HONOUR TO MATRON

Taranaki Daily News, 18 September 1940, Page 5

HONOUR TO MATRON

BOARD'S APPRECIATION

FAREWELL AT HOSPITAL In appreciation of her long and faithful service both to the hospital and to the district of North Taranaki, the Taranaki Hospital Board yesterday presented Miss B. A. Campbell with a cheque for £200 on the occasion of her retirement from the position of matron of the New Plymouth hospital. The board adjourned at mid-morning to meet Miss Campbell at morning tea in the nurses' home. There were also present Mrs. Campbell and Miss N. Campbell, mother and sister of the matron, wives of board members and chief executive officers of the various departments of the hospital. Letters of appreciation and congratulation were received from the Hawera and Stratford Hospital Boards. For over 40 years, said the chairman, Mr. P. E. Stainton, Miss Campbell had been associated in a useful and helpful manner with the New Plymouth hospital. During 24 of them she had held the responsible position of matron. As the years passed the institution had grown immensely and the importance of Miss CampbelTs duties had grown with it. To-day the institution was known throughout New Zealand because of its high reputation for nursing ability and nursing technique. Miss Campbell had been unusually successful, mainly because of her foresight and continuity of purpose. No Occasion for Gloom. "The word 'farewell' is sometimes used and quickly forgotten," said Mr. Stainton, "but at this occasion it will be unseemly to adopt anything of a doleful mood." Fortunately, Miss Campbell was leaving in the best of health, he said. Therefore, he assumed she would enjoy a pleasant retirement. He hoped the torch she had kept so well alight would burn as brightly in the hands of her successor. As far as the board was concerned, Miss Campbell would hand over at the end of the month the duties she had carried out so successfully, and, laden with pleasant memories, would proceed to the reward of leisure she had earnecl so well. "We express to you, matron, ourgrateful appreciation and feel sure that you will be able to look back on your association with the hospital as having been well worth while," he said. Casting his memory back to early days, the deputy-chairman, Mr. S. Vickers, traced the steady growth of the institution. He could remember the hospital under the charges of Drs. Home, Walker, Fookes, Leatham and O'Carroll. Even in those early days people of North Taranaki thought their hospital a wonderful institution and Miss Campbell was regarded as "the little woman in the big house." She was always in the forefront of the hospital adm'inistration, always willing with advice and helpful suggestions. One work in which Miss Campbell was particularly interested had been the organisation of the children's ward, said Mr. Vickers. In furnishing this attractive addition to the hospital she had been given the opportunity of realising one of her dreams. Mr. Vickers believed the children's ward at New Plymouth stood alone in its cheerful atmosphere and complete equipment among the hospitals of New Zealand, a fact largely due to the interest of the matron. Through her own efforts and those of the nurses she had' found the money to provide many extra fittings and many extra details so desirable in dealing with the health of children. After such a splendid and useful life the matron was now retiring but he trusted this would not mean that her knowledge and experience would be lost to hospitals in New Zealand. Indeed, Mr. Vickers hoped her services would be made available in a much wider sphere than concerned a single institution.

Appreciation of Doctors. The retirement of Matron Campbell recalled the time 11 years ago when he took over the duties of medical superintendent from Dr. Burns, said Dr. C. A. Taylor, in paying a tribute from the medical staff. He could remember distinctly Dr. Burns' recommendation, "She is the most amazing matron 1 have ever come in contact with, he said. That recommendation, added Dr. Taylor, had been thoroughly confirmed during his lengthy association with Miss Campbell. Not only had she been matron, but she had also acted worthily as an assistant to Dr. Walker when he was in control of the institution. After Dr. Walker retired from his official position and was succeeded by Mr. Clarke the hospital system was reorganised and house surgeons were appointed. Everybody, said Dr. Taylor, marvelled at the manner in which the matron undertook her new duties, giving up without complaint many of the responsibilities she had become accustomed to perform. Dr. Taylor said he knew Miss Camp- > bell had done her work thoroughly and well. Moreover, her unobtrusive manner

was greatly appreciated by the medical staff. He was grateful for her wisdom and her tact, and took the opportunity of thanking her for wholehearted co-opera-tion. He hoped the hospital would still be able to avail itself of Miss Campbell's advice. Dr. Taylor concluded by paying a tribute to the matron's equable disposition and pleasing personality. 42 Years' Association. "It is 42 ye^rs next month since I commenced practice at New Plymouth and got to know Miss Campbell," said Dr. G. Home, a past medical superintendent of the hospital. As he worked with her, he found her friendly, capable and helpful. After paying a tribute to Miss Campbell's qualities, Dr. Home said he was glad to know that she proposed to continue to live at New Plymouth, where her assistance might still be sought when and if c'.esirable. "This is a very thankful moment," said Miss Campbell as she took the cheque l'rom Mr. Stainton. She said she appreciated keenly the action of the board in arranging the gatherirj that day as^ it g„ve her the opportunity of thanking members and officers of the institution for many courtesies. Miss Campbell said she had worked with seven different ffiairmen and six medical superintendents Her association with each had been of a most friendly and satisfactory nature. She thnnked the board sincerely for its most generous action in regard to the nalure of it.s farewell gift. A public farewell will be tendered Miss Campbell in St. Mary's hall next Wednesday evening.