The Heni Materoa Home For Children

Little Evelyn Oxenham wears appealing look as she stands by bust of Heni Materoa in foyer of home. Lady Carroll was a granddaughter of the chiefs Paratene Turangi and Kahutia. .

The care of children and old people is need is indeed a labour of love without limits, which in some districts gets scant support from a busy public. But nobody could accuse Gisborne of neglect in this direction. The far-sighted and unselfish work of many people in the community over a long period of years has resulted in the establishment of a number of institutions, such as the Health Camp, the Memorial Home, and the Heni Materoa Home for Children, of which Gisborne and Poverty Bay may well be proud.

Children are coming and going all the time at Heni Materoa Home in Gladstone Road. They come when for reasons of family illness, death, or other disturbance, they have nowhere else to go.

The home was started back in the early part of this century, on land in Awapuni Road which was made available very largely by the generosity of Heni Materoa—better known perhaps as Lady Carroll, wife of Sir James Carroll. ft was started as a day nursery by the Cook County Women's Guild, which still controls the home.

During her recent visit to Gisborne, Lady Norrie, wife of the Governor-General, paid a visit to the home. Here she is being introduced by Mrs J. B. Williams, president, to Mrs R. F. Foreman, a vice-president.

Committee photograph (by Lloyd Cornish) shows (front row) Mesdames H. M. Cockrem, H. B. Tyerman, C. Isaac, W. Neal, F. Morley, T. J. Corkery, J. B. Williams (president), Mr A. E. Valentine (executive chairman), and Mr F. O. Armstrong (executive committee). At rear are Mesdames R. J. Clark, L. T. Smith, R. F. Foreman (vice-president), and H. G. Kemp (vice-president), and Messrs J. B. Williams (executive committee), E. T. Gardner (secretary), and F. H. Forge (architect for the new home).

General view of new home in Gladstone Road, Te Hapara which was completed about two years ago. Home cost £17,000, was built from assets and £6000 public subscription, on land donated by Rotary Club.

Children and staff on the verandah.

Modern buildings are matched by spacious grounds. Here children play with toys on the lawn.

Clara absorbed in a small but important construction problem.

Books and toys are always welcome at the home. Here children enjoy a reading session with one of the staff.

Jill Parker, who happened to be visiting a friend in the home when pictures were being taken, provided camera with amusing shot on the see-saw.

See-saw can be fun for dolly, too. Fresh air, sunshine, airy quarters, and good care usually make world of difference to children during their stay. They attend Te Hapara school nearby. Committee has lately completed a beach house near Churchill Park camp, which will be headquarters on picnic days.

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The Gisborne Photo News

No 17 : November 17, 1955

The Heni Materoa Home For Children