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With her late husband in mind, an excited Melissa Vining has officially launched the conversion of a former Invercargill pub into a charity hospital for Southland.
Work to convert the former Clifton Club Inn into the Southland Charity Hospital will begin in earnest in February.
But Vining started the project Monday by using a mallet to poke a hole in an internal wall.
Her late husband, Blair, was in her thoughts.
“I was feeling a little emotional … I was thinking about Blair and how proud he would be,” he said.
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* Owned by Clifton Club Inn ceded to Southland Charity Hospital Trust
Melissa and Blair fought tirelessly for better cancer care for Kiwis after Blair fell ill and found that the timeliness of her cancer treatment was lacking in the public health system.
Blair, 39, died of the disease in October 2019, but his wife has continued the fight and is a trustee on the hospital board.
Kavinda Herath / Things
Melissa Vining officially begins internal demolition Monday of the former Clifton Club Inn, which will become a Southland Charity Hospital.
So far, $ 2.2 million has been raised toward a final goal of $ 5.5 million to build the charity hospital, complete with medical equipment, and Vining wants it to open by Christmas 2021.
The hospital was necessary because Southland and Otago had the highest rates of bowel cancer in New Zealand and many people couldn’t access colonoscopies in the public system, he said.
Vining knew firsthand what it felt like when the person he loved couldn’t access treatment, describing it as a state of constant trauma, panic and worry.
The charity hospital aimed to offer colonoscopies to those who are denied the public system, while also offering dental care and more services in the future if needed.
In total, $ 4.5 million was needed to build the hospital and, in addition, $ 1 million was required for equipment.
However, if all merchants who had offered their services for free did so, the cost of construction would drop significantly, he said.
Charity Hospital staff would not be paid and the public using it would not be charged for using the facilities.
Kavinda Herath / Things
Melissa Vining with her daughters Della-May, 16, Lilly, 12, and Blair, who died in October 2019.
“There is a test of financial resources, so the people receiving the treatment will not be able to access it in any other way,” said Vining.
So far, 36 medical professionals had volunteered to work at the facility.
More than 9,000 bricks, to be placed on the hospital grounds, were sold for $ 100 each as part of the fundraising campaign, while the community had launched many other fundraising initiatives.
Vining said she was excited by the rapid pace of progress and praised the community for taking the lead in fundraising, from farmers to city folks to schools.
“The whole community is making the hospital possible and it really feels like I belong in the community.
“I think Blair would be very proud of how different sections of the community have supported him … and knowing him, he would be cheering pretty hard.
Robyn Edie
Melissa Vining, left, with Canterbury Charity Hospital Professor Phil Bagshaw at a 2019 meeting to discuss the proposed Southland Charity Hospital.
Among the many fundraisers were farmers donating wool, which would be used as insulation in the building, while two young men had organized a dog test that had raised about $ 50,000.
And on Monday, Rio Tinto announced a $ 100,000 donation for construction, as part of its Covid-19 aid package to support communities.
NZAS Executive Director Stew Hamilton said the hospital would make a real difference in people’s lives by providing healthcare to those who might not otherwise have access to treatment.
Charity Hospital General Manager Helen Robinson said that most people had been affected by cancer in some way, which is why the hospital was so important to people.
Fundraising efforts would continue, with bricks for sale, medical grants would be applied for, and fundraising events would be held.
“With Missy driving it, there’s no question we’ll make it through.”
Once open, the hospital would cost about $ 250,000 a year to operate, and fundraising efforts ongoing.
