Neepawa Area Health Auxiliary over 100 years old
- Details
- Published on Tuesday, October 16, 2018
Photo from Neepawa Land of Plenty history book. The original Neepawa Hospital building, finished in 1904 on the same grounds as the current hospital.
Submitted by Neepawa Area Health Auxiliary
Neepawa Banner & Press
1902 - JJ Hamilton and JA Davidson of Neepawa persuaded people of the need for a new hospital. A site was chosen on the north east corner, on a knoll overlooking Whitemud River, in the same area as the present hospital. Davidson donated the land. Sod turned in 1903.
1903 - Months before the opening of the Neepawa General Hospital, the inaugural meeting was held known as Women’s Aid Society (WHAS). Soon after, additional auxiliaries were formed at Franklin, Arden, Eden and Winchester-Plumas-Florentia and Osprey-Freeland and their work began.
There is a book, “A History” 1946-1996 composed of stories from Manitoba Health Auxiliaries and Mary Evelyn Osborne, a long time auxiliary member submitted information of the beginnings.
1904 - A four floor brick building hospital with twenty beds was built. WHAS gave $1,000 towards it. In the first three years, the Auxiliary made over $3,500 and bonds were purchased.
1915 - This was the beginning of Violet Tag Day. WHAS and many of their daughters and friends made purple violets and sold them on the street every April as a way of raising funds. This continued until the 1950s.
1920 - A nurses residence was built close to the hospital. Linens, furniture and a piano was donated to the residence.
1926 - A new wing was added to the hospital. WHAS cashed a $1,000 bond and the Girls Auxiliary gave $500 towards it.
1928 - WHAS members assisted the doctor and two nurses with the first baby clinic, an annual event for a number of years.
1936 - A wing was added to the nurses residence. Soon after a program started for training nurses. WHAS gave furniture, bedding, and equipped the new kitchenette.
1937 - The first Hope Chest Draw netted $147.75 and became an annual event for many years. Later, the prize changed to a jewellery box with a $50 cheque. Now a monetary draw continues annually. Tickets will be drawn this year at the Fall Tea on Wednesday, Oct. 24 from 2:00-4:00 p.m. at Neepawa Legion Hall.
During the wars of 1914-18 and 1939-45, the WHAS continued their volunteer work making bed linens, pyjamas and canning fruits and vegetables for the meals at the hospital. Many Auxiliaries folded during the wars.
1945-1946 following the end of the war, the Manitoba Health Auxiliary Association was formed. Previously, the Auxiliaries were working in isolation. This association encouraged education and in 1957 passed a resolution for an eight week home nursing course conducted by the Red Cross. This kept members informed of new trends in health care.
In the early 1950s a new hospital was built in Neepawa with WHAS providing equipment and furnishings.
1960s - Education on medical issues began.
There was an interest shown in education program for teenage volunteers called candy stripers sponsored by Health Auxiliary and continues today as the Teen Volunteers. These students from NACI continue to volunteer at Neepawa Hospital and Country Meadows and assist with handing out water and meal trays, visiting with and reading to patients and residents.
Education through films and speakers gave the Auxiliary and the public an opportunity to become informed regarding cancer, Alzheimer’s, arthritis, diabetes etc. This educations continues today. Two and a half years ago, speakers from Prairie Mountain Health spoke on mental health, cancer navigation and patient advocacy. This Oct. 16 at 1:00 pm at the Neepawa Legion Hall, the Ladies Auxiliary will be hosting two speakers. Dr. Kim Wiebe of Winnipeg will speak on MAID - Medical Assistance In Dying and Troy Pauls will be speaking about STARS Air Ambulance and the importance of shock trauma air service.
1970s - Many provincial Auxiliaries started to give scholarships annually to a graduating high school student continuing education in the health field.
1973 - NAHA (Neepawa Area Health Auxiliary) starts giving scholarships to graduating NACI students. Now it is awarded to a student graduating grade 12 when he/she provides documentation of acceptance to the second year of a medical program or graduating a one year program.
