Pender Posts Past
Thirty years ago the Pender Island Recreation & Agricultural Hall Association announced their new executive. Jean Bradley was elected secretary and Vi Smith a member-at-large. A footnote to the PIRAHA report stated "As of September 19th, the Library Centre Property has not been turned over to the Hall Association."
An article by Eleanor Harrison gave a history of the early doctors on the Penders:
Some time ago I wrote in an article that Dr. Homer Rogers was the first resident doctor on Pender Island. My error was pointed out to me by some of the Islands' old-time residents. Research indicates that there have been several doctors who made the Penders their home.
Two of the earliest doctors to live on Pender were Dr. A. H. Aldridge and Dr. A. E.Riddell who retired to Pender and whilst not actively practising medicine they were always available in emergencies.
The first Doctor to settle on the Gulf Islands was Dr. Gerald Baker who practised on Salt Spring from 1897 to 1904. His practice also included the Penders, Mayne and Saturna. In 1904 he left the Gulf Islands for the Yukon.
When there was no resident doctor, the Penders were served by many medical practitioners from Ganges.
During the first World War, Dr. Ross Fraser practised medicine on the Penders from 1914 to 1919. From 1930 to 1033 Dr. Richard Gibson was a practising physician on the Pender Islands. Dr. W. McKay resided and practised on the Penders from 1935 till his death in November 1940. He is remembered with great affection by those who lived on Pender during those years, especially by his neighbours in the Port Washington area. His home was the property now occuped by Mr. and Mrs. Sid Kent. In 1948 Dr. Alan Beech took up residence on Pender Island, living in the Port Washington home now occupied by Dr. and Mrs. E. Morrison, and practised medicine until 1951, when due to illness he was forced to retire. Dr. Alan Beech's father was Lionel Beech, one of the earliest Gulf Islands' doctors. He arrived in 1904, settling on Salt Spring but his medical practice included the Outer Islands. At times he was known to come from Salt Spring by rowboat on his own, to cope with emergencies. In 1911 his son Dr. Alan Beech relieved him but left in 1914 to serve with the Royal Canadian Medical Corps during the First World War.
Dr. Homer Rogers came to live and practise medicine on the Penders in 1969. Recently he has retired and Dr. Don Sutherland has become the Pender Islands' resident doctor. He makes his home on South Pender. Dr. Ellen Anderson is now sharing the practice with him.
Eleanor Harrison 1983 ??