It was middle of 1989. Linda was a recently qualified Sister
at Greys Hospital in Pietermaritzburg.
It seems that Greys was named after Albert Henry George Grey, of Howick, Northumberland, England who was part of the Charter of the British South Africa Company and a certain Cecil John Rhodes was a member.
Her contract with the Natal Administration was due to end only in three years’ time.
1989 was the last years of Apartheid and the end of Apartheid was not long.
Apartheid is racial segregation.
All her certificates and hospital registers were correct and properly processed.
She was with a group of 20 nurses also recently qualified as Sisters.
Matron had requested that the 20 recently qualified Sisters meet in the dining room for nurses.
"I am glad you are all here. . . I have to make an important announcement. . . . The influx of new nurse will be with us in the middle of next week. . . There is an increase of new student nurses compared to the past, as the new influx will include those of Color. These of Color will be chosen from across Natal from outlying hospitals. You here in the rooms, will have to make space. We have not found your postings in the outlying areas yet. Therefore, you have to remain working at Greys. There are two sisters in each room at the moment. From now on, there will have to be three Sisters in each room. Three Sisters per room times 6 is 18 Sisters. Two will have to find another place to stay. 18 plus 2 equals 20.
Linda and Anne will now have to move into rooms near Reception. We know this will be inconvenient.
Linda knew that the two rooms near Reception was the worse place to be. The noise 24 hours and people moving in and out at all hours was not the place to be.
Her present room had commanding view and the morning sun shone into her room. Downstairs, the place as dark, pokey, dusty and -
Matron finished by saying.
That is all. I know you understand and the Hospital Superintendent has the last say. These are his instructions.
It seems that Greys was named after Albert Henry George Grey, of Howick, Northumberland, England who was part of the Charter of the British South Africa Company and a certain Cecil John Rhodes was a member.
Her contract with the Natal Administration was due to end only in three years’ time.
1989 was the last years of Apartheid and the end of Apartheid was not long.
Apartheid is racial segregation.
All her certificates and hospital registers were correct and properly processed.
She was with a group of 20 nurses also recently qualified as Sisters.
Matron had requested that the 20 recently qualified Sisters meet in the dining room for nurses.
"I am glad you are all here. . . I have to make an important announcement. . . . The influx of new nurse will be with us in the middle of next week. . . There is an increase of new student nurses compared to the past, as the new influx will include those of Color. These of Color will be chosen from across Natal from outlying hospitals. You here in the rooms, will have to make space. We have not found your postings in the outlying areas yet. Therefore, you have to remain working at Greys. There are two sisters in each room at the moment. From now on, there will have to be three Sisters in each room. Three Sisters per room times 6 is 18 Sisters. Two will have to find another place to stay. 18 plus 2 equals 20.
Linda and Anne will now have to move into rooms near Reception. We know this will be inconvenient.
Linda knew that the two rooms near Reception was the worse place to be. The noise 24 hours and people moving in and out at all hours was not the place to be.
Her present room had commanding view and the morning sun shone into her room. Downstairs, the place as dark, pokey, dusty and -
Matron finished by saying.
That is all. I know you understand and the Hospital Superintendent has the last say. These are his instructions.
Linda was nearly six feet tall. She was well built, robust, had
a good brain, worked hard, followed instructions, and was outgoing, kind, no
hang-ups and no pent-up anger. . . In addition, she was Irish.
Linda went stone cold. Matron left. The Sisters still had to finish their meal.
The Linda started.
"No. I am not moving downstairs. I am going to the single bachelor doctors' quarters. There are a 100 single rooms there. Only 20 doctors in residence. . . "
These doctors were doing their horsemanship and most came from overseas, Low Countries, France and Germany. They were young and recently qualified. They liked to come to
South Africa, as South Africa had patients that had been badly injured, had many different kinds of diseases. In Europe, young doctors never saw that many kinds of conditions as in Africa. .
Therefore, she finished her meal. All 20 followed her. They went to their rooms got their things and all 20 moved to the North Wing where the doctors' quarters were. Got the keys and set themselves up. The incoming student nurses could have all 10 rooms to use . . ., which they had just vacated.
Superintendent could do nothing. He had to accept what happened.
Three months later. All 20 Sisters were given notice to be in the student nurses' lecture room.
Superintendent addressed them.
"Now it has been decided to post all 20 Sisters to the Ladysmith, Natal, to the Bantoe Emnambithi Hospital. . ."
Now the news came. . .
Linda went stone cold. Matron left. The Sisters still had to finish their meal.
The Linda started.
"No. I am not moving downstairs. I am going to the single bachelor doctors' quarters. There are a 100 single rooms there. Only 20 doctors in residence. . . "
These doctors were doing their horsemanship and most came from overseas, Low Countries, France and Germany. They were young and recently qualified. They liked to come to
South Africa, as South Africa had patients that had been badly injured, had many different kinds of diseases. In Europe, young doctors never saw that many kinds of conditions as in Africa. .
Therefore, she finished her meal. All 20 followed her. They went to their rooms got their things and all 20 moved to the North Wing where the doctors' quarters were. Got the keys and set themselves up. The incoming student nurses could have all 10 rooms to use . . ., which they had just vacated.
Superintendent could do nothing. He had to accept what happened.
Three months later. All 20 Sisters were given notice to be in the student nurses' lecture room.
Superintendent addressed them.
"Now it has been decided to post all 20 Sisters to the Ladysmith, Natal, to the Bantoe Emnambithi Hospital. . ."
Now the news came. . .
"You have to maintain a high standard. 80% all blacks
in that hospital have syphilis. Blacks can live with this strain of syphilis
and not die and they pass this onto their partners in sex. In addition, Whites
are not immune to it and you will die if you contract the disease as there is
no
cure. . . Gloves will be worn at all times . . ."
So that is what breaking down racial barriers means.
cure. . . Gloves will be worn at all times . . ."
So that is what breaking down racial barriers means.
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