1973 - Hospital cart selling chocolates, magazines, fruit, drinks etc. started and continued for twenty years with the profits given to NAHA.
1978 - Purchase of Resusci-Anne and Resusci-Baby for hospital teaching of C.P.R.
1980 - Electrical heated oven was donated to Meals on Wheels and the Auxiliary helped with delivering meals.
Memorial fund started enabling individuals to honour deceased friends and relatives with a donation to the Auxiliary. Continues today.
1980s - Ronald McDonald house in Winnipeg was built. Many Auxiliaries, including Neepawa, made and donated quilts for all the rooms with the logo of Ronald McDonald on each square.
1984 - Purchase of another Resusci-Anne set purchased for use in Heart Alert program for firefighters and ambulance attendants.
1990 - Small group of Birnie ladies form an affiliate group to NAHA. In the beginning each member brought an item for the hospital cupboard, collected books and sent them to Winnipeg with proceeds to the Winnipeg Children’s Hospital. They also had craft tables at Flea Markets, perogie sales, held Mother’s Day Teas, luncheons and bake sales, served at funeral and auction sale lunches. They continued on until May 2017 and over the years donated $37,000 to NAHA.
1990s - Health Fairs were held at the Yellowhead Centre. NAHA participated.
Chemotherapy program started in room in hospital.
Total amount spent on equipment in the 1990s was $18,197.87.
Health Auxiliary banner made in preparation for the 100th birthday celebration of the Auxiliary.
1996 - Further renovations to Neepawa Hospital and $10, 000 donation made by the NAHA for furnishings.
2000-2004 - Between these years a total of $60,397 in health care equipment and furnishings were provided for Neepawa health facilities and there were 15,370 hours of volunteer hours by members and teen volunteers. How do members accumulate hours? Annual fall canvas, Fall Tea, knitting of afghans, adult and infant slippers, crocheting of baby sweater sets, mittens, and toques which are sold in the Hospital cupboard. Some members visit long term patients once a week at hospital, work at Strawberry Tea at Country Meadows, assist and supply cookies and beverage at Flu Clinics, and make tray favours for Hospital and Care Home for Christmas morning.
2005 - June opening of new chemotherapy unit attached to south end of Hospital. Auxiliary purchased four treatment chairs worth over $7,000.
2009 - Country Meadows opens. $6,000 donated for furnishings of quiet room and many other items.
2011-2017 - Total amount fundraised was $98,000. Amount spent on equipment and furnishing was approximately $104,437. Some of the items purchased were: Hospital - infusion pumps, TVs for the patients rooms, fall mats, numerous monitors- blood pressure, vital signs, talo professional, multi-T pump kit, operating room equipment, digital adult scale, chairs of numerous types- wheelchairs, commode, bariatric, chemo chair, lab chair and chairs for the waiting room and common room, paper shredder, pressure washer, oxygen flow meters, window blinds, and gynecology equipment. Country Meadows - a diagnostic set, vital signs monitor, kitchen equipment, TVs, walkie-talkies for staff, pressure mattresses, blanket warmer, sit, stand lift chair, fall mats, hobart mixer, maneski lift, stock pots, soup bowls and other dishes. For the day program at Country Meadows - cooking ware, muffin tins and many games purchased for their activities. Assisted Living at Yellowhead Manor - TV and cabinet stand purchased. Health Unit - waiting room chairs, cupboards and shelves, autoscope for children’s ears, blood pressure equipment, electric breast pump, thermometers and two SAD lights.
Neepawa and area is fortunate to have health care facilities and to be staffed by professionals . We hope to continue supporting these facilities with much needed equipment and furnishings. The budget for Manitoba Health does not cover all requests for items that are needed for our facilities.
All we can say is thank you to the ladies in the early 1900s who had a vision, a good work ethic and a desire to make Neepawa a better place in which to live.
