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Otago Daily Times
13-06-2025
- Health
- Otago Daily Times
Exhibit spotlights birth of Plunket
"Putting the power in women's own hands." The history of New Zealand's child health service Plunket will be the subject of a colourful display at the Waikouaiti Coast Heritage Centre from today. Plunket was formed in 1907 following a public meeting called by a Dunedin doctor, Truby King. Dr King (later Sir Truby King) was concerned about the child mortality rate and the lack of help and advice available to new mothers. The date of the first meeting was May 14, 1907, now known as Founder's Day. Waikouaiti Coast Heritage Centre committee chairman Ian Waters said the exhibition was a tribute to the creation of the Plunket Society at Karitane, the birthplace of the movement, founded by Dr King. "It's about celebrating the work he did in putting the power in women's own hands. "He helped to organise a committee, and then a society, and branches of Plunket throughout Otago, which served the purpose of training Plunket nurses and looking after babies that were undernourished," Mr Waters said. The name "Plunket" comes from the organisation's first patron and staunch supporter, Lady Victoria Plunket, wife of the then governor-general and a mother of eight. The exhibition features 5-1 scale models built by Mr Waters, including Plunket rooms and Dr King's beach hospital at Karitane, where many babies were nursed back to health. The hospital operated from 1907 to 1909 before it was relocated to the Dunedin suburb of Andersons Bay, Mr Waters said. "It was originally in Dr King's holiday beach house and he negotiated a property in Andersons Bay. It was given by a very wealthy businessman called Wolf Harris who was an importer," he said. The property included stables that became the first nursing hostel, where Dr King lived, and there were up to 30 babies within the first year being cared for there. As the hostel grew "through the war years", Plunket expanded and was relocated to Andersons Bay, where it ran until 1978, he said. The exhibition also features work from local artist Dinah Fear, who is also a volunteer at the museum. Fear had painted murals of key Plunket locations, including the Andersons Bay Karitane Hospital and Dr King's mausoleum on Melrose Hill in Wellington, Mr Waters said. "Her work is fantastic and it brings things to life," he said. The exhibition will be opened by Elyse Childs, the great-great-granddaughter of Joanna MacKinnon, the first-ever Plunket nurse. The heritage centre will also show a five-minute film about her life and other items from the movement. "Elyse Childs will talk about Joanna's life and she's got a real treasure trove, the first Plunket medal, so that will be on display." The mortality rate of babies was the main driving factor for Dr King's establishment of Plunket. After a visit to Japan in 1904, where he observed that Asian babies were five times less likely to die in infancy than New Zealand babies, Dr King started producing his own milk and cod liver oil emulsions to help improve the health of babies. The exhibition runs for 12 months.
Otago Daily Times
13-06-2025
- General
- Otago Daily Times
Ingredients for a cooking classic
An early Dunedin recipe book told a story about the city's inhabitants, Peter Read writes. Often there is much more to a cookery book than instructions for turning basic ingredients into culinary delights. The St Andrew's Cookery Book of "Good and Tried Recipes" is a fine example of this. It was produced by the St Andrew's Presbyterian Church, the Robert Lawson-designed church on the corner of Dunedin's Melville and Walker (now Carroll) Sts where the Rev Rutherford Waddell delivered his famous "Sin of Cheapness" sermon in 1888. In September 1904, the Rev Waddell, still at the helm of the parish after 25 years (and with another 15 years ahead before he retired), penned a preface for the first edition. In this foreword he argued that, as the right food in the right proportion makes us happy, a cookery book has an ethical and spiritual dimension. Thus, although he was no cook, writing the foreword for a book promoting happiness and wellbeing was something he considered himself well qualified for. What's more, the proceeds from the sale of the book were to be devoted to "the work carried on in St Andrew's Church Mission Hall" — a purpose close to Waddell's heart. Activities at the mission hall, which opened in 1888, included such things as the operation of a savings bank, a free library, and the country's first free kindergarten. A percentage of the proceeds from the sale of the cookery book would also become used for supporting the church's "Own Missionaries" in China: Eddy Kirk from 1909, and Annie Hancock and Annie James from 1912. The various editions provide us with many more insights into the social fabric of Dunedin. Contributors include several personalities who, like Waddell, were key agents of social change. A section of recipes submitted by the Chalet Hospital appear in some editions. The hospital was founded by nurses Rachel Law Church and Jeannie Sutherland, two pioneers of private hospitals in Dunedin. Following the formation of the Plunket Society in 1907, Sir Frederic Truby King's "advice to mothers" on the feeding and care of infants would also feature in the book. Contributions from home science professors also begin to appear in the wake of the creation of a school of home science and domestic arts at the University