- Military dignitaries in regiment uniforms gathered at the Red Cross War Memorial Children’s Hospital on Friday 10 November for the Annual Day of Remembrance.
- This year’s guest speaker was the City of Cape Town Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis.
- Hill-Lewis shared cherished memories of his grandfather, a war veteran, his mother, a nurse, and his own experiences as a 18-month-old patient at the Red Cross Children’s Hospital.
The significance of this year’s Annual Day of Remembrance to commemorate war veterans at the Red Cross War Memorial Children’s Hospital (RCWMCH) in Rondebosch on Friday 10 November felt more palpable than before considering wars currently being waged in the world.
On this special day, military dignitaries in regiment uniforms gathered on the hospital’s premises to participate in a ceremony that pays homage to the visionaries behind this iconic medical institution.
In her welcoming address, the CEO of the Children’s Hospital Dr Anita Parbhoo said annually in November, the hospital, trustees, delegates and veterans come together to remember the South African servicemen and veterans of World War II who generously donated two days of their pay to help build the War Memorial Children’s Hospital.
“Deeply moved by the suffering of children in the aftermath of war, these men envisioned a children’s hospital as a living memorial in honour of their fallen comrades,” Parbhoo said. “Their dream, born from compassion and duty, has transformed into a world-class institution that serves as a cornerstone of paediatric healthcare across the African continent, and today, The Red Cross Children’s Hospital serves over 250 000 children each year.”
As this year’s guest speaker, City of Cape Town Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis shared cherished memories of his grandfather, a war veteran, his mother, a nurse, and his own experiences as a 18-month-old patient at the Red Cross Children’s Hospital.
“The soldiers who started this hospital 80 years ago did an extraordinary thing to start a hospital dedicated to children’s healthcare. It has turned into something of a modern day miracle. Too few South Africans know what an incredible national and international asset we have in this hospital – it does the most wonderful work imaginable, saving children’s lives, helping sickly children, giving parents hope and helping parents deal with grief. It’s just incredible,” Hill-Lewis said.
In light of conflict raging overseas, Hill-Lewis told People’s Post: “I believe people are far too glib about how horrible war is and we forget that too easily. It should be avoided at all costs, especially when it has an impact on innocent children. I think… I hope everyone can agree on that, that children should not bear the brunt of these conflicts.”
In her turn, Chantel Cooper, CEO of the Hospital Trust, said: “I’m one of those people feeling the deeper impact of Remembrance Day at this time. As I was sitting and listening to the bag pipes playing Amazing Grace, I kept thinking: ‘It’s such a crazy world we’re living in right now’. Just hearing about conflict, war and lots of anger, bitterness and hatred; I think today was a good opportunity to reflect on the importance of history and why we are here. We are here to honour the many of those who fought various wars.”
The enduring spirit of giving, inspired by the founding war heroes, thrives within the Children’s Hospital Trust. Legacies are one of the Trust’s most critical sources of long-term funds. They enable staff to plan for the Hospital’s future ensuring the legacy of the hospital is passed on to future generations.
