A GREAT HOSPITAL MATRON

Dominion, Volume 20, Issue 55, 29 November 1926, Page 11

A GREAT HOSPITAL MATRON

MATRON FRANCES PAYNE’S MEMORY HONOURED

LIFE’S WORK AN EXAMPLE AND AN IDEAL

"She was a woman held in the highest •steein. To her. nursing was the highest sphere to which she could con ecrate her talents and services. She was look- , ed upon throughout the Dominion as one of the greatest matrons who entered the service." In the above words, Mr. C. M. Luke, chairman of "the Wellington Hospital Board, referred to the' late Matron Frances Payne, at the unveiling of a tablet to her memory in the main corridor of the Hospital on Saturday. A large gathering assembled to do honour to the memory of the late Matron Payne, who devoted her life to the interests of the sick and the suffering, . and who was regarded by the thousands who were tended by her loving hands as a veritable angel of mercy. Amongst those present were many nurses and sis-

ters who bad qualified in the Wellington Hospital, some of whom had gone into private practice, while others had gone into other institutions. The medical profession attended in strong force, amongst those present being Dr. Collins (who was on the honorary staff when the Hospital was located in Pipitea Street), Dr. Young, Dr. Elliott, Dr. Charles F.

Morice (who served as medical superintendent for over a year when Dr. Bar-, clay went to the war), Dr. -Harty (who served for some years as a specialist), Dr. Hardwick Smith (who acted as medical superintendent following Dr. Ewart). There were also in attendance matrons and sisters of other hospitals, some of whom had come from long distance-, notably Matron Thurston, who served for a long period during the war, and was .mafron-in-cliief of the nursing division representing’ the dominion. Matron Thurston came nil the wav from Waipukurau Sanatorium to do honour to the, memory of the , late Matron I’ayne. Mr. Luke apologised for the absence of Dr. Ewart, who since giving up practice on account of illness, has been staying with hi- daughter. Mrs. Gillingham, at Fairiie, nnd Rev. H. van Staveren, a very old member of the Wellington Hospital Board, who was unable to' attend. One of New Zealand's Greatest Matrons. Mr. Luke extolled the excellencies of the late Miss Payne, and referred to her ns one of the greatest matrons as-

por.iateil with lio-pital work in tho Dominion. Miss Payne, bo said, bad come to New Zealand ns a governess niany years apo, and joined tho staff of tlie Wellington Hospital id 1890. A{ter .J' c * training, she soon graduated as e* st( jr. She resigned in 1896. but rejoined be staff in 1899 as matron. She left tne Wellington Hospital in 1902 to Hike up the position of matron of the Jlotoru. Sanatorium. This work did not appeal to her, so much as work m a genera hospital, and she returned to Welling ton and was reappointed matron of the Wellington Hospital in 1901. and held this position until October 1916, when she resigned owing to ill-health, having completed in all 21 years sei vic , of which 15 years were as matron. An Example and Inspiration. "She was a woman held in the higW esteem,” proceeded Mr. Luke. She consecrated her great powers to th s high and noble service. Io her nursing was the highest sphere to which she could consecrate her talents and .<? - vices She was looked upon throughout the Dominion as one of the greatest matrons who entered the service. Paients, from Auckland in the .north to Invercargill in the south, who selected

Wellington Hospital as the most suitable training school for their daughters, always felt that they could hand over to Miss Payne the. training of their daughters for this high and noble profession. Sometimes the Wellington Hospital had a waiting'list of from 80 to 160. A strict disciplinarian, Miss ' Payne was kindly of heart, and always ready to adjust any wrong, seeming or otherwise. At one time there were probablv more matrons in charge nt different hospitals throughout the Dominion who had been trained under Matron Payne than from any other institution. A certificate under her hand was looked upon as the hali-mark of efficiency for other appointments. She was a woman of high educational attainments. These, together with her high ideals, made her the great metron that she was. She has been held up as a great example and inspiration to the nursing profession throughout_ the Dominion. She was lonsr associated with Dr. Ewart in administering, the affairs of this institution, nnd, singular to relate, their terms of service were identical, in so for ns cach ; ga J e years of the best of their service, to the interests of the sick of this city. Other Tributes. An eloquent tribute to the noble life work of Matron Payne was also paid by Matron Thurston, of Waipukurau Sanatorium, Drs, Hardwick Smith, and J ’Dr lU Hardwick Smith referred to the lon* and valuable services Mr. C. M. Luke had rendered to the Wellington Hospital in an administrative capacity. Dr. D. M. Wilson, medical superintendent of the Wellington Hospital, said that while he did not knew Miss layne. vet her .life’s work was held up as an oxanwle 3nd an ideal towards ■which they were looking up to to-day. and endeavouring to maintain the high traditions. TABLET DEDICATED AT ST. MARK’S With fitting reverence and simplicity a brass tablet to the memory of the late Frances Keith' Payne was dedicated bv the Venerable Archdeacon A. Id, Johnson in St. Mark’s Church last evening. ’1 he church was packed, the congregation including a large number of nurses, and the •chairman (Mr. C. M. Luke) and several members of the Wellington Hospital Board. The Archdeacon was assisted in the dedication ceremony bv the vicar of St. Mark s, Rev. 11. E" K. Fry, M.A., and' the churchwardens, Messrs. R. L. Button and A. P. Williamson In an impressive address Archdeacon Johnson paid a sterling tribute to the late Frances Keith Payne, speaking from a personal knowledge of many years of her friendship. He spoke of her skill as a nurse, and the high regard in which she was held by the medical and nursing professions. She was extremely popular, and endeared herself both to patients and staff alike. On the tablet, which is erected on the north wall of the church, is engraved the following words:—“To the

glory of God. In memory of Frances Keith Payne, twenty vears matron of the Wellington Hospital. Erected by her nurses.”