Latest news with #Purdie
NZ Herald
20-07-2025
- Health
- NZ Herald
World War I soldier's journal detailing scientific breakthrough gifted to National Army Museum
The journal belonged to Private Hugh Montgomery Purdie and contained entries on everything from basic physics formulas to chemical compounds. Purdie was a plumber from Auckland who served with the New Zealand Expeditionary Force in Europe. The Heritage New Zealand team found his notes on water sterilisation particularly interesting. 'Purdie's observations of a particular method of water sterilisation are remarkable,' Edwards said. 'What he describes is a method of sterilising water using ultraviolet light generated by large military searchlights, which he had likely come across in France.' Purdie tested his theory with water from the Seine that was purposely contaminated to assess the effectiveness of the method. 'The process was subjected to severe tests. The water to be treated was drawn from the Seine below Paris and was further contaminated with germs of cholera, diphtheria – indeed, every effort was made to make the water as poisonous as possible,' Purdie wrote. 'The germ-contaminated water was then drawn off in the usual manner, being induced to flow over the lamp, and upon withdrawal was found to be absolutely sterile – all contagious germs having been completely destroyed as a result of exposure to the ultraviolet rays.' As a qualified plumber, Purdie recognised the importance of sanitation and, therefore, the significance of these findings. 'What's also impressive is Purdie's ability to see the potential for this new technology to improve the lives of many, suggesting that it would only take a small dynamo to feed the lamps with the necessary current,' Edwards said. 'The fact that he took time to record what he knew of the process in such detail shows he could see the potential of the method. 'What he would not have known was that, after technology improved in the 1930s, the UV method would become a widely accepted and scientifically proven method of treating water adopted by large cities around the world.' Currently, Paris uses a mix of carbon, UV light and ozone to sanitise its drinking water. After the armistice that ended World War I in November 1918, Purdie was promoted to sergeant and transferred to the army's education department. Edwards believed it was possible his writings were notes that he may have used in some of the teaching in his new role. The National Army Museum said it would add the notebook to its collection of WWI soldiers' diaries and memorabilia. 'Purdie's notebook is an incredible piece of the New Zealand First World War experience,' collections and exhibitions manager Caitlin Timmer-Arends said. 'We are grateful for the diligence of the Hospice Mid-Northland staff and volunteers, and thankful to my former colleagues at Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga for their part in the donation.' However, Purdie's story still has some details missing, which Edwards is keen to resolve. 'We have managed to find out some information about Hugh – that he served in the RNZAF during World War II, though probably not overseas; that he was married with two children and that he died in 1980. 'If anybody has any additional information about Hugh Purdie, his family or his notebook, we'd love to hear from them.' People with more information can contact Bill Edwards at infonorthland@
NZ Herald
25-06-2025
- Health
- NZ Herald
Bay News: Century-old notebook reveals early UV water sterilisation method
'It's Purdie's observations of a method of water sterilisation that are particularly remarkable,' says Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga Northland manager Bill Edwards. 'What he describes is sterilising water using ultra-violet light generated by large military searchlights which he had obviously come across in France.' Purdie's notebook records his observations: '... the water in passing to the outlet must first traverse the surface of the lamp, and thus become exposed to the maximum ultra-violet radiation. The process was subjected to severe tests. The water to be treated was drawn from the Seine below Paris and was further contaminated with germs of cholera, diphtheria – indeed every effort was made to make the water as poisonous as possible.' The results were impressive. 'The germ-contaminated water was then drawn off in the usual manner being induced to flow over the lamp, and upon withdrawal was found to be absolutely sterile – all contagious germs having been completely destroyed as a result of exposure to the ultra-violet rays.' Purdie also recorded the test was sustained for a long period and was discovered after 3000 hours' continuous operation that 'the water was as germ-proof as the first gallon drawn'. A qualified plumber with a clear understanding of the importance of good sanitation for public health, Purdie was impressed enough to record the information about the sterilisation method in great detail. 'What he would not have known was that after technology improved in the 1930s the UV method of sterilisation of water would become a widely accepted and scientifically proven method of sterilising water adopted by large cities around the world,' says Edwards. 