Bequests benefit

business dealing with a wide range of businesses underpinning her understanding across a broad range of occupations. Above all she is results driven.

I would suggest that we all draw a line under this tedious go-nowhere matter and let David Trewavas and his team get on with running the district for the next three years.

JOHN OLSEN

In last week’s Taupo¯ & Tu¯ rangi Weekender fundraising members of the Taupo¯ Hospital & Health Society were shown handing over a cheque for $283,109 to the Lakes District Health Board for the purchase of a echocardiogram (heart scanner).

In the accompanying article, Lil Hancock, the courageous chairman of the Hospital Society executive committee, wrote that at a much earlier date the society had donated $850,000 to the Lakes

DHB to ensure that when restructuring the hospital, the new inpatient ward and the outpatient clinics would be completed and equipped to the highest standard possible.

You may well wonder where did the society find this enormous sum?

Early in the society’s existence mention was made in an annual report of the future value of bequests. But at no time was the committee aware of people actually arranging for such bequests being set up as a codicil to their wills. Thus it came as a pleasant surprise when some years later those generous bequest cheques started to arrive! Knowing that the reconstruction of Taupo¯ Hospital was being planned it was decided to “squirrel away” the money from the bequests until the reconstruction took place.

The size of individual bequests may not have been great, but when a number of bequests are accumulated they can become a most valuable and generous sum — as mentioned above. Looking to the future, both Taupo¯ and Tu¯ rangi at the southern end of the lake are expanding populationwise, particularly at Omori, Kuratau and areas adjacent to

Tu¯ rangi where a substantial number of holiday homes have been constructed to a very high standard — obviously with a view to becoming retirement homes. Tu¯ rangi will, in time, become home to many ‘over 65ers’ and a need will arise for a greater amount of clinical services at the Tu¯ rangi Community Health Centre. I have no doubt that the Taupo¯ Hospital & Health Society’s charitable trust, supported by our generous community will rise to meet the challenges of the future.

LES WINSLADE Patron, Taupo¯ Hospital & Health

Society