The Sun
Wednesday November 1, 2017
inbrief
Old wing goes so rest home can grow By Bill McElhinney Builders are busy at Bethsaida Retirement Village in Blenheim removing a bit of Blenheim history. In 1918 the Marlborough Hospital Board bought the Holmdale Homestead from Thomas Bell who was an agent for the Holm Shipping Line. The homestead included 5.5 acres (2.2 hectares) of land. Some alterations and a new ward were added together with a home for the staff and nurses who lived on the grounds. I n 19 71 Ble n h ei m Catholic Parish priest Father John Sloane was concerned about the elderly folk in Blenheim and he and several others leased this home from the Marlborough Hospital Board for a peppercorn rental of $2.00 per year. In 1973, after many working bees and fund-
The Sun
Rail freight rolling again Freight operations on the Main North Line between Blenheim and Christchurch resumed this week, with KiwiRail group general manager network services Todd Moyle saying favourable weather conditions and the excellent repair work mean the line between Picton and Christchurch is re-opening for two return freight services each night, which enables work on the road reconstruction to continue during the day. “That helps take pressure off the alternate route, which has been the main route to shift freight south since the earthquake.”
Richard Melling, Robinson construction, project manager Peter James, Tracy Holdaway, Julian Morriss and Levi Mano, Robinson Construction, look over plans for the new wing at Bethsaida.
raising efforts, Bethsaida Home for the Aged was opened offering a home to 15 residents. In 1988 the Holmdale land and buildings was offered to the Bethsaida Trust and the maternity home was converted to a rest home. Over the years, the rest home wing was upgraded and refurbished to pro-
vide ensuite rooms for residents. But the Bethsaida Trust has decided that this wing, parts of which were built in the 1920s, needs to be replaced so a new, larger wing is being built. This will increase the number of beds available from 43 to 57. “Some of our residents
well remember the old Holmdale home,” Bethsaida manager Tracy Holdaway says. “But we are all excited about the new developments.” “The current wing will stay in place until the new wing is built,” project manager Peter James says. Robinson Construction
is undertaking the two year project. “We are always full,” Tracy says, “and we are turning people away almost every week.” Bethsaida also has 33 villas each with either one or two bedrooms, and is the only rest home in Blenheim that provides rental villas.
Lawyers on the go Two lawyers from the Community Law Centre are to hold a clinic at the old Seddon Railway Station tomorrow afternoon, and fortnightly after that. Stephanie Moses of Community Law says the two lawyers are available from 1pm until 3pm every second Thursday, and are there to help people with any of their legal questions as well as earthquake claims. Consultation is free and confidential. People can make a direct booking by phoning Community Law Marlborough on 03 5779919. Evening clinics to help daytime workers and RSE workers are also being consided.
War hero remembered
Sir Edward Chaytor.
By Bill McElhinney One of Marlborough’s World War One heroes, Major General Sir Edward Chaytor, was a significant figure in the Battle of Beersheba, which was commemorated at a special service in the RSA Lounge at the Clubs of Marlborough yesterday. Marlborough Mayor John Leggett recalled how the major, a former Spring Creek farmer, led the New Zealand Mounted Rifle Brigade to capture the heavily fortified hill of Tel el Saba (now know as Tel Beer
Sheva), which cleared the way for the now-famous Australian light horse charge on Beersheba. “The Anzac troops who fought in the Middle East not only faced the well organised and battle seasoned Turkish troops, but also had to combat extreme heat, dehydration through lack of water, and disease,” John says. “They faced conditions which were extremely physically challenging, and at least a dozen young men from Marlborough lost their lives in the Middle East conflict.
“We should not forget their sacrifice they made to preserve our liberty, nor should we forget the lessons of war.” The Battle of Beersheba was one of many examples of the Anzac bond formed during World War One. From 1916 to 1918, Australians and New Zealanders formed the Anzac Mounted Division, helping to secure the Suez Canal and to drive Ottoman forces from what was then known as Palestine, the Transjordan and Syria.
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