‘Out of mind, out of sight’

 
‘Out of mind and out of sight’ -
Did the founders get it right?
When they chose a distant place
for giving people time and space
to come to their senses?
 
The vision of their time was to
provide a setting for the few
whose mental state proclaimed their need
for management, lest hasty deed
caused harm to self or others.
 
So much for vision, but the fact
of isolation did distract
from oversight that should have been
ensuring care did not demean
the people needing care.
 
And ‘out of sight’ diminished care,
exploited need and wasn’t fair
on residents or staff who tried
healthy living to provide
within community.
 
One hundred years F ward has stood –
with varied use - both bad and good. 
Museum now, it seeks to share
the tales from living/working here
for future benefit.
 
The journey now we recognise
and hope to open people’s eyes
to ‘out of sight’.  Let’s not forget
that people’s need continues, yet
society still turns away.
 
We celebrate the roof that may
now keep this history from decay! 
To those who’ve kept this place in sight –
through vision, work and funding fight –
our warm, admiring thanks.
 
Our special folk we celebrate  -
Thom, Ngaire, Rita, others late
but not forgotten.  Those here today, 
Susan and Bruce and Alan Gray –
leading the faithful few.
                                                           
The Friends, the Council, H P Trust,
architect, builder, funders - we must
acknowledge with thanks what you have done
to enable the journey to continue to run –
as learning for future of care.
 
‘Out of mind’ may still happen, let’s keep it ‘in sight’
through experience of history shedding its light
on what worked and what failed      in duty of care
so people in future will make sure that what’s fair
will happen where needed.

- Helen Bichan, May 2009, Celebrating the completion of the re-roofing of the building.