of Otago in 1911. The idea for the cookery book came from Helen Beadle, of the Friendly Aid Society. She also solicited the first recipes from women of the church congregation and from notable women beyond the parish, including Lady Victoria Plunket, wife of Lord William Plunket, then Governor of New Zealand. Some of the recipes reflect the backgrounds of the contributors. There are, of course, several recipes that reflect Dunedin's Scottish Free Church heritage, such as those for haggis and Aberdeen sausage, and one for "Free Church Roast" supplied by a minister's wife in Scotland. Clara Solomon, wife of prominent lawyer Saul Solomon, supplied recipes that appear linked to the family's Jewish heritage. Celebrated pianist and professor of music Annie Blandford's "Soused Pig's Head" and "Cuckoo and Schad" (schad being a river fish) reflect her younger years living with her brother in the West Indies. Recipes for Portuguese dishes submitted by Rachel Reynolds are perhaps a nod to her husband's youth, growing up on his father's cork plantations on the Iberian Peninsula. Recipes particular to New Zealand are few, the most noticeable being one for stewed "pukaki" (pūkeko). Apparently, the secret to stewing pūkeko was to hang the bird for as long as possible first (a fortnight in winter) and, after preparing it for the pot, cook it "very slowly for some hours". The S t Andrew's Cookery Book would remain in print for nearly 30 years, spanning not only the ministry of Rutherford Waddell but also those of his successors, Hector Maclean and Hubert Ryburn. Thirteen editions totalling 66,000 copies were produced. While appearing unashamedly colonialist in outlook and perhaps not everyone's cup of tea today, these cookery books are a wonderful resource packed with page after page of historical information for the modern reader to digest. Peter Read is a curator at Toitū Otago Settlers Museum.
Otago Daily Times
11-06-2025
- Health
- Otago Daily Times
New wing at Plunket facility
Governor-General Sir Charles Fergusson lays a foundation stone for a new nurses' home at Karitane-Harris Hospital, Dunedin. — Otago Witness, 23.6.1925 The official function of the laying of the foundation stone of the nurses' new quarters at the Karitane-Harris Hospital drew a large gathering to the site of the new building yesterday afternoon. The work of erection was started only seven weeks ago, but very rapid progress has been made, and the brick walls have already reached a height that gives an adequate idea of the extent and massiveness of the building. It is a two-storey building with dormer gables and no fewer than 57 separate bedrooms, in each one of which a wardrobe is provided. The cost of the building will be between £14,000 and £15,000. The architects are Messrs Mandeno and Fraser, and the Fletcher Construction Co is the contractor. The site of the new home is just across the street from the back of the Karitane-Harris Hospital and a little higher up the hill. Its main purpose is to provide accommodation for nurses from all over New Zealand who will take here a special short intensive course of training in Plunket Society methods. The Government, recognising the splendid work so far done by the Karitane-Harris Hospital, was handing over to it this very important matter of trying to reduce the unfortunate maternal mortality that had been taking place. It was providing £12,000, the estimated cost of this building. The very fine property on which the building was being erected was a gift to the society in memory of the late Mr Horatio Massey, of Invercargill. His widow and daughter were giving the sum of £2000 to be expended for this purpose. Mrs J.A. Johnstone, as president of the Plunket Society, then requested his Excellency to lay the foundation stone. In a ringing, clear voice his Excellency declared the stone "Well and truly laid." It had been one of his greatest pleasures at Government House last week to hand to Sir Truby King his Royal patent of knighthood. The thanks of the whole dominion were due to Sir Truby and Lady King for their work. Not only the dominion but the whole world owed a debt of gratitude to those whose minds conceived and whose energy carried on the wonderful work which was centred in this Plunket Society. Construction zone It was agreed at last night's meeting of Exhibition directors that the final day on which the public will be admitted to Logan Park will be June 22. Mr Hainsworth stated that a certain amount of pilfering on the grounds had been reported. Workmen had missed tools, etc, and some of the trees had been damaged. Guides getting prepared The Girl Guides' Association annual report stated that there were five companies actually registered, three companies awaiting registration, and three companies in the course of formation in the division of Dunedin. The total strength was Commissioners three, guiders 15, guides 131 and recruits 71 — a grand total of 217. In addition to this, small companies had been registered in Waipiata and Patearoa, and a company had been formed at Oamaru, but these could not be registered as they were waiting the setting up of a local association for Waitaki. The Dunedin companies were one company attached to a school, two Anglican and one Presbyterian. Already there were several enthusiastic youngsters called "brownies" because they were too young to be guides They had just managed to get leaders trained and willing to organise special "brownie" packs. — ODT, 12.7.1925 Compiled by Peter Dowden
