Roast beef, plum pudding and Santa Claus.
“You knew it was Christmas in Maitland because the hospital – this is in the early 80s … the hospital would put a Santa Claus on the very highest point with a star above it, and Santa Claus’s arm used to wave … mechanically and they had a sign underneath him in lightbulbs that said ‘Merry Xmas’, and alternatively the ‘Merry Xmas’ would light up and the star would go out, and then the star would light up… when you’d go past in the car at night, we’d all chant ‘Merry Xmas, Star, Merry Xmas, Star’ as we went past. It was the most entertaining thing going on in Maitland. And Santa would be waving. He was illuminated and waving. We always looked forward to them putting up the sign and the star because we knew it was Christmas. It was great.”
Patrick Lane shared this memory at the East Maitland Library in January 2021 so that artist Peter Poulet could create an artwork in response to his hospital stories. In the audio recording you can hear the sounds of the library and of others at the event.
From early on, Maitland Hospital celebrated Christmas. At first, it was Christmas dinners for all patients. Then decorations, a Christmas tree and Santa Claus became regular features. Local donors gave money, goods and services. Staff provided the labour.
Maitland Mercury, 3 January 1855, 20 January 1866, 29 December 1887.
Photographs showing Christmas decorations in the hospital wards and vestibule in 1911.
(Maitland Hospital Collection 14)
The 1911 photograph collage is a unique and rare set of interior views of The Maitland Hospital photographed at a particular time. It is also significant as a reminder that, from early in the Hospital’s history, there are descriptions of bright and cheerful Christmas decorations - and meals - created by staff and volunteers for the patients.
Maitland Mercury, 24 December 1926
Christmas in one of the wards at the hospital, late 1950s, early 1960s. Sister Adele Healy is on the far left.
(Tom Healy)
Nativity in the Children’s Ward, undated. (Peter Goodwin photograph)
(Maitland Hospital Collection 165.180a)
Santa, Friends of Palliative Care Secretary Jenny Cridand, and patient Maisie White, Maitland Mercury, 26 December 1996
(Maitland and District Historical Society Pamphlet Files)
Christmas in the Medical Administration office, 2015.
(Vionne Peacock)
Vionne Peacock Medical Administration Manager, shared these photographs. She explains:
We had a beautiful fire place and many staff came and sat in Santa’s chair and had their photo taken, as displayed on the board.There was a table under the whiteboard that had props that you could select to have your photo taken.
Christmas decorations at The Maitland Hospital, December 2020. (Catharine Neilson)