More than 80 years of unbroken Aitken family involvement in Maniototo health services has come to an end with the retirement of part-time Ranfurly Medical Centre practice nurse Elaine Aitken, writes Sarah Marquet.
Her family's involvement began in 1929, when her late husband's grandfather, Peter Aitken, then chairman of the Maniototo County Council, opened the Maniototo Hospital.
He then served on the hospital's board until 1950, when his son John joined, serving until 1980, including as chairman.
John's son, John Aitken jun - Elaine's husband - took over and continued the family involvement, also as chairman of Maniototo Health Services Ltd, until he stepped down due to deteriorating health, in 2006.
Mrs Aitken carried on the family's legacy, working as practice nurse at the Ranfurly Medical Centre until she retired earlier this year, aged 76. She said during the 1960s, the hospital was threatened with closure, because of a staff shortage, and that was one of the reasons she started working there.
The health profession, especially those with links to the area, stepped up, including her mother-in-law Margaret, a registered nurse, who returned to the hospital and took on the role of matron.
The younger Mrs Aitken was then living on the family farm, Loganbrae, at Paerau.
''It was very remote, so I would get called out for accidents at any time of the day or night. The closest doctor was 30 miles [50km] away.''
She said she also used to carry the flu vaccine home and administer it on the way, ''but I guess you can't do that these days''.
She said it was a difficult time for everyone in the Maniototo but it was thanks to her husband's determination to ensure rural areas did not miss out on basic healthcare that the hospital was still operating.
Aged 72, he died on February 11, 2007, from cancer, in the hospital to which he had dedicated 25 years of voluntary service. He was made an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit (ONZM) in 1999 for his services to rural health.
Then, in 1992, when the board planned to close the hospital, he called a public meeting - ''Save our Hospital''.
The result was the formation of the Maniototo Health Trust which, after serious fundraising, bought the hospital building. Three years later, Maniototo Health Services Ltd was formed and shares in the trust were sold and given to the company.
He was also a foundation member of the Rural Otago Primary Health Organisation.
For more than 20 years, Mrs Aitken had been working alongside Dr Verne Smith at the Ranfurly Medical Centre and she said he was like a second son to her and John.
When John, ''my soulmate'', died, Dr Smith helped her carry on, by convincing her to return to workIt was a sentiment returned by Dr Smith, who had only planned to work there for up to a year.
Now, after almost 25 years as the area's only doctor, he said it was the Aitkens who helped convince him to stay.
''It's fair to say if it wasn't for the Aitkens I wouldn't be here ... they looked after me so well. To me, they are the most wonderful people and they made this place [Maniototo] home.
''She and John went [in] to bat for me and really looked after me. She was more like family than an employee. She was that close and that important.''
''She was kind of like ... your mother almost, she was just lovely. She would bring baking in and if she hadn't been baking, she would bring whitebait patties in.''
He described Mr Aitken as ''a gentleman and a true community man''.
''The health system was restructured many times and John was always that man on the board ... represented the community voice, and his father and before them, his grandfather.''
In addition, he spent ''huge amounts'' of his own money, as well as time, to help save the hospital and medical services.
Mrs Aitken said she would miss the social interaction with staff and patients and she hoped she would be able to ward off boredom.
Between gardening, fishing, whitebaiting, indoor bowls, bridge, t'ai chi, the book club and popping into the medical centre, she might not have time to get bored, ''but I am slowing down''.
She would also like to visit Rarotonga.
Her daughter Suzy and granddaughter Sarah continue the family name in health services, although not in the Maniototo. Suzy is a registered nurse, working as the managing director of the Skin Institute in Queenstown, and Sarah is a radiographer in Dunedin. Son Pete, who owns the family farm, lives in Dunsandel, ''but I'm sure if he was in the area, he would be involved''.
