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
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