OFFICIAL ORGAN OF THE ARCHDIOCESE OF PERTH, ES TABLISkIED 1874 Registered at the G.P.O., Perth for transmission by post as a newspaper. NO. 2,320.
PERTH, THURSDAY, JANUARY 29, 1948.
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PRICE THREEPENCE.
SEVENTY-FIFTH YEAR.
St.John Sisters Open Maternity Hospital at Northam "We Regard the \ursing Nun With a Double Reverence" His Grace's Tribute to Noble Profession .A view of the Hospital and the crowd which attended the openNursing Was essentially a woing ceremony. man's work, he stated. It is d work that requires a woman's by wishing the hospital the suc- Sisters Pollard and Horne. Mr. sweetness and patience, a wo- cess and patronage it deserved. and Mrs. Gumley, Mr. McMullen, man's understanding of moods He was sure, he said, that this senr., Mr. and Mrs. McMullen, and tired nerves and bruised hospital would uphold the splen- junr., Mrs. Hawke, Mrs. J. Conbodies, a woman's tact in lifting did tradition of the other St. nelly. despondent souls from listless John of God Hospitals in West and professional while a hospithirty men, About two hundred Australia, and would prove worpeople were present when His tal passed from a place of name- despair to living hope. "In a world that has absorbed thy of the nuns who staffed it. Grace blessed and declared open less horrors to a home of cures womankind the new hospital. The building Modern hospitals have become a into its machine The Mayor of Northam (Mr. is rich in historical associations. radiant fount of service and made life we find beauty and F. W. Hammond) welcomed the One of the old Throssell home- health, and in that reformation charm in the thought that some Sisters, and spoke very highly of steads, it had been used up till about eight months ago as a private hospital. The difficulties Another Jesuit of the English of staffing such a hospital in the province v;111 be leaving shortly country were insurmountable, for Shanghai to join the Cathoand the Matron was forced to lic Russian Mission there. close down. This mission began with a Extensive renovations were unRussian priest arriving in Shangdertaken by the Sisters, and now hai in 1928, and discovering that the building has taken on the apthere were quite a number of pearance of our other hospitals Russian Catholics there going to -white walls, gleaming tiles, churches of the Latin rite. spotless linen and shining stainHe started a mission for them less steel. in their own (Slav -Byzantine) For the moment the hospital rite. will be able to cope with only The Holy See sent some Jesuits fourteen maternity cases, but it of the Russian rite to help him. is hoped that in the very near Father F. Wilcock, now a wellfuture this number will be inknown figure in Shanghai, arrivcreased. The labour ward is ed early in 1939, and, grasping equipped with its own emergency the situation at once, set to work lighting plant in case of power energetically. breakdowns, and all the fittings Two other Jesuits of the Rusthroughout the hospital are of sian rite, Father Milner and stainless steel. Father Meyers, joined him in A feature of the building is 1941, the large utility block, which Clubs Opened. will be of great help to the SisOne of Father Wilcock's first ters. concerns was for the Russian Staff difficulties have been overboys and girls. come, and already the hospital He opened a club for the boys, has been booked out by prosand the Irish Sisters of St. Colpective patients. The first paumban agreed to do the same for tient will be admitted during the the girls. first week in February. In 1940 the Irish Sisters The Nuns will be housed temchanged their house to the Rusporarily in the hospital pending sian rite. the erection of an ex -Army hut, A vital need, however, was to which will serve as a convent give vocations to the priesthood until such times as a proper a chance to develop among the building can be erected. Russian boys. His Grace paid tribute to the Nursing Profession, especialy in the hands of Nuns. Very Rev. Dean T. Lenihan In 1941, with the help of Mgr. welcomed His Grace and introHaouisee, S.J., Bishop of Shang-duced the other speakers. our own Catholic hospitals have women are devoting their lives the work done by Sisters Pollard hai, and the backing of English His Grace the Archbishop, in done their part nobly, generous- to easing pain and guiding weak and Horne, who had borne the and Irish benefactors, St. Mithe course of his address, an- ly and well. steps. And we find a double full responsibility of private chael's College, in spite of the nounced that the hospital would His Grace recalled that it had charm and beauty when we rea- nursing in Northam for the last turmoil in China, was built and cater for maternity work only been said that modern nursing lise that her work is guided by few years. opened. for the present, but it was the had been called the greatest in- love of God, no less tnan love The Medical Officer (Dr. Rob- Then came Pearl Harbour. The intention of the Sisters to build vention of the nineteenth cen- of man. Such are the women inson) said that he was well ac- three Fathers were interned by a modern hospital which would tury. A calling that had once who control this hospital, the quainted with the work of the the Japanese, and the school was cater both for general and ma- been a by -word for inefficiency Sisters of St. John of God." St. John of God Nuns, both at eventually requisitioned for militernity work as soon as circum- had now become an honoured Subiaco and Bunbury. It 'Alas tary purposes. stances made this venture pos- and expert profession. New Start. "The "The name of St. John of God indeed, he added, a pleasant sursible and practicable. It was the end of the work for world has come to know that Nuns is a household word prise for him to learn that the the time being. efficient nursing, no less than throughout the State for kind- Sisters were coming to Northam, "Time was," he said. "not more Released from internment in than eighty years ago, when skilled surgery and scientific ness, efficiency and unselfish de- The hospital was then opened neighbours looked upon the re- treatment, lies at the base of votion to duty. With no thought for inspection, and afternoon 1945, tired and in poor health, they had to start all over again. most cures." for personal profit, they devote tea was served to all present. moval of a patient to hospital However, lost ground was soon as a sign of family neglect "For this reason," he said, their lives and find their happiAmongst those present were. or indifference." Now, however, "we regard the nursing nun with ness in the care for others, ir- Rev. Fathers O'Farrell, Nolan, iade up and they are now takng all the Rusian boys their rethings were different, and after something of a double reverence respective of creed, class, or col- O'Mahony, Brennan, Gabriel, ources will permit-about 100. the great revolution in medicine -with the reverence due to her our." C.P.; Rev. Brothers Bertinus and The Catholic school will not the whole profession was lifted as one whose life is consecrated He thanked the architect, Mr. Grant; Mr. H, Colebatch. Coun- be able to grow very much until to a position as the most glori- to God by the vows of religion, E. Le B. Henderson, the contrac- cillor Childow, Mr. Mrs. T. further help comes. and fied of the sciences Doctors and as one who carried out those tors, Mr. Guthrie and Son, the Ahern, Dr. and Mrs. Robinson, As soon as possible an attempt were now able to take their vows in one of the loveliest pro- sub -contractors, and the workMr. J. Rowles, Mr. A. Boylan will be made to build a small place as the most honoured of `essions open to women." men for their efforts, and ended and family. Mr. D. Anderson,
The opening of the new St. John of God Hospital at Northam, by His Grace the Archbishop, on Sunday last, 25th. inst., marked yet another milestone in the progress of the Church in the West, and the beginning of yet another chapter in the work of mercy and healing of the nursing Sisters of St. John of God.
Jesuit Going to Russian Mission in Shanghai
Russian church.