- The Southern Charity Hospital was officially opened on Friday 28 February after six years of planning.
- The hospital was inspired by Blair Vining’s battle with bowel cancer and healthcare inequities.
- Fundraising efforts included selling bricks, with support from people across New Zealand.
A long-awaited dream has become a reality with the official opening of the Southern Charity Hospital in Invercargill today. The hospital was founded in memory of Blair Vining, a Southland farmer who was diagnosed with aggressive bowel cancer in 2018. After being told he would have to wait 12 weeks to see an oncologist—longer than the time doctors had given him to live—Blair and his wife Melissa Vining began advocating for better access to healthcare.
Blair’s powerful message about health inequities gained national attention, and since his passing in October 2019, Melissa and the wider community have worked tirelessly to build the hospital. Millions of dollars have been raised, ensuring the facility can help people who struggle to access care through public or private health systems.
Speaking about the milestone, Melissa expressed her gratitude. “I’m just so proud of our entire community and all the people from around New Zealand who have supported us to bring this to a reality. Now we can start helping people,” she said.
The journey to opening the hospital was not easy, with fundraising playing a crucial role. One particularly touching effort was the sale of bricks during Covid lockdowns. Melissa recalled how people from as far away as Northland contributed, despite facing similar healthcare struggles themselves. “They’ve got the same challenges as us with access to healthcare and here they were buying bricks to support our fundraising project to build this hospital, even though they’ll never benefit from it.”
Blair’s determination to create a lasting impact was evident in his final weeks. He told Melissa that establishing the hospital was on his “bucket list” because “the politicians weren’t going to fix it.” Despite the challenges, Melissa and the team remained committed to the vision. “There have been some times that are really challenging. Turning a pub into a hospital is no easy feat. It definitely has taken a whole lot of work from a whole lot of people in our community and around New Zealand.”
Now, Blair’s dream has come to life, and the Southern Charity Hospital stands as a testament to his legacy. With its doors now open, the facility will provide much-needed healthcare to those who need it most.