'Also impressive is Purdie's ability to see the potential for this new technology to improve the lives of many, suggesting it would only take a small dynamo to feed the lamps with the necessary current.' A little Kiwi ingenuity was all that was required: 'Being that the automobile can be adapted to operate searchlights by the [power] of the car's own engine, its application should prove equally simple.' Interestingly, Paris' drinking water today is filtered using a combination of carbon, UV light and ozone to kill the pollutants. To kill the bugs, they use UV light in a process that is chemical-free. 'Purdie must have felt the French were onto something with UV light as a sterilising agent and he was right. The fact he took time to record what he knew of the process in such detail shows he could see the potential of the method,' says Edwards. The National Army Museum at Waiouru is keen to add the notebook to its collection of World War I soldiers' diaries and memorabilia. Acknowledgment goes to Les Sykes at Kerikeri Hospice who investigates items that are brought in for wider heritage significance before running them past Heritage New Zealand Northland staff. In the case of Purdie's diary his hunch was spot on. Edward says they have managed to find out some information about Purdie – that he served in the RNZAF during World War II, though probably not overseas, that he was married with two children and he died in 1980. If anybody has any additional information about Hugh Purdie, his family or his notebook Heritage New Zealand would love to hear from you. Why are there two marae at Te Rawhiti? Pita Witehira is a former policeman and an inventor. In the 1980s he developed the never-go-flat battery called Power Beat. Protracted negotiations, however, didn't materialise into a quantifiable income stream. He is based in Hamilton but has land at Rawhiti and therefore strong familial and hapū connection with the area. The main or principal marae at Te Rawhiti which sits on land owned by Tainui. He was recently asked to write some information about Kaingahoa Marae at Te Rawhiti. Accordingly, he re-read through his mother's files and some published historic documents about Te Rawhiti and Ngāpuhi generally and discovered that: 'There are two main hapū [families] that live there, Patukeha and Ngāti Kuta. They were related to each other before Europeans arrived in the Bay of Islands [Cook in 1769 and Du Fresne in 1772] and were involved in significant events that impacted on Māori. 'Captain Cook brought with him a guide from Raiatea, Northwestern Tahiti. His name was Tupaea who spoke the language of the Ngāpuhi people. 'Because of that engagement all of the islands in the Bay of Islands are named after places in Northwestern Tahiti and the Northern Cook Islands and some family names are also from there. 'Cook reported to the Royal Society about the need to overcome scurvy, which he learned from the Tahitian people. Du Fresne brought vegetables with him, one of which is the turnip, which he gave to the people at Te Rawhiti as part of his attempt to create friendship. 'It is also important to note that when Cook arrived in the Bay of Islands, he was met by a Tohunga. His name is Tapua, the father of Patuone, who is buried in Devonport, Auckland, and his brother, Tamati Waka Nene, who is buried at Christ Church in Russell. Patuone and Nene were known as peacemakers. The 'supplementary' marae at Te Rawhiti, known as Kaingahoa, was the site of the school built at Te Rawhiti in 1905 but was designated as a marae in the early 1990s. 'Cook and DuFresne opened the way for the Anglican and Catholic religions to be introduced into New Zealand. 'Of the two marae at Te Rawhiti the main one is sitting on land belonging to the Tainui people and the second marae, known as Kaingahoa, was the site of the school built at Te Rawhiti in 1905 but was designated as a marae in the early 1990s. The two hapū are related through their common ancestor Whakahoe. She is the mother of the people called Ngāti Kuta and also the mother of those called 'Patukeha.' Developing the land: At the end of May 10 new houses for whānau and kaumātua were opened at Te Rāwhiti, Te Taitokerau, in the Bay of Islands. The Te Whakaruru Hau development at Kaingahoa Marae is the result of a collaboration between the marae committee which built five new houses and Foundation North which funded the renovation of five existing houses on the site. Kris MacDonald, General Manager of Te Pouahi o Te Taitokerau, said they also supported an upgrade of marae water and wastewater infrastructure that will provide sustainability and resilience for future generations. Te Pouahi o Te Taitokerau is an iwi housing prototype funded through Whai Kāinga Whai Oranga with $55 million funding to support building 80-100 homes and infrastructure for 110 homes across Taitokerau. An aerial view of the new housing development at Te Rawhiti. Chairman Pita Tipene said the vision was 'Ko ō tātou kāinga noho, he mea hanga' (with our own hands we will build durable homes and communities). 'The papakāinga fulfils this vision in bringing funders and whānau together to realise their housing solutions,' he said. Advance Build of Waipapa, which specialises in prefab and transportable homes, was chosen by the whānau to complete the redevelopment. Tipene said that now, post-Budget 2025, it is more important to showcase the way of working together in Taitokerau. 'Te Whakaruru Hau Papakāinga is a tribute to local whānau leadership and determination'. Te Pouahi o Te Taitokerau has a 'pipeline' of homes being built across the region with more openings scheduled for coming months.
