The "stone" is made from herbs found deep in the forest.

In the process they help end certain superstitious practices among villagers. Continue reading

"I am personally thrilled by the award; Catholic health and aged care ministries are unique", Fr Arbuckle said in a phone conversation.

"The award acknowledges the emphasis that I and so many others have been giving to two fundamental issues, the values of Jesus Christ, the Good Samaritan, and the maintenance of these values through appropriate formation of staff".

Fr. David Kennerley provincial of the Society of Mary New Zealand, says the province shares Arbuckle's pleasure and the recognition of his professional achievements.

"The award highlights Gerry's ability to reads the signs of the times", Kennerley said in a statement.

"Gerry's life-long commitment to learning, sterling research and belief in the power of Scripture to build up a people who best reflect God's greatest dream is truly inspirational and a wonderful witness to the Marist Charism", he said.

The Maria Cunningham Lifetime Contribution Award takes the name of Sr Maria Cunningham RSC OAM.

For all her working life, Maria Cunningham worked as a nurse, a nurse educator and a leader of Catholic health care ministries.

By giving this award to Arbuckle, Catholic Health Australia acknowledges his lifetime dedication to Catholic health and aged care services in the United States, Canada and Australia.

Catholic Health Australia co-ordinates the largest network of hospitals and aged care facilities in Australia.

Arbuckle began ministry in healthcare with his 1995 address, "Refounding the Mission and Values in Chaotic Times".

Delivered in the United States, the address became the catalyst for an increasing involvement in health ministry and the start of his various roles as a board director, consultant, researcher and author of health sector publications.

Among his extensive list of healthcare publications, Arbuckle wrote three well received books; two receiving international awards

• Healthcare Ministry: Refounding the Mission in Tumultuous Times
• Catholic Identity or Identities? Refounding Ministries in Chaotic Times, and
• Humanizing Healthcare Reforms.

In 2008 the Government of New South Wales appointed Arbuckle to the Independent Panel overseeing the reform of the state's public hospital system and three years later he delivered the Martin D'Arcy SJ, Memorial Lectures at Oxford University on the need to humanize national healthcare reforms.

Source:

• sm.org.nz

The Catholic nuns who run the hospital are calling for help to rebuild.

The roof of their quarters was ripped off during the cyclone and the delivery room and sterilisation unit are damaged.

The 44 year old hospital has been operated by the Catholic Church since 1970.

According to the Ra Maternity Hospital records, at least 10,354 women have come through the facility between 2009 and 2014.

There has been widespread damage in the Ra province.

"Ra is an ugly situation and even the Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) team were victims of TC Winston," said Commissioner Western Manasa Tagicakibau.

Forty one villages in the Province have yet to report their status to the Ra provincial administrator's operation team in Rakiraki.

A team from the Fiji Times was in Rakiraki on Wednesday where it was confirmed that out of the 93 villages in the province, 41 have yet to establish contact with authorities.

Ana, 22, gave birth to a baby girl on Tuesday evening in the hospital, the first post cyclone baby to be born in the Ra province.

She is recovering in the hospital's delivery room.

Naming babies born during storms after particular cyclones is a common tradition in the Pacific.

But the baby probably won't be called Winston.

Ana is considering the name Philomena for her baby girl.

Source

• radionz.co.nz
• fijione.tv
• fijitimes.com
• Image: radionz.co.nz