Thanks for the memories

PAULINE Terrey had special reason to write about people's experiences of New Zealand health camps.
She wanted to record her father's experiences, as a five-year-old at Otaki Health Camp in 1934 for family records.
That led Pauline to write not just his story, but that of 12 people sent to health camps at Otaki, Castlecliff and Glenelg in Christchurch in the 1930s, '40s, '50s and '60s.
Her book Castor Oil and Milk - Memories of Health Camp will be launched on May 26 at 2pm at St Paul's Presbyterian Church, Wanganui to which the public are invited.
"I wanted to honour my father ? Gordon Funnell ? to write abut his experiences at health camp. However, in doing so, I opened up a treasure chest crammed to overflowing with wonderful memories that spilled out wanting to be told and waiting to be heard, not only by me, but also by others."
Not all the stories people shared with her are included in the book "as many were just too painful to share with others and the preference was to leave them in the past."
"For most of the children mentioned in the book, being at a health camp was like going on a holiday or a big adventure. But there are also just as many sad stories of those whose memories of health camp still fill them with unhappiness, sadness and even anger at the way they were treated by a particular staff member."
"Some remember the trauma of separation from those they loved and their secure environment, the dreaded cod liver oil and merciless bullying by a staff member."
Her father Gordon Funnell though has vivid, fond memories of his journey from Gisborne to Otaki.
"I'd had double pneumonia and operated on for an abscess on the lung. It was during the Depression and food was not plentiful, but at Otaki we had a very good diet. I spent six weeks there and when I returned home really started to blossom."
"At 14 I left school and went to work milking cows. In 1947 I joined the Post Office and retired in 1987."
During his later years with the Post Office Mr Funnell worked as relieving postmaster/clerk throughout the Wanganui District.
Mrs Terrey, a probation officer with the Corrections Department said writing the book had taken five years, for various reasons, but had always been a joy to do.
"The health camp has become one of New Zealand's icons and helps more than 4000 children and families a year. Although the needs of today's children may be different to those mentioned in the book, these camps are still about changing lives for the better"
Health camps originated with Dr Elizabeth Gunn, who joined the then new medical service to schools in 1912.
As a doctor and later as a medical officer of health in Wanganui she examined many undernourished children.
She believed a child who was unhealthy, malnourished and "failing to thrive" would become well and strong when placed into a regimented care of six weeks sunshine, good nourishing food and plenty of exercise.
And this led to health camps being set up after World War 1. There are seven permanent health camps running in NZ at present ? Rotorua, Gisborne, Maunu Health Camp at Whangarei, Pakaranga Health Camp at Howick Auckland, Otaki Health Camp, Glenelg Health Camp in Christchurch and the Roxburgh Health Camp, Otago.
Born in Marton, the third in a family of four children, Mrs Terrey has written a collection of unpublished short stories and has always loved to write.
She is also a Wanganui Chronicle book reviewer.
Castor Oil & Milk costs $15 and can be bought from Mrs Terrey, 12 Nikau St, Wanganui.