The Story of Ozanam House

Ozanam House, which is administered by an independent Trust board, was originally the brainchild of members of the Palmerston North St. Vincent de Paul Society. During hospital visiting and welfare work they saw a need for a home where relatives of out-of-town patients could stay. Out of this idea came the Society's purchase in 1967 of a comfortable four bedroomed home a few hundred yards from the Hospital. It was named Ozanam House in honor of Blessed Frederic Ozanam, founder of the St. Vincent de Paul Society. Patients receiving radiotherapy treatment released from Palmerston North Hospital to spend a weekend there with their families improved so much in morale and response to treatment that accommodation was provided for them to join their families and continue treatment as hospital out patients.

In 1972 a new 6 bedroom accommodation block was built in the spacious grounds behind the original house. A self contained unit with lounge, kitchen and dining room, it was financed by an appeal to the citizens of Palmerston North and district organised by the Manawatu Centre of the Cancer Society of New Zealand and the St. Vincent de Paul Society. It met the demand for accommodation for less than two years.

When the Palmerston North Hospital authorities considered installing a new Betatron unit in 1973 it became clear that concurrently with the hospital building programme, Ozanam House must also be extended. Manawatu Lions Districts 202B and 202D assisted by other Lions Districts organised an appeal throughout the lower half of the North Island which raised $120,000 for the extensions.

The handsome 12 bedroom addition was completed in 1974.Later two additional homes were purchased in Ruahine St one of which became a further bedroom block named the Summer Wing and the other a reception area subsequently altered to provide additional bedrooms. In 1987, with further need for accommodation, a Lions fund-raising drive through most of the central districts raised enough to build a further bedroom block. The Trust furnished the Urquhart Wing.

In 1996 the Lions rose to the occasion again. As a result the Lloyd Morgan Wing was purchased. The H B Williams Trust Wing was built together with the new administration and recreational facilities. The St. Vincent de Paul Society continues its interest in the house with members visiting weekly.