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 $250,000 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 rest-home 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  26-room hospital and rest-home should be completed by Christmas, and it was hoped residents and patients would be in the facility by February, Mr Paterson said.

The existing rest-home "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.