The Star: December 06, 2018

The Star Latest Christchurch news at www.star.kiwi
Thursday December 6 2018 29
Local
News
Now
Fire rages, homes at risk
after serving in World War 1
This was where he met my
mother Isabel, a fellow New
Zealander and medical student.
Following his graduation he
returned to Christchurch in 1925
to set up in practice, initially as
a general practitioner, and then
as a specialist obstetrician and
gynaecologist.
He was also medical superintendent
of St Helen’s Hospital for
more than 30 years, chairman
of the executive of St Georges
Hospital for a similar time, and
he also served nine terms as a
member of the North Canterbury
Hospital Board. He was chairman
for 18 years. That period
coincided with the building and
commissioning of The Princess
Margaret Hospital, and the establishment
of the Christchurch
Clinical School of Medicine, of
which he was the first chairman.
Geoffrey Rice’s thorough research
of NCHB minutes of those
years produced some very interesting
and amusing anecdotes.
The writing of the book has
also provided an opportunity to
include a description of Leslie’s
childhood in Christchurch in the
early 1900s. His early years of his
medical practice in Christchurch
as he battled the relatively high
maternal mortality rates in
childbirth here at that time, and a
description of medical and home
life in Christchurch during and
after the World War, particularly
as seen through the eyes of one of
his children.
The last 20 years of his life saw
the establishment of the close
New Zealand relationship with
the town of Le Quesnoy, which he
visited several times.
His link with that historic
town has recently been in the
news, with the commemoration
on November 4 of the 100th
anniversary of the liberation of
the town by the New Zealand
Rifle Brigade, in which Leslie
played a significant part, and
which commemoration was
attended last month by more
than 40 of his direct descendants.
HISTORY: Leslie Averill at Le Quesnoy in 1923, pointing to the
place on the wall where he made the ascent on a ladder.
Left: Leslie hosts the Queen Mother at The Princess Margaret
Hospital in April 1966 with principal nurse M Darby and medical
superintendent Dr R C S Dick.
TO READ MORE: Leslie Averill’s biography is available from
the Dorincourt Press, C/- Nicky Averill, 314 Waimairi Rd, or by
emailing caverill@xtra.co.nz for $45pp.
ELF
MAGIC
Huge selection of
Christmas Goodies
@ JuST
INCREDIBLE
Tree
Decoration
Christchurch School of Music presents
Christmas at Turanga (the new Library)
Saturday 8 December from 11.00am - 3.00pm
Variety of
Colours &
Sizes
Fun
Elf
Door
Dress
Ups
Enjoy a wide range of ensembles, orchestras, choirs, jazz and more.
Come and try out
all the instruments
in the TSB Space
(on the 1st floor)
from 1.30pm -
3.00pm - all
instruments
available for
children and their
parents to try.
Naughty &
Bendable
Elves
Xmas Stocking
3 Exciting POP UP CHRISTMAS Stores now open
Barrington Mall outside past The Warehouse entrance The Hub Hornby near Farmers South City Centre beside Whitcoulls
Barrington Mall • The Hub, Hornby • New Brighton Mall • South City Centre