New York Post
09-06-2025
- Health
- New York Post
Mother, 38, has ‘breast transplant' after cancer diagnosis: ‘I had never seen or heard of such a procedure'
A British breast cancer survivor has undergone what may be a first of its kind surgery: a breast transplant, using her own healthy breast tissue. And it was all her idea. Nicola Purdie, 38, was first diagnosed with breast cancer in 2020, after which she had five months of chemotherapy, a double mastectomy and breast reconstruction. When her cancer returned a couple of year later — in only one breast — her treatment plan looked quite a bit different. 'This is not run of the mill mastectomy we're talking about,' her breast surgeon, Dr. Reza Arya, told the BBC. 4 Nicola Purdie, 38, has undergone what may be a first of its kind surgery: a breast transplant, using her own healthy breast tissue. NHS Wales Purdie's first bout of cancer was also only in her right breast, but due to family history, she decided to err on the safe side with a double mastectomy. Her reconstructive surgery involved a DIEP (deep inferior epigastric perforator) flap, in which skin and tissue are taken from the stomach. The upside of that procedure is the breasts are still 'natural' — no implants that need to be changed, and they grown and shrink with weight loss. In 2024, she was healthy and five months pregnant with her second child when she discovered a lump in her right breast — the cancer was back. Testing was limited due to her pregnancy, though she did have a lumpectomy to remove what they knew for sure was cancer. After she delivered her son early, further tests confirmed that she actually had several cancerous tumors, both in the skin and in a lymph node. 'The skin was the only bit of the breast tissue left after my previous reconstruction,' she told the Swansea Bay University Health Board. 4 Purdie was pregnant with her second child when she realized her breast cancer had returned. Nic Purdie / Facebook Purdie underwent chemotherapy again, all while caring for her newborn. 'I finished that in February this year, and then I had what we call the 'crazy idea,'' she said. For the next step in her treatment plan, doctors suggested removal of the entire breast that was infected with cancer, as well as LD flap reconstruction. The latissimus dorsi — a flat muscle that spans across part of the back and over to the side — would be swung around to replace the removed breast tissue. But Purdie didn't love that approach. For one, her aunt had had the procedure and the recovery was rough. It could also limit her future movement. 'All these matters are now clear to us, but at the time the idea was so out of the box that I needed to gather my thoughts.' Dr. Reza Arya For another, it would leave her flat-chested on one side, because there would not be enough skin to accommodate an implant. Purdie wanted symmetry, so that would mean removing her left breast as well. So she asked her doctor: What if they did another DIEP flap like she had done before, but this time used tissue from her healthy left breast to reconstruct the right? 4 Purdie came up with the idea to use healthy breast tissue from one breast to reconstruct the other. Nic Purdie / Facebook 'I remember [Dr. Reza Arya] sitting back in his chair,' Purdie said. 'I could see the cogs whirring.' That's because the idea was new to Arya — and the medical field in general. 'All these matters are now clear to us, but at the time the idea was so out of the box that I needed to gather my thoughts,' he said. 'I was analyzing what the benefits and disadvantages could be before even thinking if it would be technically feasible.' 'I had never seen or heard of such a procedure being talked about or published.' He had conversations with other doctors, but no one was quite sure if it would work. 'We didn't know if the vessels were still running, whether the flap needed to be detached to be transferred and, if so, whether the vessels could withstand the microsurgery again,' Arya said. 4 The surgery has allowed for her to get an implant to have symmetrical breasts, which would not have been otherwise possible for her. Gorodenkoff – 'We went through the pros and cons of all the different options,' Purdie added, 'but something was telling me that because I'd had this idea, there was a reason why I'd had it. I needed to plough on and just trust the process.' She decided to move forward with the seven-hour surgery, and tests conducted afterward showed no signs of cancer. After radiation, she will get an implant on that side — and because of the procedure, there is enough skin for it. Arya calls the surgery a 'world first' and says he will soon publish about it. 'I think that would help others with that very rare question — is an entire breast DIEP flap reusable? Can you freely move it again? Now I can say, absolutely yes. We have successfully recycled a reconstructed breast,' he said. Meanwhile, Purdie is thrilled that they found a solution that 'has allowed me to maintain being a woman' 'I would have been left with only one breast permanently. Radiotherapy would damage the skin and tissues too much to allow for an implant, so this surgery gives me the possibility of having two breasts,' she said. 'I've been so lucky.'
