We got the idea from Ozanam House in Palmerston North.
It took two years to get Ozanam Villa started.
We had an official opening and Ozanam was open for business. It has housed many thousands of people who needed accommodation to be near loved ones in hospital.
There was great excitement when Prince Edward opened the annexe at the rear of the building.
Many people told us they wouldn't have been able to visit their friends whilst in the hospital, but because of Ozanam Villa it was possible.
Many years have passed, many thousands of people have stayed at Ozanam Villa, but now because of the way society has gone -- people staying, abusing the hospitality offered, stealing everything that's not nailed down -- the board is now unable to keep going.
As a co-founder of Ozanam Villa, it greatly saddens me that it has come to this; not having a resident manager to keep an eye on the day-to-day running was the cause of its demise.
My hope is that Ozanam Villa will not be closed, but will be run by some organisation to serve the public in time of need.
TED DOWNS
Whanganui
Fuel prices too high
If our district council would like to do something really helpful for its citizens, it could actively encourage Waitomo Fuels to open one of their service stations in Whanganui.
For many months now our fuel prices in the city have been far from competitive.
Just head south a little way to Bulls, and see the difference.
My vehicle runs on diesel, so that is the price I notice.
In Whanganui for many months the price has been $1.19.9 per litre.
At Waitomo Fuels in Bulls it is $1.01.9 per litre, 18 cents cheaper, and it has been that way for months.
Amazingly, the BP station in Bulls has also substantially reduced its prices, as has the Mobil station.
Further down the line as far as Levin, the same prices apply.
Go the other way through the Manawatu Gorge (or over the top) and diesel prices are 10 cents cheaper than Whanganui.
And going west into South Taranaki, the prices are 12 cents cheaper.
Oh boy, do we ever need Waitomo Fuels here in town. There is the challenge, WDC.
KEVIN O'SULLIVAN
Parkdale
Thanks to caring hospital
In early May, following a fall on a slippery local pathway, I ended up with a badly broken arm, fractured in three places.
After surgery, I subsequently spent four nights in Whanganui Hospital and then weekly visits for a month until a final day of further surgery last week.
During all of this time, I was impressed with the level of professional expertise and medical care that I experienced at Whanganui Hospital.
The surgeons, doctors, nurses, and radiologists could not be faulted. The orderlies, the cleaners, kitchen staff and the Friends of Whanganui Hospital ... these people, too, opened my eyes to the daily efficiency and pleasantness that imbues the smooth running of this hospital.
Sadly, most of us never fully appreciate the merits of Whanganui Hospital until we are in need of or in direct contact with its services ourselves. Believe me, we should treasure this facility in our city.
I would like to thank everyone at Good Health Whanganui for the excellent level of care that I have received.
MARY-ANN EWING
St John's Hill
Health centre closure
Health centre may have to close (Chronicle, June 10): I read this article and then checked the date to make sure it was not April 1.
Give us a break, council.
Most cities would bend over backward to help this get off the ground.
We need good doctors in Whanganui, and here you are putting up obstacles.
Dr Thadigiri and Jane are assets for Whanganui and are doing their best trying to sort this out.
They buy new land to build on, but council says no, as it's an industrial area and they will not want you there. So the doc asks all the businesses in the area, and they are more than happy for him to be there.
Pull your head in, council, and help make this happen, or you will once again look like fools wrapped in red tape.
It's funny, but if you read the plaque in the foyer showing who opened the building for the iwi medical centre, you will see a well-known Maori female politician, now retired.
Council had no problems letting this happen but has a problem building across from it.
I have no doubt that mine will not be the only letter written in about this, so I hope someone in council gets behind this instead of hindering it.
P. ANDREWS
Whanganui
