Grocott's Mail
  • NEWS
    • Courts & Crime
    • Features
    • Politics
    • People
    • Health & Well-being
  • SPORT
    • News
    • Results
    • Sports Diary
    • Club Contacts
    • Columns
    • Sport Galleries
    • Sport Videos
  • OPINION
    • Election Connection
    • Makana Voices
    • Deur ‘n Gekleurde Bril
    • Newtown… Old Eyes
    • Incisive View
    • Your Say
  • ARTSLIFE
    • Cue
    • Makana Sharp!
    • Visual Art
    • Literature
    • Food & Fun
    • Festivals
    • Community Arts
    • Going Places
  • OUR TOWN
    • What’s on
    • Spiritual
    • Emergency & Well-being
    • Safety
    • Civic
    • Municipality
    • Weather
    • Properties
      • Grahamstown Properties
    • Your Town, Our Town
  • OUTSIDE
    • Enviro News
    • Gardening
    • Farming
    • Science
    • Conservation
    • Motoring
    • Pets/Animals
  • ECONOMIX
    • Business News
    • Entrepreneurship
    • Personal Finance
  • EDUCATION
    • Education NEWS
    • Education OUR TOWN
    • Education INFO
  • Covid-19
  • EDITORIAL
Facebook Twitter Instagram
Trending
  • Africa could lead the way in precision medicine
  • Wall-to-Wall Creation
  • Covid grant should be increased to at least R413, say civil society groups
  • National shutdown goes off peacefully in Makhanda
  • A bond forged by mentoring
  • Ibe yimpumelelo itumente yolutsha eQhorha
  • A good financial planner is indispensable
  • Exciting encounters in LFA Premier League weekend games
Facebook Twitter Instagram
Grocott's Mail
  • NEWS
    • Courts & Crime
    • Features
    • Politics
    • People
    • Health & Well-being
  • SPORT
    • News
    • Results
    • Sports Diary
    • Club Contacts
    • Columns
    • Sport Galleries
    • Sport Videos
  • OPINION
    • Election Connection
    • Makana Voices
    • Deur ‘n Gekleurde Bril
    • Newtown… Old Eyes
    • Incisive View
    • Your Say
  • ARTSLIFE
    • Cue
    • Makana Sharp!
    • Visual Art
    • Literature
    • Food & Fun
    • Festivals
    • Community Arts
    • Going Places
  • OUR TOWN
    • What’s on
    • Spiritual
    • Emergency & Well-being
    • Safety
    • Civic
    • Municipality
    • Weather
    • Properties
      • Grahamstown Properties
    • Your Town, Our Town
  • OUTSIDE
    • Enviro News
    • Gardening
    • Farming
    • Science
    • Conservation
    • Motoring
    • Pets/Animals
  • ECONOMIX
    • Business News
    • Entrepreneurship
    • Personal Finance
  • EDUCATION
    • Education NEWS
    • Education OUR TOWN
    • Education INFO
  • Covid-19
  • EDITORIAL
Grocott's Mail
You are at:Home»Uncategorized»Iron woman at Settlers Hospital
Uncategorized

Iron woman at Settlers Hospital

Grocott's MailBy Grocott's MailAugust 13, 20091 Comment3 Mins Read
Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr Email

"I never forget where I come from," says Irene Solomon, senior service manager at Settlers Public Hospital. Sitting in her office, Solomon is surrounded by a dozen framed photos of her family.

"I never forget where I come from," says Irene Solomon, senior service manager at Settlers Public Hospital. Sitting in her office, Solomon is surrounded by a dozen framed photos of her family.

"I grew up in Fingo Village," she continues. "The elders inculcated a culture of caring. You cared for your neighbour and what you had you shared." She recalls her matric maths teacher at Mary Waters saying, "Never forget that you need to remember your community and if you get a chance to give back, you must."

In over 30 years at Settlers Hospital, 18 of which as senior nursing service manager, Solomon has never questioned her teacher’s advice. "She is a friendly, helpful person," says ARV coordinator Sharon Bloem. "She is a community person."

"I grew up in a family of nine. We were very close-knit," she says fondly. "But my dear," she adds, pausing dramatically, "we were disciplined. I grew up a Roman Catholic. We sang and prayed in Latin and went to church three times a day." The memory makes her laughs but she soon regains her composure.

Solomon may no longer go to church three times a day but she is as disciplined as ever. "She’s strict but in a kind way," says Antoinette Cannon, senior administration officer at the hospital. "She follows through and is very dependable. If you want something done, you know it’ll be done. She’s one of those people."

Dependability is important to Solomon. "Even if you don’t like to do something, it’s a matter of principle that you do it," she says firmly, emotionless. "If you start something, you must finish it."

Ten years ago Solomon started a project she refused to abandon, despite feeling disillusioned at times. "There’s so much red tape in what we’re doing," she explains, shaking her head. "But I just couldn’t leave without seeing the project through. I couldn’t let the people around me down."

Solomon’s project recently opened. "Listen here my child," she says, looking out the window at Settlers new private wing, "it is wonderful. Looking at the project initially, I really did not think it’d be such a transformation of the hospital. I’m really proud and I’m so pleased to be part of it."

Solomon takes a while to think about her fondest memory at Settlers. Ït’s really the people in this place. You become like one family," she says eventually. "A lot of people have added value to my life as a person but also to the work I’ve been doing. Looking back, I’m grateful for where I’ve come from," she reminisces, a single tear running down her cheek.

Previous ArticleBack to college for East Cape traffic officers
Next Article The ABC of digital TV
Grocott's Mail

Comments are closed.

Tweets by Grocotts
Newsletter



Listen

The Rhodes University Community Engagement Division has launched Engagement in Action, a new podcast which aims to bring to life some of the many ways in which the University interacts with communities around it. Check it out below.

Humans of Makhanda

Humans of Makhanda

Weather    |     About     |     Advertise     |     Subscribe     |     Contact     |     Support Grocott’s Mail

© 2023 Maintained by School of Journalism & Media Studies.

Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.