No_4_November_and_December__1952 — Page 29

MATILDA AND WAR MEMORIAL HOSPITAL

AARAARELA

Photograph showing position of the new wing in relation to the old Hospital Buildings.

ITUATED high as it is on Mount Kellett, the new Gray- burn Wing of the Matilda Hospital enjoys a wonderful view of the Colony's southern seascape and on a clear day it is possible to look almost thirty miles over the sea and islands. The new wing is well-built and well equipped and is a fitting tribute to the

memory of the late Sir Vandeleur Grayburn. The designer of the building has taken into account future needs and an attempt has been made to combine the care and comfort of a modern nursing home with the aids and equipment of a modern hospital.

When H.E. the Governor, Sir Alexander Grantham, performed the opening ceremony, he included in his address a brief history of the hospital. He said that the Matilda

Hospital was established in 1904 in accordance with the will of Mr. Granville Sharp, who had died in

1899, and who had left the residue of his estate in trust for the erection of a hospital in memory of his wife, Matilda. The hospital was to provide free services to persons of provide free services to persons of limited means, but the restrictions were such that it was not possible complied with all the conditions laid to fill the hospital with patients who

down. For example, in 1925, only 19 out of the 60 beds of the hospital were occupied. Then came the war, at the end of which the hospital was very much damaged. Thus, in 1945 the position was that here was this antiquated hospital building more or less destroyed, and with a trust that had outlived its original object.

Sir Alexander went on to say that the War Memorial Nursing Home was established after World War I, and a considerable amount of the funds for building and maintaining it came from the Granville Sharp estate. It had always been intended that the hospital should pay for itself, but as its endowment fund was insufficient it was in constant financial difficulties. The late Sir Vandeleur Grayburn did much to assist the hospital in these difficulties, and in 1938 succeeded in raising a sum of half a million dollars for the endowment fund.

But even so, its financial troubles continued. As in the case of the Matilda Hospital, it was very seriously damaged during the war, and since even before the war it was unable to pay its way, there was

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Left: Ground floor plan.

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Above: First and second floor plan.