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Rotary Club Sunrise adopts children’s play area @ Peebles Hospital

-President of Club emphasises importance of reading & happy moments to a recovering child’s wellbeing
The Rotary Club Sunrise of Road Town yesterday September 30, 2015 formally adopted and opened a new Children’s Room and Reading Corner in the Paediatric Ward of the Peebles Hospital as it continues to push not only literacy but the well-being of children undergoing care at the hospital through happy moments created by books. Photo: VINO
President of the Rotary Club Sunrise of Road Town, Jeanette Scatliffe-Boynes. Photo: VINO
President of the Rotary Club Sunrise of Road Town, Jeanette Scatliffe-Boynes. Photo: VINO
Speaking before the ribbon cutting, Director of Hospital Services at the Peebles Hospital Patricia Malone Smith said that the Rotary Club Sunrise of Road Town wanted to do something fantastic for the Paediatric Department. Photo: VINO
Speaking before the ribbon cutting, Director of Hospital Services at the Peebles Hospital Patricia Malone Smith said that the Rotary Club Sunrise of Road Town wanted to do something fantastic for the Paediatric Department. Photo: VINO
The ceremonial ribbon cutting at the entrance to the play area. Photo: VINO
The ceremonial ribbon cutting at the entrance to the play area. Photo: VINO
The plaque mounted on the wall of the play room. Photo: VINO
The plaque mounted on the wall of the play room. Photo: VINO
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI – The Rotary Club Sunrise of Road Town yesterday September 30, 2015 formally adopted and opened a new Children’s Room and Reading Corner in the Paediatric Ward of the Peebles Hospital as it continues to push not only literacy but the well-being of children undergoing care at the hospital through happy moments created by books.

Speaking before the ribbon cutting, Director of Hospital Services at Peebles Hospital Patricia Malone-Smith said the Rotary Club Sunrise of Road Town wanted to do something fantastic for the Paediatric Department.

“They talked about reading and literacy and for me reading is my one big passion because you get to go so many places and meet so many people when you read. It opens your world…and so I was excited about that. So I said yes,” Mrs Malone-Smith said.

“Then I think it was Thursday last week they came in here and worked their magic,” she said of the Rotary Club Sunrise of Road Town.

Speaking on behalf of the Rotary Club Sunrise of Road Town, Club President Jeanette Scatliffe-Boynes said, “Reading is fundamental and in the world of Rotary the month of September is Youth and Literacy Month.”

She said she had been envisioning this children’s play area and in particular the children’s reading corner “under this lovely flamboyant tree for a while now and the day has finally arrived.”

“The Rotary Club Sunrise of Road Town is pleased to adopt this children’s play area. The room will be reserved specially for children up to 11 years old,” she said.

She noted that the outfitting of the room was done in two phases. “During the month [of September 2015] we had a book drive and received over 300 books. We are only displaying a few of the books at this time, however, we will be donating a book cart which will include more choices of the books and also allow the young patients to have bedside access to books.”

Books create smiles

Scatliffe-Boynes said she was aware that books create smiles and smiles are a good prescription for a good recovery. “We are looking to create lots of smiles for these young patients here at the hospital,” she said.

The Rotary President noted that while phase one of the project concentrates on the toddlers, phase two will be for the older children. “We have plans for bean bags for the ‘older’ young patients, a rocking chair, more artwork and lots of educational and interactive toys. So we are looking forward to phase two,” she said.

She noted too that the club is looking forward to the operating of the Children’s Ward at Peebles Hospital “and we want to be ready to greet the young ones when they arrive on this floor on their road to recovery.”

She thanked Mrs Malone-Smith for her permission and cooperation to bring this initiative to this point. “Mrs Malone-Smith I see as a no-nonsense person who still had this jovialness about her. She was always available when we needed her and in this short space of time we are able to [complete] the project,” she said.

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