Rose Dawson

“I came to Canada in the autumn of 1950, I remember very well sailing up the St. Lawrence to Montreal, it was very exciting!

I worked in Montreal Children’s Hospital for 3 years having very good holidays traveling on the Greyhound Bus! I went to a musical festival in Stratford, ON. it was very beautiful music. While sitting on the banks of the river I had an offer of a job to come to St. John’s and start a Rehabilitation Centre as a polio epidemic was causing a lot of anxiety for all concerned in the province.

The Sunshine Camp was already in existence as a summer camp for underprivileged children. I was the only physiotherapist during the next few years, physiotherapists came and went!!

Yes I did travel on a ship visiting disabled children to give their parents advice and decide whether they needed to come into the Sunshine Camp. It was an eye opener as to what disabilities existed and very sad.

One memory I have was of you all playing in the snow, especially Debbie Prim who loved it not being able to sit herself up or feed herself but in the snow she could roll about, throw snow at us and really have a lot of fun. I was very sorry to hear of her death.

I had a nice flat in St. John’s sharing it with a friend, we rented it from a very nice couple. I had a car so drove to and from the camp everyday and more or less keep my own times of duty. You will have know Dr. Shapter and Dr. McCann. I still keep in touch with Dr. McCann by letter, he lives in Maine, U.S.A.

I enjoyed my time in Newfoundland, used to go for walks exploring the sea shore, so enjoyable seeing the rough seas crashing on the rocks and seeing the fishing fleet from Spain coming into the harbour. I was given a painting of the fleet, it hangs in my bedroom here so gives me good memories. I walked up Signal Hill one wild windy day, it was wonderful standing up there against the building and looking out over the rough seas.

I have been back a few times since my return here in 1963 and would love to make one more visit but now that I am 83 I will just have to dream about it. I came home to a good job in the new children’s hospital and enjoyed working there until my retirement.

Very nice to hear from you and best wishes.

Rose Dawson