This past weekend was a biggie for Design Monarchy, Dr Juan Klopper (Head of Acute Surgery Ward at Groote Schuur Hospital), Monique of Easylife Kitchens Western Cape and Nadia Nel of PG Bison. Why? – because the first part of the construction phase of the #WDC323 Ward upgrade kicked off (you can read more about the project and our involvement: here). It was magic watching this World Design Capital 2014 project lift off. When I walked into the ward on Friday – which had been completely emptied out of patients and nursing staff – I really felt like shouting: HOUSTON, WE HAVE A LIFT OFF!!

The ward might have unnaturally been devoid of patients and nursing staff alike, but not of human activity. Into that space, Easylife Kitchens generously poured in their various installation teams – all voluntary I would have you know. The logistics of such an installation was not for the faint-hearted since franchise teams came from all over the Western Cape. Yet despite the crazy logistics, which was spearheaded by one diligent Easylife Kitchens worker bee, Monique Da Costa and her boss, Tersia De Wet (also very busy on site) – the whole installation process went off like Swiss clockwork. All the sights and sounds of a busy carpentry site was seen and heard. Teams of people some cutting wooden panels, other drilling, still others glueing stuff – with the cleaning crew never far behind.

This weekend’s AWESOME heroes:

An Easylife Kitchens team hard at work replacing the worn panels on the beds and tables with brand new PG Bison boards.

Being part of this project I have met really incredible folk and companies who are adding their contribution to the development of Cape Town’s community via World Design Capital by getting behind this project. Then of course, none of this weekend’s work would have been possible without the diligent efforts of Nadia Nel of PG Bison, who generously sponsored all the boards and materials. Without this charitable contribution Easylife Kitchens would not have been able to show us how they work their cabinetry magic. Then – a very special shout-out to the folks over at Eclipse who donated the joinery hardware – handles, hinges, runners, etc.

Whoop-whoop! Three cheers to:

Nadia & Bev from PG BISON;

Monique & Tersia of EASYLIFE KITCHENS WESTERN CAPE;

and DR JUAN KLOPPER

– a job well done! MANY thanks to all…

Let us not forget that the Groote Schuur Hospital Management Board has been awesome as well.

From left: Bev van der Westhuizen of PG Bison; Rose McClement of Design Monarchy; Dr Juan Klopper – Head of Acute Surgery Ward at Groote Schuur Hospital; Nadia Nel of PG Bison; and Monique Da Costa of Easylife Kitchens – a winning team I think!

WATCH THIS SPACE! There is much more to come as we continue driving toward the goal of the complete ward makeover. There is still plenty of work to cover and more generous people to encounter. I will be interviewing Dr Juan Klopper during the course of the next few days, so that you can meet the man, hear his vision for the upliftment of the community he serves. P.S. You might have read something about our Groote Schuur ward makeover project in this morning’s Die Burger!

Since our last post on this very worthy project, we have gained several new contributors who have generously sponsored either their time, product or services. In the next couple of weeks we will tell you all about these worthy peeps and how the project is progressing.

In the meantime however we still desperately need the following:

WE NEED:

Furniture: chairs for the waiting room; visitors chairs for the ward; and a handful of office chairs for the doctors & nurses.

Fabrics: for window & privacy curtains; as well as re-upholstery of selected furniture.

Blinds: for selected windows.

Upholsterers & Curtain-makers: for reupholstery of new & existing furniture as well as curtain-makers willing to sew the ward’s new window & privacy curtains.

Spray-Painters: the ward’s beds and pedestals needs respraying. Plascon has already generously supplied the paint we just need somebody willing to do the actual spray-painting.

Hygiene Equipment: 5 x new paper towel dispensers; 11 x new soap dispensers; waste paper bins and 6 x medical trolleys.

… and one new bar fridge.

If you own, work for, or know of a local company or business that is willing to donate some of their time, product or services to this VERY worthy cause, please do not hesitate to contact us. This project is an excellent opportunity to make a charitable contribution whilst linking your company name to a renowned initiative such as World Design Capital can facilitate brand awareness and an indirect marketing pay-off.

Here is a little sneak peek of this weekends work….

The Groote Schuur Acute Surgery Unit nurses’ station had seen many years worth of wear & tear – but now the Ward boasts with a sleek new nurses’ station courtesy of Easylife Kitchens and PG Bison.

An Easylife Kitchens employee working hard at putting the Ward’s new Quick Access Station together.

Replacing the old Nurses’ Station was no easy feat as the ELK team had to work around the existing power skirting. The two “G’s” – Grant & Gareth of Easylife Kitchens Langebaan were sweating blood but by the end of the weekend the counters were installed and looking beautiful. Job well done chaps!!

The new cabinetry set up in the Medical Storage Room – what an amazing difference it makes.

Easylife Kitchens replaced all the (seriously worn) tops of the overbed tables with brand new MelaWood boards from PG Bison.