and Mr. Ivan Baker (piano). The Rev. W. P. Hughes said he was glad to hear Dr. Irving speak so highly of the matron. She certainly was an ideal nurse and matron, and the reason would be found m the fact that she was a devout and practical churchwoman — one to whom the spiritual part of life was real. He deeply appreciated all that Miss Newman had been to the Parish of Sydenham, and to himself. It was owing to her personal influence that a monthly celebration of the Holy Communion (at 5.30 a.m.) had been maintained for a number of years. The loss of Miss Newman was a real one, and he could but hope that her successor would have a like regard for the essential religious basis m the training of those who were adopting the ministry of nursing as a profession. Amongst those present were : — Miss Muir (Matron of Public Hospital), Mr. and Mrs. Dean, Mrs. Moore, Dr. Alice Moreland, Rev. H. S. Leach and Mrs Leach, Rev. W. P. Hughes and Mrs. Hughes, Canon Wilford, Dr. and Mrs. Douglas Anderson, Dr. Irving* Miss Pyke (Matron of 'Essex Street Home), Mrs. Stringer, Mrs. Biddle, Nurse Maude, Miss Bwart, Miss Buckley, Miss Hood, Miss Heatley, Sisters Keck and Welsraan. Mrs. Walter Bean, Mrs. Rountree, Mrs. Moore, Mrs. Twentyman, Sister Christmas, Miss Emmerson, the Misses Mulcock, Nurses

Carrodus, Fisher, Kennedy, Barrett; Savory, Savage, Eyis> Sandes, Stewart, Baxter, Abbott, Henderson, McCallum> Robertson, Robinson, Gibbs, Partridtge, Sni ith, Hargrove, Langford, Mackin, Miles, Sparks, Macdonald, Harrison' and Cruden. From "Press."

A pleasant afternoon was spent at Essex Street Maternity Home, Linwood, on Saturday afternoon, Bth Dccemoer> when Miss Pike and the nursing staff, past and present, entertained Miss Newman, Matron of St. Helen's Hospital, prior to her departure for Wellington.

Miss Pike, voicing the appreciation of the staff of Miss Newmans work and personal influence amongst the nurses, presented her with tangible tokens of the esteem m which she is held. Mrs. A. E. Herbert, on behalf of the Hospital Board, also spoke appreciatively. Miss Newman, m replying, stated that the character of the nurses meant more to the individual and the community than the success attained m their profession. The guests included Sisters Jones. Cox, Fitzgibbon, Heyte, and Ogden, Nurses Bunn, Eogers, Nelson, Dodge, Broome, Tocker, and Barker.