Cup honours war nurse
A third cup dedicated to a local nurse, Ada Taylor, who served in the Great War is now available at Banana Pepper cafe in Waihi.
This initiative is part of the Waihi Armistice 100 Group project to commemorate the Centennial of Armistice this weekend, and remember the sacrifice of Waihi locals, men and women, who served.
The third coffee cup to honour local figures of World War I has been released.
A cup dedicated to former Waihi nurse Ada Taylor was unveiled at Waihi Hospital last Thursday.
Members of the Waihi Armistice 100 steering committee, formed to organise the Armistice centennial, met with hospital staff, past and present, to dedicate the cup.
For Sue Baker Wilson it is crucial to remember the medical staff who served during the Great War.
“It is about bringing back stories of local nurses that were forgotten. Today we will make sure that on Anzac Day and for the Centennial of the Armistice,‘lest we forget’, we will remember nurses who sacrificed during World War I,” she said.
Ada Taylor was matron of Waihi Hospital in 1913 and trained in Christchurch Hospital. She also worked at Auckland Hospital later on. After about four years of service in Waihi, Ada enlisted for war service, with 15 months overseas and served in a hospital ship for six months.
Ada later returned to New Zealand, as matron of Auckland Public Hospital.
Other nurses also served during the war, including Waihi-trained Margaret Campbell, who returned to town after World War I and later became a ward sister.
Margaret received a distinction award but would later commit suicide.
Owner of Banana Pepper Cafe Bernie Woodford said the team is pleased to support the Armistice Commemorations in Waihi. “The three coffee cups are available at the cafe this week for one or two weeks for people to use. We are happy to be part of the commemorations,” she said.
The cafe has about 2000 of the three limited-edition coffee cups stamped with Waihi figures, World War I mayoress Ada Donaldson, medical corps Private Ben Thorn and nurse Ada Taylor who all served during World War I. Waihi Hospital facility manager Helen Riesen will be a guest speaker at the three-day Armistice Centennial commemorations.