BOPDHB History Whakatāne Hospital History Book | Page 40

Nurse Miss CP (Phyllis) Booth, Matron, 1951-1967 Nurse Booth first joined the Whakatāne Hospital staff in 193949 as Sister-in-Charge of the Women’s Ward, and then relieving Matron. She left in 1945 to undertake maternity training in Northern Wairoa and then took up a position as Ward Sister at Whanganui Hospital. She received a bursary to undertake the post-graduate course for nurses in Wellington, in Hospital and Nursing School Administration, then returning to Whanganui Hospital as Assistant Matron. Her appointment as Matron of the Whakatāne Hospital in 1951 saw her involved, not only in developing services for the district’s population but also in the establishment of the Kawerau and Murupara Hospitals. She was for some time President of the local branch of the Registered Nurses’ Association and actively participated in raising funds to build the Hospital Chapel. Matron C P (Phyllis) Booth. Photo: Bay of Plenty District Health Board Archive 49 Nurse Booth was also Foundation President of the Whakatāne Branch of the Business and Professional Women’s Club, was on the Red Cross committee and an active member of the Lyceum Club. She retired in 1967 and continued to live in Whakatāne until her death in September 1986 at the age of 79. Adrianna Harawira et al, Whakatāne Hospital Re-union 1988, (Whakatāne, Mann Printing Ltd) 1988, pg 11 Page 35