Yahoo
26-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Clinton local elections: See list of candidates, important dates, how to vote
Municipal elections are just around the corner. Primary elections are Tuesday, April 1, and general election day is June 3. Clinton residents can vote for mayor and board of alderman, some of which are contested races this year. William C. Purdie, Republican, is running unopposed. Incumbent Clinton Mayor Phil Fisher is not running for another term. Fisher announced his retirement in Sept. 2024 after serving as Clinton Mayor since 2013. Before stepping into the role, Fisher served in roles including Clinton alderman and Hinds County Supervisor, for a total of 37 years in local leadership positions. During his resignation announcement, Fisher said he decided not to run again because he feels he accomplished everything he envisioned when he took office. Fisher also said he doesn't believe a politician should remain in office just because they can get reelected. "I believe anyone serving should have a vision for a future, and there comes a time to leave," Fisher said during his resignation announcement. Purdie, a Clinton native, has a background serving as Clinton's city attorney in 2019 and municipal judge from 2022 until his recent mayoral candidacy announcement. In a Feb. 3 press release, Purdie said he looks forward to serving Clinton residents and strengthening the community. "I am honored by the trust and confidence of the people of Clinton," the press release states. "Local government, more than any other level of government, has the ability to have a very tangible effect on the day-to-day lives of its citizens. This city holds a special place in my heart." Once in office, Purdie, according the the press release, will focus on keeping a transparent administration focused on economic development, public safety, infrastructure improvements and enhanced quality of life. While uncontested, Purdie encouraged Clinton residents to get out and vote on April 1. Follow this Mississippi singer: Meridian man wins golden ticket, joins 'American Idol' season 23. See his audition round Other races on the Clinton party primary ballots on April 1: Robert L. Chapman, Republican James Warren, Democrat Incumbent Alderwoman at Large Ricki Garrett is absent from the list of candidates. Chapman is unopposed for the Alderman at Large Republican nomination, and has served as Ward 3 Alderman since 2021. Warren in unopposed for the Democratic nomination. The pair will face off during general elections on June 3. Karen P. Godfrey (Incumbent), Republican T.J. McSparrin, Republican Incumbent Ward 2 Alderman Jim Martin is absent from the list of candidates. Amanda M. Jones, Republican Lee Logan, Republican Ronald C. Morton, Republican Incumbent Ward 3 Alderman Robert Chapman is running for Alderman at Large. Ward 3 Alderman is the only contested race during the primary elections. Jones, Logan and Morton will face off for the Republican nomination on April 1. A runoff vote will take place April 22 if no candidate receives the majority. Jones, who grew up in Clinton, announced her candidacy in Nov. 2024, saying she is running for her daughters. Jones is currently the communications manager for Continental Tire and co-host of Mississippi Outdoors TV. "I'm running for my daughters, their classmates and the future of our great city," Jones said in her candidacy announcement. "I want to do my part to ensure a safe and healthy community that continues to thrive and grow." Logan, a Clinton native, announced his candidacy in late January, saying his goal if elected is to help Clinton grow while preserving the city's unique character and history. "Ward 3 is one of the most diverse areas in Clinton, with everything from traditional neighborhoods to large-lot properties and rural homes with acreage," Logan said in his candidacy announcement. "I want to be a voice for all residents of Ward 3 and work to address their concerns while keeping Clinton a place we're all proud to call home." Morton is a long-time local business owner and attorney at Morton Law Firm, where he specializes in elder law. In his candidacy announcement, Morton said if elected, he will take immediate efforts to legally separate Clinton from Hinds County. Morton believes Gerrymandered supervisor districts have held Clinton back and led to the city's underrepresentation in county-wide matters. "Clinton should control its own future," Morton said in his announcement. "We cannot allow the dysfunction of Hinds County to dictate the well-being of our city." Chip Wilbanks (Incumbent), Republican Kevin Anderson, Democrat Incumbent alderman Wilbanks is unopposed for the Ward 4 Alderman Republican nomination. Anderson is unopposed for the Ward 4 Democratic nomination. The pair will face off during general elections on June 3. A car wreck, bitter cold, tornado fears: How lost dog Finnley finally reunited with family Beverly E. Oliver (Incumbent), Republican Hayden S. King, Independent Oliver is unopposed for the Ward 5 Alderman Republican nomination. King is unopposed for the Ward 5 Alderman Independent nomination. The pair will face off during general elections on June 3. James Lott III (Incumbent), Democrat Primary elections are Tuesday, April 1, from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. If you don't know your polling location, you can check using the "My Election Day" tab on the Secretary of State's website. You can also view a sample ballot on the "My Election Day" tab. See more important dates: When is the 2025 municipal election? See key dates Got a news tip? Contact Mary Boyte at mboyte@ This article originally appeared on Mississippi Clarion Ledger: Who is on the ballot in Clinton MS election?
Yahoo
07-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Purdie running unopposed in Clinton mayoral race
CLINTON, Miss. (WJTV) – New leadership is coming to the City of Clinton. Will Purdie, a Clinton native, is running unopposed as a mayoral candidate. He has served as the city attorney for Clinton for the last five years. Mississippi bill calls for protecting inmates from raw chemicals 'I'm running as a Republican. So for the Republican side of things, I was fortunate enough to launch my campaign with the support of some great community leaders and strong Republican leaders here in town,' Purdie said. He plans to focus on economic development during his first term. The City of Clinton is partnering with Mississippi College, soon to be known as Mississippi Christian University, to introduce a project entitled 'Rising Spring.' 'It's a $200 million-plus development, and it will be a little up here closer off Highway 80, close to Interstate 20,' Purdie said. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
