Generosity of residents praised
THE Maniototo Health Services Ltd chairman has again praised local residents for their contribution to the hospital rebuild, following a donation of a quarter of a million dollars from Lions clubs.
Stuart Paterson said the Maniototo Lions Club and Ranfurly Maniototo Pakeke donated $250,000 to the hospital rebuild on Thursday which would go to the medical centre within the hospital and resthome complex.
He said it was a ‘‘magnificent’’ effort and praised the Lions clubs for both their fundraising and securing a contribution from the international Lions movement.
Maniototo Lions Club president John Mulholland said the clubs had raised $113,000 over the last five years from projects such as auctions, catering and fat lamb competitions, initially saving the money, ‘‘waiting for a big project to give it to’’, and then directing all funds raised to the hospital rebuild.
The Lloyd Morgan Trust, the Lions’ national charitable arm, had donated $12,000, and Lions Club International donated
$125,000.
The 26room hospital and resthome should be completed by Christmas, and it was hoped residents and patients would be in the facility by February, Mr Paterson said.
The existing resthome ‘‘chalet’’ building would be refurbished to house the medical centre, which would include rooms for Ranfurly’s GP, visiting specialists and allied health professionals, a dental room and a Well Child/Tamariki Ora area.