The history and humble beginnings of Lighthouse Hospice
It took four years for Lighthouse to buy what was the Madelaine Herbert Home for Retired Nurses.
Following an appeal for funds for Khanya Hospice, the two women responsible for its very beginnings were reunited after years apart. A month ago, Stella Poff, 90, and Natalie Sinclair, 92, enjoyed tea together and recalled the local hospice beginnings in early December last year. Sadly, Natalie Sinclair died on Christmas Day.
In 1984, Stella’s husband, Richard (Dick), was president-elect of Scottburgh Lions. He was due to take over from Aldo Stella, however a few days before his induction, he suddenly died. Stella, a nurse, and devoted to community service, was bereft. In her early widowhood she had been encouraged in her faith and, in particular, by Bishop Baaij of Umzinto Catholic Church to start a much-needed hospice in the community.
She discussed this with Natalie, who too was dedicated to the well-being of others. Before long they met a delegation from South Coast Hospice in Port Shepstone, which included Bishop Baaij, Kath de Fillipi and Jenny Sinclair. They gleaned all the advice and encouragement they needed to start what was initially named Lighthouse Hospice. Synonymous with its name, it became a beacon for the Upper South Coast community. Soon caregivers were recruited, but it all needed money.
The community, steered by the dedication and commitment of Stella and Natalie, rolled up its sleeves and got to work. The concept had been so well received it became evident that hospice needed to ‘set up home’ to provide for the ever-increasing numbers of people in need.
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Tony Butler, as president elect to Richard Poff in 1984, took over Scottburgh Lions as president, and, as was tradition then, the wives of service club’s presidents started fundraising. It was agreed that the best way to benefit hospice was to hold a joint service clubs event, the first ever in Scottburgh. So, headed by Heather Butler of Scottburgh Lions and past South Coast Sun editor, Rotary president, Mike Howlett and chairman of Round Table,
Mike Adams, a committee was set up to organise the swishiest event the district had ever seen, a debutante ball. Eleven girls from high schools in the area were recruited. Each debutante was required to raise a minimum of R1 000 and the ball was arranged. The goal was to raise as much money as possible to purchase a property which could house terminally-ill patients for 24-hour care.
Everyone got involved. If they weren’t involved with helping debutantes, they were organising cake sales, sari evenings, darts parties, raffles and cent-a-mile fundraisers – never has the community been so innovative. Those not involved in baking or cooking were making pink and white crepe paper flowers to decorate the hall. Tablers made exquisite arched trellises out of polystyrene for the doorways. But the hall itself was grubby. The town clerk Mick Collocott and his assistant Dennis Marshall arranged for it to be repainted specially for the ball.
Pink and white streamers were suspended from a hoola hoop in the centre of the ceiling and chandelier-like pink and white flowers hung from the centre. For the first debutante ball, the girls were presented to then Scottburgh Mayor, Dr Mike Devitt. Tickets cost R15 per person, which included dinner and music from the Simon Kerdachi five-piece band.
The 11 debutantes who took part were Diane Nyman, Charmaine de Beer, Lynn Burgess, Tracy Ridderhoff, Mandy Ford, Cheryl Wilsenach, Debbie Moray, Beverley Moorcroft, Deidre Moray, Jathrumba Pillay and Thresia Singh. They were accompanied respectively by Glynn Crookes, Mario Bossana, Brett Piper, Tim Pretorius, Martin Boffa, Mark Burgess, Wayne Yarr, Butch Dudgeon, Bryan Scott-Williams, Balan Ramsamy and Saths Somera.
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Debutante of the Year was determined by who brought in most money and in 1985/86 this was Chantel Stern and in 1986/87 Corinne Bell. Olive Yarr of Scottburgh Lions, who had been on the committee from the outset, ran the third and final debutante ball.
The initial ball was followed by two others and altogether the young women raised over R60,000. In those years, that was a lot of money. It took four years for Lighthouse to buy what was the Madelaine Herbert Home for Retired Nurses, a suitable and lovely big house overlooking the soccer field in Umkomaas. This old house is still being used as the offices of Khanya Hospice. Businesses, public bodies, social, cultural, sports and service clubs had donated their time, money and effort to make Stella and Natalie’s dream come true.
It was on Saturday, 5 November in 1988, that the chairman of SA Hospice Association, Brian Agar, officially opened Lighthouse Home. At the opening, which Stella missed as she was in hospital, Natalie, the chairperson of Lighthouse Hospice, thanked Stella who had sewn the seed for this valuable asset to the community.
There was a committee and nursing staff who helped, and have always helped. Elizabeth Howlett was first treasurer, later administrator, and first secretary was Jenny Roberts. To move with the times, in the early 1990s, Lighthouse Hospice was renamed Khanya Hospice – still a light – a beacon for all. A shining light in a dark world of sickness, sadness and sorrow. Â
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